Shows
I AM YOUI AM YOU – Ep. 56 – Ask the Heart Doctor: Blood Pressure & CholesterolI AM YOU is hosted by Dr. Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, women’s heart specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real stories and expert insights so women can speak up, protect the heart that carries them through every stage of life, and step into their power as the CEO of their own health. In this FAQ-style episode, Dr. Alvarez answers real questions about blood pressure and cholesterol—and why so many women are navigating major heart-risk shifts with guidance built from male-only data. If you’re in your 40s or...
2026-02-1109 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU – Ep. 55 – Ask the Heart Doctor: PalpitationsI AM YOU is hosted by Dr. Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real stories and expert insights to help women protect the heart that carries them through every stage of life — and step into their power as the CEO of their own health. In this Ask the Heart Doctor-style episode, Dr. Alvarez tackles one of the most dismissed symptoms women bring to the ER and to their doctors: palpitations. If you’ve ever been told “your tests are normal” — or worse, “it’s just anxiety...
2026-02-0408 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU – Ep. 54 – FAQ #2: Risk FactorsI AM YOU is hosted by Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real stories and expert insights to help women protect the heart that carries them through every stage of life — and step into their power as the CEO of their own health.In this FAQ-style episode, Dr. Alvarez answers real questions submitted by patients and listeners, focusing on risk factors that affect women differently — and the overlooked health “chapters” that can quietly raise your cardiovascular risk. With clarit...
2026-01-2810 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU – Ep. 53 – FAQ #1: Symptoms & DiagnosisI AM YOU is hosted by Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real stories and expert insights that help women understand their unique heart health, navigate stress, and take charge of their well-being. Dr. Alvarez’s mission is simple: to inspire every woman to become the CEO of their own health—with knowledge, confidence, and community. In this special FAQ-style episode, Dr. Alvarez answers the questions she hears most often in her clinic and from listeners—starting with the one that keeps...
2026-01-2109 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU — Ep 52 — Joint Pain in Women Is Not “Just Aging”I AM YOU is hosted by Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real stories and expert insights that help women understand their unique heart health, manage stress, and take charge of their well-being. Dr. Alvarez’s mission is simple: to inspire every woman to become the CEO of their own health—with knowledge, confidence, and community. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks directly to women in their 40s and 50s who are living with unexplained joint pain—and being told the same di...
2026-01-1406 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Ep 51 - When Standing Up Steals Your Life: POTS in WomenI AM YOU is hosted by Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real stories and expert insights that help women understand their unique heart health, manage stress, and take charge of their well-being. Dr. Alvarez’s mission is simple: to inspire every woman to become the CEO of their own health—with knowledge, confidence, and community. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez spotlights a condition that is frequently dismissed—and life-altering when ignored: POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). You’ll meet “Maya...
2026-01-0722 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Ep 50 - Your heart is tired of survivingI AM YOU is hosted by Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real conversations and expert insights that empower women to understand their heart health, listen to their bodies, and step fully into their role as the CEO of their own health.In this deeply personal and eye-opening episode, Dr. Alvarez welcomes a very special guest — Dr. María Isabel Alvarez-Torres, a clinical psychologist specializing in trauma and emotional health… and her sister. Together, they explore the powerful and often overlooke...
2025-12-241h 04
I AM YOUI AM YOU – Ep 49 – I Kept Passing Out… and Everyone Told Me I Was FineI AM YOU is hosted by Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real stories and expert insights that help women understand their unique heart health, navigate a healthcare system that too often dismisses them, and step fully into the role of CEO of their own health.In this powerful episode, Dr. Alvarez sits down with Valerie Brackney, a vibrant, postmenopausal woman whose life was repeatedly disrupted by unexplained dizziness, blackouts, and dangerously low blood pressure. What began as leg swelling in her late...
2025-12-1721 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU – Ep. 48 – Your Hormones Are Talking — ListenI AM YOU is hosted by Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode blends real women’s stories with powerful science to help women understand their bodies, manage stress, and become the CEO of their own health.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez reveals how falling estrogen levels change the inner lining of a woman’s arteries — making vessels stiffer, inflammation higher, and stroke risk more likely around perimenopause and menopause. She explains why a woman with new headaches, dizziness, or sudden weakness can be dismissed as “just stresse...
2025-12-1012 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU – Ep. 47 – Self-Care Isn’t SelfishI AM YOU is hosted by Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real stories and expert insights that help women better understand their heart health, manage stress, and take charge of their well-being. Dr. Alvarez’s mission is simple: to inspire every woman to become the CEO of her own health—with knowledge, confidence, and community.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez sits down with Maureen Uriarte, a devoted wife and full-time caregiver whose story reflects the emotional load carried by countless women. For nearly three de...
