Your heart is your #1 killer — and most women don't know it until it's too late

Dr. Georgine Nanos sits down with Dr. Alexandra Kharazi, a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon, skydiver, mother, and author of The Heart of Fear, for one of the most honest conversations about women's heart health you'll hear anywhere. 

56% of women don't know that cardiovascular disease is their leading cause of death. Dr. Kharazi explains why — and what to do about it. 

 In this episode: 

• Why women are more likely to be misdiagnosed (and why the "Hollywood heart attack" is failing us) 

• The 3 myths Dr. Kharazi sees in her OR — and the real risk behind each one 

• What happens to cardiovascular risk during perimenopause and menopause 

• The underutilized cardiac tests Dr. Nanos orders that most physicians skip — lipid NMR, APOB, lipoprotein(a), CT angiograms 

• Why chronic stress physically damages your heart through compounding habits 

• What 500 skydiving jumps teach you about fear, focus, and flow 

• The "deployment step" for getting unstuck 

TIMESTAMPS 

0:00 — Introduction 

1:30 — Daughter of immigrants: how her upbringing shaped everything 

3:00 — From family medicine to cardiothoracic surgery 

6:25 — Heart disease: the #1 killer women don't see coming 

9:50 — The 3 biggest myths 

12:45 — Perimenopause, menopause & cardiovascular risk 

14:05 — Underutilized cardiac tests 

17:35 — Chronic stress and the heart 

19:55 — The Heart of Fear: what inspired it 

23:55 — Skydiving, flow state, surgical precision 

25:10 — Legacy 

27:00 — Lightning round 

 Dr. Kharazi: alexkharazi.com| @alexandrakharazimd | @heartoffear