When it comes to managing your heart, there is one critical phrase every woman needs to memorize: know your numbers. While we are taught to keep an eye on our cholesterol and blood pressure, very few women know their "ejection…
Imagine being 44 years old, suffering from a severely weakened heart, and being told by your specialist that there is nothing left to be done because your insurance denied a life-saving medical device. That is exactly what happened to Karin…
When Karin McNeil was 19 years old and pregnant with her oldest son, she developed preeclampsia—a dangerous condition characterized by high blood pressure during pregnancy. She delivered her baby four weeks early, and a subsequent echocardiogram revealed she had been…
At NitzaMD, we frequently speak with women who try to balance full-time careers, busy family lives, and civic duties while ignoring their own bodies. In 2018, at just 40 years old, Karin McNeil thought she was simply coming down with…
Jodi admits she used to be angry with herself for not seeking medical attention sooner. Today, she is a vibrant advocate for other women, reminding us that we have lived in our bodies our entire lives—we know when something is…
Jodi’s journey didn't end with her heart. While sitting by the pool, she experienced a sudden "blank stare" and a headache that felt like her head was "cracking in half." Initially told by a provider to just take a migraine…
One of the most confusing moments in a woman’s cardiac journey is being told her tests are "normal" while she still feels unwell. When Jodi was rushed to the hospital in Lake County, her angiogram showed something unexpected: no blockages…
At NitzaMD, we often say that heart disease doesn’t discriminate, but many women still believe it only happens to "older" people or those who "look" like cardiac patients. Jodi Harter was in her early 40s—active, young, and by all accounts,…
Be the CEO of your own health and choose prevention over crisis—take our Are You At Risk? Quiz now and partner with a team that prioritizes your future. The statistics for aortic stenosis are frightening, but JoAnn’s story is one…
Don't let "feeling fine" or "getting older" mask a silent condition; visit NitzaMD.com today to learn how a proper cardiac evaluation can reveal what standard checkups miss. After JoAnn’s heart valve was replaced, she had a revelation: she had been…