Why You Can Feel Fine and Still Be at Risk

What if feeling perfectly healthy isn't the whole story?

In this powerful episode of the Prime Women's Crazy Good Aging Podcast, we tackle a truth every woman needs to hear: heart disease is the number one killer of women — and it can be silent for years.

No dramatic warning.
No crushing chest pain.
No obvious red flags.

Just life as usual… until it isn't.

Our guest, Cynthia Pharr, considered herself the picture of health. She exercised. She ate well. She lived fully and actively. A routine stress echocardiogram — ordered simply because her cholesterol was creeping up — changed everything.

Without symptoms, without feeling sick, Cynthia learned she had a severe genetic valve condition. Over time, additional testing revealed complex heart issues that ultimately led to open heart surgery and an implanted defibrillator.

The most powerful part of her story?
She never felt "heart sick."

Her message is one every woman needs to hear:

Feeling fine can be dangerous if it causes you to skip appointments, ignore symptoms, or decline testing.

Joining the conversation is Dr. Zarina Sharalaya, interventional cardiologist and specialist in women's heart health. She shares what too many women experience:

• Symptoms brushed off as anxiety or reflux
  
  

• High blood pressure ignored because "you feel okay"
  
  

• Family history overlooked
  
  

• Risk factors under-tested and under-treated
  
  

Women are often diagnosed later and treated later. Prevention changes that.

Dr. Sharalaya outlines the essentials every woman should track:

• Blood pressure (anything consistently above 130 matters)
  
  

• Cholesterol
  
  

• A1C (blood sugar)
  
  

• Lipoprotein(a) — a genetic cholesterol risk marker
  
  

• High-sensitivity CRP — an inflammation marker
  
  

• Calcium score (especially after age 50)
  
  

She also emphasizes something many overlook: your family tree may hold hidden heart risk — even if no one had a heart attack.

A heart murmur was dismissed for years.
Congestive heart failure labeled as "old age."
Genetic markers you didn't know existed.

Your heart history may be quieter than you think.

After 50, as estrogen declines, cardiovascular risk increases. Blood pressure may rise. Cholesterol may shift. Even lifelong healthy habits don't make you immune.

Prevention isn't panic — it's power.

You don't need to be afraid.

But you do need to be informed.
You do need to ask questions.
You do need to advocate for yourself.

If you've ever said:

• "I feel fine."
  
  

• "It's probably nothing."
  
  

• "I'll deal with it later."
  
  

This episode is for you.

And if you love a woman in your life — share it with her.

Your heart is talking.
Make sure you're listening.

Listen now to this vital episode of the Prime Women's Crazy Good Aging Podcast and take one small step toward protecting your future.

How do you age beautifully after 50 — and even into your 80s and 90s?

In this episode of Prime Women's Crazy Good Aging, Dorothy Shore and Valerie Freeman sit down with renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Rod Rohrich to discuss the truth about facelifts, fillers, Ozempic face, skincare essentials, and the #1 factor that determines how well you age: mindset.

Learn about:
• SPF and sun damage prevention
• Retinol vs. Retin-A
• Exosomes and advanced skincare
• Deep plane facelifts
• Avoiding "pillow face"
• GLP-1 weight loss and body contouring
• Purpose-driven living after 50

If you want expert-backed anti-aging advice for women over 50, 60, and beyond — this episode is for you.

Subscribe for more trusted insights on beauty, health, and thriving at every age.

00:00 – Introduction & Meet Dr. Roy
01:30 – The #1 Difference in Women Who Age Well
04:00 – Sun Damage & SPF Truths
06:00 – The 4 Must-Have Skincare Essentials
08:00 – Exosomes Explained
10:30 – Waiting vs. Acting: When to Start Treatments
13:00 – Fillers, "Pillow Face" & Deep Plane Facelifts
16:00 – Ozempic Face & GLP-1 Weight Loss
20:00 – Body Contouring After Weight Loss
23:00 – Surgery in Your 80s & 90s
26:00 – Mindset, Purpose & Longevity
29:00 – Final Advice on Aging Crazy Good

Dating in midlife comes with freedom, confidence—and a whole new set of challenges no one warned us about.

In this episode of Prime Women's Crazy Good Aging, guest host Amanda talks with her friend Alicia, a single woman in her early 50s navigating the modern dating landscape. What unfolds is a refreshingly honest conversation about dating apps, first-date expectations, safety concerns, and how priorities change as we get older.

Alicia shares how dating apps often feel stacked against women over 50, why many women feel pressured to fib about their age just to be seen, and how profile pictures don't always tell the truth. She also opens up about the emotional toll of dating disappointments—and how hard it can be not to take rejection personally.

One of the most powerful moments of the episode centers on safety. Alicia recounts a date that began innocently enough and quickly turned frightening, highlighting the extra vigilance women must practice when meeting someone new. It's a sobering reminder that while dating can be fun, protecting yourself always comes first.

The conversation also explores intimacy in your 50s—how it's less about building a life from scratch and more about finding someone in the same stage of life. Someone who values health, independence, emotional connection, and shared experiences.

They laugh about red flags they once ignored (strip clubs, anyone?) and celebrate green flags that matter now, like responsibility, self-sufficiency, and emotional maturity. Most of all, this episode reminds us that while midlife dating isn't easy, it can be empowering, clarifying, and even hopeful.

Because dating in your 50s isn't about finding someone to complete you—it's about finding someone to life with.

👉 Listen to the full episode and join the conversation.

00:00 – Meet Amanda & Alicia: Why Midlife Dating Deserves Honesty
00:49 – "Disappointing": One Word to Describe Dating in Your 50s
01:26 – Expectations vs. Reality When Dating Again
02:15 – Playing the "Would You Date Anyone Here?" Game
02:43 – Dating Apps: Match, Profiles, and Instant Regret
03:40 – Why Women Fib About Age on Dating Apps
05:24 – Accidental Swipes & App Frustration
06:39 – Why Men Our Age Don't Look Our Age
07:25 – "Nurse or a Purse": The Caretaking Trap
08:12 – Best vs. Worst First Dates
10:43 – Dating App Safety Red Flags Women Can't Ignore
11:53 – The Flat Tire Date That Turned Scary
15:50 – Why That Experience Ended the App Game
16:32 – Intimacy & Emotional Connection in Your 50s
18:08 – What This Life Stage Makes Possible
20:00 – What's Better (and Worse) About Aging
22:40 – Red Flags We Ignored When We Were Younger
24:07 – Green Flags That Matter Now
25:18 – Instant Attraction Killers
26:52 – Escaping Bad Dates Gracefully (or Not)
28:57 – The "Pregnant Wife at Home" Bar Story
30:54 – What Dating in Your 50s Teaches You About Yourself
33:30 – Closing Thoughts on Crazy Good Aging