You may have noticed we're wearing red here.
It's national wear red day to raise
awareness about heart disease
and heart disease is the number one killer
of new moms and pregnancy related deaths
in the US are rising at an alarming rate.
So that's an important part of this.
This morning, Doctor Alexandra
Carozzi from Sharp Grossmont
Hospital and survivor Laura Vargas,
both joining us to discuss what we
can all do to care for our hearts.
Good morning ladies.
Good morning. So morning.
We want to start with you, Laura,
because we want to talk about.
Your condition and what happened
after the birth of your son.
If you could share that with us.
Yeah, absolutely. I was born with
a rare form of heart disease,
also known as cardiomyopathy called
left ventricular noncompaction and
in 2015 I did get pregnant with
my son in about 3 months after
I had my son postpartum I did go
into congestive heart failure.
Nurse, so obviously you're here
with us today. Thank goodness
and here to share the story.
Tell us how you got through that
and what the message is that
you wanna share this morning.
Yeah, absolutely.
I think the number one thing that I
tell everyone is me getting through
that required a lot of mental strength.
I think it's really important for women
to be aware of their bodies and the
signs there's certain contributors that
will make it higher risk for you to.
You know, come across heart disease
or encounter heart disease or self.
Which are some of the things like your race,
age. You know obesity?
And hypertension,
which is also high blood pressure.
Incredible strength.
You've shown there.
Laura doctor carozzi.
We want to talk with you about Laura
Story and it's just an example of
why it's so important for women to
take care of their health right?
And take care of their hearts.
Absolutely so Sharp HealthCare is
actually a sponsor of the go red
women movement for the American Heart
Association and it just focuses
on inspiring and educating women
about their heart health and women.
As Laura mentioned, do go through
different stages in their lives,
such as pregnancy and menopause,
that increases their risk for
cardiovascular disease and they
also experience different symptoms
that than men may experience.
So it's it's just it's important
to know the critical numbers.
I think blood pressure, cholesterol,
blood, sugar, body mass, index,
those are all things that can play into
at risk factors that can be modified.
And just general tips for maintaining heart
health is getting exercise eating healthy?
As well as keeping track of those
risk factors that can be modified
and doctor you know just looking
at the go red for women website.
It's a great resource.
You know right at the top it
says the simple fact that you're
a woman puts you at higher risk
of cardiovascular disease.
Why is that the case?
This is not a man only kind of issue, right?
Right, absolutely so women
are actually like I mentioned
different stages in their lives,
expose them to different risk factors.
For example, during pregnancy,
women experience,
gestational hypertension,
gestational diabetes, preeclampsia,
and these are all things
that can increase disease.
How cardiovascular disease
risk later in life,
all the things you just listed.
I went through with the birth of our child.
So you know, obviously it.
It does make things a little more elevated,
a little more nerve wracking when you're.
Simply by being a woman,
and it's worth noting in this segment.
While we've been talking with you
ladies here, two women have died
from heart disease every 80 seconds.
So I mean Laura last word with you here.
Before we we wrap things up here.
What's the message you want
people to hear here today?
Yeah, I want women to take
power of their heart health.
And if people want to learn more
about the go red for women movement,
especially here in San Diego,
they can actually visit the website at
www.sdgored. Dot heart.org.
All right, thank you both so much for
being on and your family is adorable.
Laura, it's so cute to see you
so much with your little boys.
So uh, congratulations glad
you're all healthy, yeah?
Thanks for coming.