She loves to tango and swing dance and thought the exercise would keep her health from spinning out of control. Then one day she felt dizzy and couldn't get her balance. Her vision blurred. A doctor diagnosed her with dangerously high blood pressure, which ran in the family. Tisha learned all she could to help her make simple, healthy lifestyle changes. She also vowed to help educate others. Today she's a Go Red For Women advocate for African American women, spreading the message that heart disease is the No. 1 killer among women. As founder and president of her church's health ministry program, Tisha teaches seminars and workshops that promote healthy living and lifestyle. "My hope is that someone will be better off because I lived through this."

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The "ultimate" tomboy, Cathy grew up physically active and played varsity sports in college. When her heart rate inexplicably jumped to 220 beats per minute during a routine bike ride, doctors diagnosed her with cardiomyopathy, a rare but serious condition that causes the heart muscle to become inflamed and to work less efficiently. Today, Cathy has a dual defibrillator and pacemaker implanted in her chest to help regulate her heartbeat. "I ate right and exercised... if I hadn't done those things, my body may not have been strong enough to withstand all that I had been through."

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Debbie’s mother, Billy Jo, took care of everyone around her but neglected herself. After losing Billy Jo to congestive heart failure in 2006, Debbie learned an important lesson about taking care of others, by putting her own health first. Today she arms herself with as much information as she can to empower herself and her loved ones. "I was able to save my dad from a heart attack. I was able to save my friend from a heart attack. But I feel like I lost a piece of my heart when I wasn’t able to save my mom."

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During the 12 years that Loraine's father suffered from diabetes, he lost his toe, his feet and eventually both his legs to amputation. Later, he passed away from heart failure. His experience inspired Loraine — an occasional exerciser who was 15 pounds overweight — to get active. But she didn't stop there. She spread the word and inspired her friends and family to get physically fit with her. Some of them even went on to run marathons. Loraine continues to advocate heart health. "You don't have to run 10 miles tomorrow; start small and try to be as active as possible. Little changes make a big difference."

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Although Michelle's sister died from heart disease at age 19, no one considered that Michelle might be at risk. When Michelle sought treatment for exhaustion at age 32, her doctor dismissed it as a symptom of having three young children. After passing out in church, Michelle saw another doctor at her friend's urging. Tests revealed that Michelle needed an internal cardiac defibrillator to manage her cardiomyopathy. Michelle is grateful for every moment with her family and puts her health first every single day. "I don't work exercise around my life. I work my life around exercise."

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Patricia taught aerobics, worked out regularly and never had anything more serious than a sinus infection. When shortness of breath and burning in her chest prompted her to contact her doctor, tests revealed that her left coronary artery was 85 percent blocked. After undergoing surgery, Patricia went into cardiac arrest and was clinically dead for an hour. Believing she was too young to die, Patricia's doctor eventually restarted his "miracle patient's" heart. Sharing her story with others is an important part of Patricia's recovery. "Your body talks to you. When you notice something different, you need to tell your doctor."

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At 16 Stephanie was overweight and diagnosed with diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. These serious health conditions went unmanaged until age 23 when a minor car accident elevated her blood pressure so high, doctors feared she’d have a heart attack from walking. At 24, Stephanie, a fast-food regular, was diagnosed with coronary heart disease; her arteries were 90 percent blocked. After surgery, she took up tennis and running and lost 70 pounds. "I felt like I could do anything ... I immediately became 10 times more active." Today she eats healthier foods, works out five to six times weekly and is training for a marathon.

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If Theresa were a 38-year-old man having chest pains, shortness of breath and fatigue, she would have been sent directly to the Emergency Room. Yet when she suspected she had heart disease, tests revealed her heart was fine. Even after suffering a massive heart attack two months later, paramedics assumed she was well enough to walk to the ambulance. Theresa's friends in the Go Red For Women community make a huge impact on her recovery. "...these women have survived eight years, 10 years. They're still alive and here to tell their story… I feel really lucky to meet them."

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Eight years ago, Gail developed a case of viral myocardiopathy, a disease that’s a little like having strep throat, only in your heart. After three visits to her doctor, her condition remained undiagnosed. Gail's OB/GYN finally sent her to a cardiologist, but by then the disease had already done significant damage. When Gail was added to the heart transplant wait list, a young, strong female transplant recipient gave her courage to move forward. "I would never want a woman to go through a heart crisis without her own community of women. That's what Go Red for Women represents."

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