Heart Series: How pregnancy, childbirth and menopause impact women’s health

Heart disease and stroke claim the life of one woman every 80 seconds, but less than half of women recognize heart disease as their leading cause of death.

Traditional risk factors impact both men and women, but women also face a unique set of risks. Dr. Denisa Hagau, cardiologist at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, discusses why heart health is different in women, what you can do to be proactive and why caring for yourself improves your family’s health.

“We always have time for someone else. We take care of our dog, child, spouse, colleagues, in-laws, I could go on and on,” she says. “But we forget ourselves. We need to change that mindset.”