FOREST, Va. (WFXR) — A heart disease survivor is raising the alarm and advocating for women’s heart health.

According to health experts, about 35% of heart attacks in women may go unnoticed or unreported. For Kathy Thornsberry, symptoms started appearing 13 years ago.

“Shortness of breath and arm pain on exertion,” Kathy shares. “We decided to do a nuclear stress test and unfortunately it was a false negative. And that was on Monday. And then on Saturday I had a heart attack in the car.”

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Kathy had been aware for months that something wasn’t right with her body, but after persistence, she was finally able to get an EKG.

“They found a 90 percent and 100 percent blockage in the lower right side of my heart, which affected my lungs. That’s why I was having trouble breathing,” Thornsbury says.

Doctors got to work right away, clearing the blockage in two stints.

“I was grateful that I was still alive, grateful that I had made it through, grateful that I was still here with my family,” Thornsberry said.

After facing mortality, Cassie is on a mission.

“I believe everyone is here for a reason. And I think my reason is to help people understand and learn more about heart disease,” Kathy said. Told.

Whether it’s fundraising for the American Heart Association, participating in the Lynchburg Heart Walk each year, or encouraging women’s health, Kathy says she repeats a mantra that keeps her going. .

“I use proverbs that help me de-stress. It helps me let things go. It’s called that, it’s what it is,” Kathy said. “I say it out loud. I say it to myself. I tell the people around me that I don’t care. Hmm, that’s what it is. Then I can let it go and then… You can move on. You can just go with the flow,” Kathy says.

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The 32nd Annual Lynchburg Heart Walk will be held on Saturday, April 13th at the Percival’s Island Riverwalk Trail in Lynchburg.The walk starts at 9am and ends at 10am

The annual walk raises money and promotes heart health. This year’s theme is “Heart Walk Goes Red” and aims to educate women about heart disease.

“We need to be proactive about our heart health. I think if women knew that heart disease is our biggest health threat, we could be a little more proactive. ,” said Elizabeth Vail, program director at the American Heart Association.

According to the CDC, the leading cause of death in the commonwealth is heart disease, followed by cancer and COVID-19.

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