As I sat in Dr. Valentin Fuster 's exam room at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan , only one word raced through my mind : `` Whoa ! '' That was it . I was floored . I really could n't understand why this was happening to me -- and now . I had beaten obesity and , for the first time in my life , I was hitting the gym regularly and practicing portion control in my diet . I 'd taken up tennis and , in fact , was actually pretty decent . This is me we 're talking about -- someone who 'd never run for , hit or even caught a ball until I was 42 . Even though I felt and looked great , I was experiencing what I now know are the classic symptoms of heart disease : frequent intense heart palpitations , light-headedness , shortness of breath and extreme fatigue . But I always thought that heart disease was an old white dude 's disease . That 's what I 'd seen on television anyway . It did n't happen to newly skinny black women who had it going on . Or , at least thought they had it going on . I could n't have been more wrong . I was about to be the face of heart disease . When my doctors told me they were going to crack my chest open and take my heart out of my body to repair my aortic valve and remove a subaortic membrane to stave off future heart issues , it scared the crap out of me ! I sincerely considered not having the surgery . But I knew I needed to be strong . So , I got focused . I became determined . And yes , at times , I was terrified . Anyone who goes through cardiac surgery and tells you they were n't scared is lying . We 're all human . Fortunately , the skill level of my physicians and the resources that were available to me left me encouraged by the prognosis for recovery . Amazingly , even though the doctors stopped my heart for 22 minutes on the operating table , I made it through open-heart surgery without any complications . As part of my recovery , I elected to do cardiac rehab . That was the second-best decision of my life . Three months of pushing myself to the limit with steadfast determination to recover fully was my goal . The discipline necessary to strengthen your heart after surgery is relentless and exhausting but so worth it . I was lucky . No , more like blessed . I came through heart disease , and today I 'm a survivor . With my recovery , I realized I had an obligation that reached beyond my own health . I made a commitment to use whatever platform I have in the public eye to raise awareness of heart disease in women . According to the American Heart Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , heart disease is the No . 1 killer of all Americans . It 's the No . 1 killer of African-Americans , and it 's the No . 1 killer of women . So , you see , heart disease for me is personal -- very personal . For three years , I 've served as the National Volunteer for the AHA and a volunteer spokeswoman for their Go Red For Women movement . The movement aims to dispel myths surrounding heart disease and raise awareness . It 's a passionate , emotional and social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health . The goal is to harness the energy , passion and power women have to band together and , collectively , wipe out our No . 1 killer . With National Wear Red Day coming up this Friday , I 'm reminded that bringing awareness to heart disease is n't about just wearing red one day a year . It 's a lifestyle . It 's about sharing your story and empowering each other to make heart health a priority starting now . I 'm thankful for the voice I have when it comes to fighting this preventable disease . I 've made it my mission to do what I know how to do -- talk -- to anyone who 'll listen to my story . And , believe me , I 've been coast to coast sharing my story and educating others along the way . Today , I 'm living my best life in great health . I 'm so proud I 've spent the past 10 years getting myself in the best physical and emotional shape I could be in . I learned late in life that my health is my greatest asset and encouraging healthy living is my purpose in life . For she who has health has hope , and she who has hope has everything .
TV host Star Jones was diagnosed with heart disease in 2010 . Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women , but it 's preventable . February is American Heart Day , and Friday is National Wear It Day .