A Cardiac Nurse & Dietitian's Guide to Heart Health: Testing, Prevention, Myths & More with Angela Hartley, RN (ep – 91)

Heart disease is the number one cause of death for both women and men, yet so much confusion still surrounds it.

In this episode, Ginger sits down with Angela Hartley, RN, a cardiac rehab specialist, personal trainer, and nutritional therapist, for a conversation that reframes heart health as something empowering rather than scary. Together, they unpack the numbers you actually need to know, the tests worth advocating for, and the truth about how eggs, sodium, and saturated fat impact cardiovascular health. Whether you're being proactive or finding your footing after a cardiac event, this episode explains why your heart is not something to fear, it's something to understand.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

[00:02:36] Overview of heart health risk factors and cardiac events

[00:03:42] What to get tested for: blood pressure, A1c, and cholesterol

[00:09:31] How heart attack symptoms differ in women vs. men

[00:11:39] Myth-busting eggs, sodium, and saturated fat

[00:13:48] How different foods affect different labs (LDL vs. triglycerides)

[00:19:43] Recognizing when something feels "off" in your body

[00:21:39] Returning to exercise safely after a cardiac event

[00:25:42] Where to start with nutrition after a cardiac event

[00:29:50] Angela's biggest takeaway: know your numbers