What Is Your Body Telling You?

Heart disease is the number one killer of women, and 36-year-old Geniece may be at high risk. "My cholesterol level is 247," Geniece says. "I'm afraid of heart disease because my grandmother passed away from a heart attack last year."

Along with family history, Geniece is also worried that her hectic schedule as a single mother who works and volunteers is too overwhelming. As Geniece takes us along through her typical day, we see her daily stressors. Before 7 a.m, her troubles have already begun—her car won't start! "My heart's racing right now because I was not expecting my car not to start. The more out of control I am, the more my heart rate starts to flutter where I feel the irregular heartbeat."

Once Geniece reaches work, she explains the stress of her job. "I just recently started this job in May and so I'm always constantly [thinking], 'Am I doing a good job? Is my supervisor satisfied with my performance in this new job?'"

After work, Geniece drives directly two community meetings before she finally goes to bed at 10:30 p.m.—after 17 hours on the go.