Lori Sepich, a 64-year-old resident of Memphis, Tennessee, never imagined she would suffer two heart attacks, 13 years apart. For years, she smoked and intermittently skipped taking medication prescribed for severe, hereditary high blood pressure diagnosed when she was just 17. “The possibility just wasn’t registering with me,” Sepich said.
Her experience is far from unique. More than 60 million women in the United States live with cardiovascular disease, encompassing heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. Globally, an estimated 275 million to 300 million women are affected. According to the World Heart Federation, cardiovascular disease accounts for approximately 30 percent of all deaths among women annually. In the U.S., one in five female deaths is attributable to cardiovascular disease, with 37,000 resulting from heart attacks each year.
Despite affecting women and men at roughly equal rates, cardiovascular disease remains significantly underdiagnosed and under-researched in women, according to a letter published in The Journal of Nursing Research in August 2025. This disparity leads to a critical lack of sex-specific data and effective risk assessment tools.
“Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women. It will affect you or someone you know,” stated Dr. Sharonne Hayes, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “Knowing what to do if you have symptoms of a heart attack and taking action if you do, that’s really significant.”
Sepich’s initial heart attack occurred on Easter Sunday in 2005. She experienced chest pain, nausea, and sweating but initially dismissed the symptoms, prioritizing family commitments. The following morning, she drove herself to the emergency room, smoking a cigarette en route. Upon questioning, she initially told doctors she had quit smoking, then admitted she had stopped “about five minutes ago.” Doctors subsequently placed six stents in her heart.
Following her first heart attack, Sepich struggled with depression and the realization that she could no longer ignore her heart condition. More than a decade later, in 2018, she faced another heart attack.
In February 2026, Sepich was recognized as one of twelve women nationwide selected for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Class of Survivors, becoming the first woman from the Mid-South region to receive the honor. She had previously shared her story with the local American Heart Association chapter in Memphis, Tennessee, after attending a Go Red for Women luncheon that she said changed her life.
The American Heart Association recommends “Life’s Essential 8” to reduce cardiovascular risk: eating better, quitting tobacco, getting healthy sleep, being more active, controlling cholesterol, and managing weight, blood sugar, and blood pressure. Regular checkups are also advised to discuss these preventative measures and monitor health, particularly for those with a family history of heart problems.