2025-12-0321 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Episode 45 - The Stroke You Never Saw Coming: Why Women Can’t Wait to Be HeardI AM YOU is hosted by Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Every episode gives women the knowledge and confidence to become the CEO of their own health.Part 2 — Beyond the Story: The Science Every Woman Must KnowLast week we met Elena — a young woman whose stroke was nearly dismissed as stress.Today, Dr. Alvarez explains why stroke happens, how hormones and menopause change brain blood flow, and why women face higher risk — yet often...
2025-11-2612 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Ep 45 - The Silent Stroke: When Your Hormones Become the WarningI AM YOU is hosted by Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real stories and expert insights that help women understand their unique heart health, manage stress, protect their brains, and take charge of their well-being. Dr. Alvarez’s mission is simple: to inspire every woman to become the CEO of her own health — with knowledge, confidence, and community.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez introduces Elena — a 40-year-old teacher and mother of two who brushed off subtle neurological symptoms… until she was rush...
2025-11-1910 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU – Ep 44 – The Pain No One Believed: Barbara’s Fight to Be HeardI AM YOU is hosted by Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC—board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real women’s stories and expert insights that help women understand their unique heart health, navigate a healthcare system that often overlooks them, and take charge of their well-being. Dr. Alvarez’s mission is clear: to inspire every woman to become the CEO of her own health—with knowledge, confidence, and community.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez sits down with Barbara Filipiak, a woman who spent years fighting for answer...
2025-11-1317 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU – Ep 43 – When the Tests Say You’re Fine — But Your Heart Says OtherwiseI AM YOU is hosted by Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real stories and expert insights that empower women to understand their unique heart health, manage stress, and take charge of their well-being. Dr. Alvarez’s mission is clear: to inspire every woman to become the CEO of her own health — with knowledge, confidence, and community.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez breaks down a condition too many women face yet rarely hear about: open artery ischemia — when your heart symptoms a...
2025-11-0513 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU – Ep 42 - When Listening Saves Your HeartI AM YOU is hosted by Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real stories and expert insights that help women understand their unique heart health, manage stress, and take charge of their well-being. Dr. Alvarez’s mission is simple: to inspire every woman to become the CEO of her own health — with knowledge, confidence, and community.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Denise Quinn, a woman whose experience reveals one of the most overlooked realities in women’s heart health — t...
2025-10-2927 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Ep 41 - When Good Stress Breaks Your HeartI AM YOU is hosted by Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real stories and expert insights that help women understand their unique heart health, manage stress, and take charge of their well-being. Dr. Alvarez’s mission is simple: to inspire every woman to become the CEO of her own health—with knowledge, confidence, and community.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez welcomes Laura Orozco, a resilient woman whose story sheds light on two serious and often misunderstood conditions: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (also known as stress-induced heart di...
2025-10-2227 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU – Ep 40: Why I’m Doing ThisI AM YOU is hosted by Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real stories and expert insights that help women understand their unique heart health, manage stress, and take charge of their well-being. Dr. Alvarez’s mission is simple: to inspire every woman to become the CEO of her own health—with knowledge, confidence, and community.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez explains why she created this podcast—and why it’s urgently needed. Despite medical advances, women remain under-recognized, under-diagnosed, and under-treated when it come...
2025-10-1505 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Sherry JutkofskyThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health.In this powerful and eye-opening episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Sherry Jutkofsky, a dedicated teacher, wife, and mother whose unexpected heart health journey began with what seemed like routine fatigue and nausea. At just 52 years old, Sherry dismissed her symptoms as menopause or anxiety—until a visit to the ER revealed a dangerously high heart rate and a diagnosis of...
2025-10-0818 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU – Ep 38: The PurposeThe I Am You podcast is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health.In this special episode, Dr. Alvarez shifts the focus inward, sharing the personal mission and purpose behind I Am You. She opens up about her journey as a cardiologist, wife, and mother, and why she is so passionate about advocating for women’s heart health.Dr. Alvarez discusses the stark reality that heart disease remains the number on...
2025-10-0305 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Sherry StewartThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Sherry Stewart, a 70-year-old woman whose determination to keep working full-time nearly masked a life-threatening condition. Sherry initially attributed her fatigue, back pain, and chest discomfort to stress, age, weight, and even a past car accident. For weeks she sought relief from her chiropractor, convinced her symptoms weren’t serious. But persistent pa...
