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 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 decades, Maureen has cared for her husband Steve through significant health challenges - yet she made a powerful, life-changing decision: to take care of herself, too.

Maureen opens up about the guilt, emotional exhaustion, and constant self-sacrifice that caregivers quietly endure. She explains the moment she realized that putting herself last was hurting both her and her husband - and how choosing to prioritize her own health became an act of love, not selfishness.

Dr. Alvarez and Maureen explore:

•Why women feel guilty prioritizing themselves

•How caregiver stress silently harms the body

•Small, realistic ways to “recharge” even when you can’t leave home

•How to communicate your needs without making loved ones feel like a burden

•Why caregivers must speak up, schedule their own checkups, and advocate for their emotional and physical well-being

This episode serves as a heartfelt reminder: you cannot pour from an empty cup. Caring for yourself is not only essential - it is a responsibility to the people who depend on you. Maureen’s honesty, humor, and strength will inspire every listener to pause, reflect, and take the first step toward becoming the CEO of their own health, no matter how much they give to others.

I 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 Know

Last 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 get misdiagnosed.

In the U.S., 60% of stroke deaths occur in women. Most research? Done on men.

That must change.

The Myths That Put Women in Danger

Dr. Alvarez exposes the myths that delay diagnosis:

• “It only happens to the elderly”
• “If symptoms disappear, it’s nothing”
• “Hormones don’t affect stroke risk”

Up to 80% of strokes are preventable with the right evaluation — but only if women know what to ask for.

Essential Tests to Request

Once a stroke is confirmed, women must ask: Why did it happen?

The episode breaks down the minimum evaluation every woman deserves:

• Transesophageal Echo (TEE)
• Rhythm monitoring or loop recorder
• CT/MR angiogram — head & neck
• Hormone & inflammation screening

Because “unknown” should never mean “unsolved.”

How to Protect Your Future Self

Dr. Alvarez shares 5 practical strategies to protect the brain and heart — through movement, nutrition, sleep, hormone awareness, and preventive health checks.

True prevention is power. And it starts when you become the CEO of your own health.

Listen. Share. Advocate.

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Follow @NitzaMD on Instagram & Facebook

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, 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 rushed to the ER with a stroke. Her story isn’t rare — and it’s happening to younger women every year.

With clarity and compassion, Dr. Alvarez explains:

• Why stroke is not just a disease of the elderly
• The two types of stroke — and why ischemic strokes make up 90% of cases
• How perimenopause and hormonal shifts quietly change brain circulation
• The 20% drop in cerebral blood flow during menopause — years before symptoms appear
• The two groups of women at twice the risk — and why they must act early
• The traditional and non-traditional risk factors every woman should screen for
• How stress is sometimes not “just stress”… but your brain whispering for help

This episode is a wake-up call — a reminder that symptoms don’t always scream. Sometimes, they whisper. And understanding those whispers might be the difference between recovery… and disability.

Above all, this is a call for every woman to become the CEO of her own health — protecting both her heart and her brain with science, self-awareness, and early action.

Don’t miss Part 2, where Dr. Alvarez dives into the tests, myths, and essential evaluations every woman should know if stroke — or mini-stroke — is ever suspected.

Listen in. Share it. And help change how women experience heart and brain health.

Visit NitzaMD.com

Follow @NitzaMD on Instagram and Facebook