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 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 are real, but traditional testing says everything is “normal.” With warmth, clarity, and urgency, she explains why women’s symptoms often look different from men’s, why so many women are dismissed or misdiagnosed, and how modern science is finally catching up to what women have been feeling all along.

From shortness of breath and unexplained fatigue to the “tight bra” sensation that can signal hidden angina, Dr. Alvarez guides listeners through the signs of open artery ischemia and the life-saving tests women deserve to request. She breaks down stress tests, PET scans, and angiograms in simple terms, and lays out exactly how to advocate for further evaluation when you’re told “everything looks fine” — even though your body says otherwise.

This episode is both empowering and eye-opening, reminding women that their symptoms are valid, their health matters, and they must never settle for vague answers. It’s a rallying call to trust yourself, insist on proper testing, and take your health into your own hands — just as every woman deserves to do.

Because when it comes to heart health, women aren’t little men — and your heart deserves to be seen, heard, and treated.