2025-09-2520 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Barbie StromeThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Barbie Strome, a woman whose persistence and self-advocacy saved her life. For years, Barbie experienced flutters, adrenaline-like rushes, and unexplained symptoms. When she sought help, her concerns were dismissed with a superficial exam and a quick, inaccurate diagnosis—told it was “neurological” and offered statins, without a thorough evaluation.Unwilling to acc...
2025-09-1816 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Sophia DexelThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Sophia Dexel, a woman in her mid-40s who battled years of misdiagnosis, frustration, and dismissal by multiple providers. Despite repeated ER visits, worsening chest pain, and unstable blood pressure, Sophia was told time and again that “everything looked normal.” The constant dismissal left her doubting herself—until she finally found answers.W...
2025-09-1219 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Julie ModercinThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Julie Modercin, a long-time patient whose journey from caregiver to cardiac patient reveals the often-overlooked dangers women face when they downplay their symptoms. Julie’s story begins as she accompanies her husband—himself a heart attack survivor under Dr. Alvarez’s care—and evolves into a personal journey of self-advocacy and medi...
2025-09-0421 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Susan SpargoThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez welcomes Susan Spargo, a vibrant woman who, at 55 years old, began experiencing persistent chest pain. Despite multiple normal test results, Susan trusted her body and continued to advocate for herself—ultimately uncovering a hidden, woman-specific cardiovascular condition that would have otherwise gone undiagnosed.Susan’s journey highlights the critical gaps in traditional card...
2025-08-2718 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Anna UhdeThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Anna Uhde, a proactive and health-conscious woman who learned firsthand the importance of preventive care and advocating for her own health. Growing up with a family history of heart disease, Anna made it her mission to stay informed and prioritize regular checkups—even when she felt perfectly fine. Her journey hi...
2025-08-2018 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Marianne BinkowskiThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with 69-year-old Marianne Binkowski, whose journey underscores the life-saving power of acting on early warnings and listening to your body. Initially referred by her primary care physician due to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking history, and other risk factors, Marianne underwent testing that revealed significant plaque in her coronary arteries—yet no im...
2025-08-1316 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Joan McLaughlinThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Joan McLaughlin, a proactive woman who sought a heart check-up due to her family history of cardiovascular disease—despite having no obvious symptoms. What she didn’t realize was that the discomfort between her shoulder blades, which she had dismissed for over a year, was actually a common but underrecognized sign of hear...
2025-08-0718 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Hannah BunkerThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Hannah Bunker, a vibrant 34-year-old woman who shares her long and painful journey toward a diagnosis of POTS—Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. After experiencing symptoms since her teenage years, Hannah was repeatedly dismissed by medical professionals, told her symptoms were unrelated, imagined, or simply part of being a woman.Despite ye...
2025-07-3019 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Linda GillmannThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Linda Gillmann, a resilient and self-advocating woman who was first diagnosed with high blood pressure in her 30s and later discovered she had heart disease in her 40s—despite living a healthy lifestyle.Linda shares how her symptoms were initially dismissed as anxiety, even after a hospital visit and a heart cath. Al...
2025-07-2320 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Joanne PatellaThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Joanne Patella, a vibrant and energetic woman whose life was suddenly upended by persistent shortness of breath. Joanne’s journey took her through multiple providers who dismissed her symptoms or offered incomplete solutions—labeling her with conditions she didn’t fully understand, and offering treatments that failed to restore her health. Despite underg...
2025-07-1621 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - JoAnne PisanyThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with JoAnne Pisany, a vibrant and active woman whose quality of life was suddenly disrupted by unexplained shortness of breath. After being misdiagnosed and dismissed by multiple providers, JoAnne was left with no answers and a life she barely recognized—unable to walk her dog or participate in daily activities. Her story reveals ho...
2025-07-0921 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Diane SintonThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez sits down with Diane Sinton, a woman whose quiet intuition may have saved her life. One morning, Diane simply “didn’t feel right.” With no obvious symptoms—no chest pain, no shortness of breath, no alarming signs—she decided to listen to that inner voice and make a doctor’s appointment. That decision led to a startli...
2025-07-0213 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Vickie WoodsThe I Am You podcast is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Vickie Woods, a vibrant woman whose story reveals the life-threatening consequences of being misdiagnosed—and the power of persistence and second opinions.Vickie initially sought care for shoulder pain and indigestion. Although her heart enzymes were dangerously elevated, her coronary angiogram showed no blockages, and she was told everything was fine. She wa...
