By Lisa Rowell
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. It can affect women of any age. The Centers for Disease Control( CDC) reports that more than 60 million women in the U. S. are
suffering from some form of heart disease.
“ That’ s scary,” said Jessica Bailey, APRN with Lake Cumberland Cardiology Associates.“ In 2023, heart disease was responsible for one in every five female deaths."
Bailey, a family nurse
Jessica Bailey, APRN
practitioner, has a lot to say about women’ s heart health. And she wants us, and those who love us, to heed the warning signs.
“ Women are natural caregivers,” Bailey said, adding that women do not always think to take care of themselves and can easily
overlook signs of heart disease. She said heart disease can occur in women of all ages and is not limited to post-menopausal women.
Let Me Just Take Care of This First...
Pamela Popplewell knows about women’ s heart health firsthand. The design editor for Southeast Kentucky Life Magazine, Popplewell suffered a heart attack last June, with 99 percent blockage in an artery.
A minimally invasive stent procedure unblocked the artery. However, a second blockage was discovered that required another stent procedure.
Popplewell, like many other women, admitted she will be the first to take care of others, while barely taking time for herself to go to an appointment.
“ I just keep going and going, like most women do,” she said.“ We think we are not important enough to take care of ourselves because we have so much to do.”
Popplewell said she knew she felt“ off” on that early June day.“ My chest started feeling heavy, like I had really, really bad indigestion.”
At the urging of family, Popplewell sought medical attention but not until the following day— a tactic not recommended by health care professionals. She was treated for the chest pain and was feeling well enough to think she’ d be
February 2026 SEKY- Southeast Kentucky Life • 11