"My mother needed a wife." My patient died the next day, but her daughter's comment had a profound effect on me because she was absolutely right. A wife would not have allowed her husband -- or her brother, or her child or her friend -- to ignore the symptoms.

I did live that night. I have another chance to really take in all that the dash has to offer. I now have a purpose in life.

Women are being targeted. We are falling prey to a silent enemy. An enemy most of us didn't even know we had. But it has its sights set on us. And in 2010, it was set on me.

Despite women being vigilant when it comes to the heart health of their loved ones, they notoriously put themselves last when it comes to their own health.

Heart disease kills more American women than all forms of cancer combined, according to the American Heart Association. To shine a spotlight on this i...