2025-06-2521 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Gaythel-FisherThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Gaythel Fisher, a woman whose lifelong commitment to her health played a crucial role in uncovering a serious but treatable heart condition. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 10, Gaythel was no stranger to regular medical care. It was during one of these routine visits in her early 50s that her...
2025-06-1815 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Kathleen LaBernzThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Kathleen LaBernz, a vibrant and proactive woman whose journey with heart health began in her teens. Discovered during a routine job physical, Kathleen’s heart murmur turned out to be a congenital condition known as bicuspid aortic valve—a silent issue she lived with for decades while leading an active and full life...
2025-06-1121 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Dale DrepsThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Dale Dreps, a vibrant and committed health advocate who turned her family history of heart disease into motivation to take charge of her health—long before symptoms ever appeared.Dale’s story is a powerful example of how prevention, persistence, and partnership with the right healthcare provider can change the course of a wo...
2025-06-0421 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Denise RamonThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez sits down with Denise Ramon, a resilient woman who first came to her with a simple goal: to better manage her high blood pressure. But what began as a routine consultation turned into a powerful partnership in proactive care.Over the years, Denise not only faced the challenges of controlling her blood pressure but...
2025-05-2815 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Barb EaslickThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Barb Easlick, a vibrant and active woman whose life was turned upside down after a bout with COVID left her struggling to breathe and robbed her of the energy she once thrived on.Barb’s journey is one of resilience and self-advocacy. Despite being told by multiple doctors that her lu...
2025-05-2219 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Jeanie HendricksThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of her own health. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Jeanie Hendricks, an 84-year-old powerhouse whose unexpected medical journey revealed far more than she imagined. What began as routine back surgery turned into a cascade of surprising discoveries: three mini strokes, a hole in her heart, and a brain tumor—all uncovered without prior symptoms.Instead of retreating in fear, Jeanie chose ac...
2025-05-1413 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Mary Lou MorrisseyThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to speak up, advocate for themselves, and become the CEO of their own health. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Mary Lou Morrissey, a vibrant woman whose persistent shortness of breath was repeatedly dismissed by her previous providers—until she sought a second opinion that changed her life.Despite being under the care of a cardiologist and pulmonologist, Mary Lou’s symptoms continued to worsen. Her limitations were clear: walking, cooking, even doin...
2025-05-0716 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Barbara CantyThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. Each episode is designed to empower women to take control of their well-being and become the CEO of their own health. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Barbara Canty, an active and health-conscious woman who sought a second opinion about managing her cholesterol. With no symptoms and a strong commitment to fitness and nutrition, Barbara simply wanted reassurance that she could avoid medication—until a routine stress test revealed a hidden and serious heart condition.When Barbara experienced subtle si...
2025-05-0112 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Deb TownsendThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. The episode empowers women to take charge of their health and advocate for themselves within the healthcare system. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez interviews Deb Townsend, a nurse who shares her complex journey with unexplained heart palpitations and fainting episodes. Despite an early diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), Deb’s symptoms persisted unpredictably, often triggered by heat or exertion and sometimes occurring even at rest.Frustrated by the impact on her quality of life, Deb continued to seek answers, ultimately un...
2025-04-2321 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Deb GossellThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. This empowering series shares real stories that inspire women to advocate for their health and become the CEO of their own well-being.In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks with Deb Gossell, a retired speech therapist and lifelong caregiver, who shares her personal journey of navigating unexplained fainting spells, initially dismissed as side effects from pain medication and alcohol. Despite living with atrial fibrillation and managing chronic pain, Deb knew something wasn’t right when sh...
2025-04-1614 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Kimberly BradfordThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. The episode aims to empower women to take charge of their health and advocate for themselves within the healthcare system. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez interviews Kimberly Bradford, who shares her proactive approach to heart health after a strong family history of heart disease. Despite feeling healthy and symptom-free, Kimberly sought early cardiac care at age 50, motivated by her father and grandfather’s heart conditions. Initial tests revealed early signs of coronary artery disease, leading her to adopt lifestyle changes and medical in...
2025-03-1214 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Melissa MooreThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. The episode aims to empower women to take charge of their health and advocate for themselves within the healthcare system. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez interviews Melissa Moore, who shares her experience of unknowingly living with heart disease for years after being misdiagnosed with allergies and anemia. Despite experiencing persistent shortness of breath, she never suspected a heart condition due to a lack of family history and misconceptions about heart disease affecting only older individuals.Melissa reflects on how her...
