WHAT DRIVES US - American Heart Association

Again and again, Gloria Boisvert’s chest really hurt. It distracted her during
the day and woke her up at night. At first, she chalked it up to heartburn. Then
her arm started hurting. She was also short of breath. It was time to go to
the doctor.
Still, the wife, mother of two, teacher and soccer coach was like many women —
busy. She waited about two months before she went to the doctor. Gloria
thought she was probably suffering from anxiety.
But the real anxiety was just beginning. An examination by Gloria’s cardiologist
led to the discovery of three blocked arteries. Stents didn’t work; the 37-year-old
needed bypass surgery.
After a painful recovery, Gloria, who ate right and exercised, vowed to help
other women. Why? She was frustrated with herself. Furious, even.
“I’m an educated person who keeps up with the news — I’m a teacher, for goodness
sake,” said Gloria, who learned that heart disease runs in her family. “It was
unbelievable to me that I didn’t know that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women.”
Gloria, a national spokeswoman for Go Red For Women who lives in Ocoee, Fla.,
wants busy moms to understand their risks for heart disease — and slow down.
“If our plate is full, I’ll be darned if we don’t get a bigger plate,” she said.
Gloria participates in the association’s Heart Match program, which links
women with heart disease to others who have faced similar issues. Whether it’s a
question about diet or medication — even if it’s 2 a.m. — Gloria wants to help.
She’s also committed to reaching the Latino community.
“We have to make some major changes,” she said. “Women play such a large
role in what families eat.”