The daily challenges of living--and coping--with a chronic and progressive invisible illness. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women worldwide. Yet most people are still unaware that heart disease is not just a man's problem. Carolyn Thomas, a heart attack survivor herself, is on a mission to educate women about their heart health. Based on her popular Heart Sisters blog, which has attracted more than 10 million views from readers in 190 countries, A Woman's Guide to Living with Heart Disease combines personal experience and medical knowledge to help women learn how to understand and manage a catastrophic diagnosis. In A Woman's Guide to Living with Heart Disease , Thomas explains * how to recognize the early signs of a heart attack * why women often delay seeking treatment--and how to overcome that impulse * the link between pregnancy complications and future heart disease * why so many women with heart disease are misdiagnosed--and how to help yourself get an accurate diagnosis * the importance of cardiac rehabilitation in lowering mortality risk * what to expect during your recovery from a heart attack * how the surreal process of coping with heart disease may affect your daily life * methods for treating heart disease-related depression without drugs Equal parts memoir about a misdiagnosed heart attack, guide to the predictable stages of heart disease--from grief to resilience--and patient-friendly translation of important science-based findings on women's unique heart issues, this book is an essential read. Whether you're a freshly diagnosed patient, a woman who's been living with heart disease for years, or a practitioner who cares about women's health, A Woman's Guide to Living with Heart Disease will help you feel less alone and advocate for better health care.