2025-03-0513 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Valerie WaltonThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. The episode aims to empower women to take charge of their health and advocate for themselves within the healthcare system. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez interviews Valerie Walton who shares her journey of discovering her heart condition despite initially believing she had no issues due to a previous clear heart catheterization. Her primary care doctor urged her to see a cardiologist due to her family history, but she hesitated until test results revealed severe heart disease, leading to the need for immediate...
2025-02-2615 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Mary Ann SalernoThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. The episode aims to empower women to take charge of their health and advocate for themselves within the healthcare system. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez interviews Mary Ann Salerno who explores her journey through the healthcare system, highlighting the importance of self-advocacy in women’s heart health. Mary Ann was Initially diagnosed with asthma and respiratory issues, but her persistent shortness of breath led to further testing, revealing severe heart blockages that required immediate intervention. She shares how her upbringing tau...
2025-02-1917 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - MaryAnn BrockThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. The episode aims to empower women to take charge of their health and advocate for themselves within the healthcare system. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez interviews MaryAnn Brock, who shares her journey with cardiac health. MaryAnn describes experiencing persistent burning chest pain, initially misdiagnosed as acid reflux, despite ongoing treatment. Over time, she realized the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare, especially for women, who often downplay symptoms or face dismissal. The podcast seeks to inspire women to become th...
2025-02-1219 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Deb WilliamsThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. The episode aims to empower women to take charge of their health and advocate for themselves within the healthcare system. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez interviews Deb Williams about the critical importance of self-advocacy in healthcare. Deb shares her experiences of being dismissed by doctors, in which she had to seek alternative care to receive proper treatment. She also recounts her heart attack at age 46, where medical professionals initially dismissed her symptoms due to her age and appearance, highlighting the g...
2025-02-0523 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Karin McNeilThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. The episode aims to empower women to take charge of their health and advocate for themselves within the healthcare system. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez interviews Karin McNeil, a woman diagnosed with heart disease at 40 after initially mistaking her symptoms for the flu. Karin shares her struggles with misdiagnoses, inadequate medical care, and the need to advocate for herself to receive life-saving treatment, including heart surgery and a defibrillator. Her story highlights the importance of proactive heart health management, seeking s...
2025-01-2927 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Jody HarterThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. The episode aims to empower women to take charge of their health and advocate for themselves within the healthcare system. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez interviews Jodie, who shares her journey of experiencing heart issues in her 40s, including severe palpitations and a life-threatening brain bleed. Jodie emphasizes listening to your body, advocating for timely medical attention, and not dismissing symptoms despite age or appearance. Dr. Alvarez and Jodie discuss how heart disease and health crises can affect anyone, regardless o...
2025-01-2216 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - JoAnn BurkettThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. The episode aims to empower women to take charge of their health and advocate for themselves within the healthcare system. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez interviews JoAnn Burkett, who shares her journey of discovering a life-threatening heart condition during a routine checkup despite having no symptoms. JoAnn emphasizes the importance of regular medical evaluations, which allowed her condition to be detected and treated before it became fatal. The conversation highlights the need for proactive healthcare, especially for women, and encourages l...
2025-01-1511 min
I AM YOUI AM YOU - Janet VanBurgerThe podcast I Am You is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and bestselling author. The episode aims to empower women to take charge of their health and advocate for themselves within the healthcare system. In this episode, Dr. Alvarez interviews Janet VanBurger, a seasoned nurse with over 50 years of experience, about her journey in recognizing the importance of heart health, especially as a diabetic. Janet shares her transition from being a caregiver to becoming her own health advocate, emphasizing the critical need for women to ask questions, seek proactive care, and de...
2025-01-0824 min
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Healthy Living PodcastInterview with Dr. Nitza Alvarez, Tri-County Heart InstituteTri-County Heart Institute is the home of Dr. Nitza I. Alvarez, a female Cardiologist, who is also an avid runner. She is keenly aware of the importance of staying active in order to maintain a satisfying quality of life. In her practice, Dr. Alvarez is devoted to ensuring that you receive the highest standard of cardiovascular care, and will work with you in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease helping you to stay healthy and active.To learn more about Dr. Alvarez click here: https://www.tc-heart.com/To learn more about Healthy Living Magazine v...
2024-04-2534 min
Florida ExclusivoFLORIDA EXCLUSIVO CARDIOVASCULAR AGOSTO 9-9 2020Dr. Nitza I. Alvarez Cardiovascular Heels vs. Ties: Living with your #1 threat Coronary Artery Disease is the number one health threat among both American men and women. However, today’s research focuses almost entirely on men. When it comes to women, heart disease is under-researched, under-treated and under-diagnosed.
2020-08-1134 min