At 31, She Survived a Heart Attack (w/ Kisha Stewart)

At the age of 31, shortly after giving birth to her son Diego, Kisha Stewart experienced a life-threatening heart attack caused by a rare and often under-recognized condition called SCAD. What started as what she thought was normal postpartum fatigue quickly turned into chest pain, dizziness, and nausea — symptoms that could have been easily dismissed. In this episode, Kisha opens up about that terrifying night, the role her intuition played in getting the care she needed, and the challenges of navigating gender bias in the healthcare system. She also shares her journey of rebuilding both her physical health and trust in her body, and offers vital insight into warning signs every woman should know. This is a story of resilience, awareness, and empowerment that every listener can learn from. About Kisha Stewart: Kisha Stewart, a nurse and mother of three, survived a near-fatal "widowmaker" heart attack (SCAD) at age 31, just two weeks after giving birth. Despite having a medical background, her symptoms were initially dismissed as anxiety. Now a Go Red for Women advocate, she shares her story to highlight postpartum risks, racial disparities in care and the need for self-advocacy. She documented her experience in the book "Sonata for a Damaged Heart: A Young Mother's Journey of Survival After a Near Fatal Heart Attack. Keep up with Kisha: Read her story at the American Heart Association: https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/about-heart-disease-in-women/class-of-survivors/kisha-stewart IG - https://www.instagram.com/kishaandscad/ Book - https://www.amazon.com/Sonata-Damaged-Heart-Expanded-Survival-ebook/dp/B0CLKZJKW6 Stay Connected: Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it to [email protected] Subscribe to our quarterly newsletters: Flourish Heights Newsletter Visit our website + nutrition blog: www.flourishheights.com Follow us on social media: Instagram: @flourishheights / Women's Health Hub: @hersidebyfh / @valerieagyeman Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishheights Want to support this podcast? Leave a rating, write a review and share! Thank you!