Why shortness of breath can be a sign of heart disease in women

Laura Monty didn’t feel sick. She wasn’t in pain. She was doing what she loved.

But one ordinary moment – climbing a flight of stairs in ski boots – revealed something that nearly cost her life.

February is Heart Health Month, a time to focus on the signs of heart disease people often miss. For women especially, those signs don’t always look the way we expect. Laura’s story shows why listening closely to subtle symptoms can make all the difference.

What was the first sign something was wrong with Laura’s heart?

The first sign wasn’t dramatic. It was easy to explain away.

“I was coming up a flight of stairs in my ski boots,” Laura says. “And someone I’d never seen before said, ‘Why are you so out of breath?’”

At first, she brushed it off. Ski boots are heavy. Anyone would be winded.

But the comment lingered.

“I started thinking, well, I am out of breath just coming up a flight of stairs. That’s odd.”

Looking back, she realized it wasn’t a one-time thing. As an active hiker, she noticed she struggled more than others to catch her breath.

“When we’d start hiking season, my husband and my friends would get into shape faster than I did,” she says. “Even at the end of the summer, I was still breathing hard.”

Can heart tests be normal even when there’s a serious problem?

Laura did what many people do when something feels off. She talked to her doctor and went through a full round of testing:

• An echocardiogram
• A PET stress test – “the gold standard”
• Pulmonary function testing.

“All of my tests came back normal,” Laura says.

That reassurance made it easy to move on. She and her husband were preparing for an extended overseas trip when a casual conversation gave her pause. This time with her plumber.

“He said, ‘You know, Laura, if it were me, I’d go to a cardiologist and just get checked out, for sure.’”

That advice landed in a way the test results hadn’t.

“I think, as women, we think, ‘I don’t want to bother anybody. I don’t want to take up resources that somebody else needs,’” she says. “But I thought, you know, I need to check. I need to see what’s going on.”

Why shortness of breath is a common heart symptom in women

Laura scheduled an appointment with Dr. Armond Lapine, a cardiologist at Intermountain Health. It was her first visit with a heart specialist.

When she explained her symptoms, his response surprised her.

“He said, ‘You’re out of breath. That’s a classic symptom for women with heart issues.’”

During Heart Health Month, providers often emphasize this key difference: heart disease in women frequently shows up without chest pain. Instead, symptoms may include shortness of breath, fatigue, or feeling unusually winded during everyday activities.

Dr. Lapine recommended an angiogram just to be sure.

“Your artery is 100% blocked”: the moment everything changed

When Laura woke up from the procedure, she got life-altering news.

“A man walked into my room and went to the heart diagram on the board,” she says. “He said, ‘This is your left anterior descending artery. It’s one of your four main arteries.’”

Then came the words she never anticipated.

“He said, ‘It’s 100% blocked, so we will need to do a bypass.’”

Laura was stunned. “I said, ‘What do you mean? Do you mean open heart surgery?’”

There was no alternative.

“Well, not when your artery is 100% blocked.”

Only then did she realize who was delivering the news.

“He said, ‘Oh goodness, has the cardiologist not come in yet?’ And I said, ‘No.’ And he said, ‘Well, hi, I’m your surgeon, Dr. McKellar.’”

That was her introduction to Stephen McKellar, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon at Intermountain Health.

“That was simultaneously the scariest and best day of my life,” Laura says.

Why Heart Health Month focuses on women listening to their symptoms

February’s focus on heart health exists for moments exactly like this.

Laura had subtle symptoms. Her early tests were normal. And her heart was in serious danger.

“The number one thing I’d like to say is, if you have even the tiniest doubt, get it checked out,” she says.”

For many women, heart disease doesn’t announce itself loudly. Listening early, and pushing past self-doubt, can be lifesaving.

How cardiac rehab helps patients recover after open heart surgery

Open heart surgery saved Laura’s life. But recovery is where she began to feel strong again.

“The other thing that was really key was cardiac rehab,” she says.

Intermountain Health’s cardiac rehabilitation program is designed to help patients safely rebuild strength after heart surgery or a cardiac event. The program combines medically supervised exercise, education, and long-term support – and outcomes are significantly better for patients who participate.

Just three weeks after surgery, she was walking on a treadmill.

Ten weeks later, she was cleared to ski.

“Ten weeks ago, I was in a hospital recovering from open heart surgery,” Laura says. “And there I was, skiing. I was just so grateful to be out there.”

What Laura wants other women to know about heart health

Heart disease doesn’t always feel urgent. Sometimes it feels like being a little out of shape. Or needing an extra moment to catch your breath. Or wondering if you’re overthinking things.

Laura Monty trusted that small voice telling her something wasn’t right, and it saved her life.

During Heart Health Month and beyond, her message is simple: listen to your body, ask questions, and don’t minimize symptoms.

At Intermountain Health, heart care goes beyond diagnosis and surgery. From advanced testing and expert surgical teams to cardiac rehabilitation and long-term support, we’re here to help people return to the lives they love.

You can visit our Heart & Vascular Care page to learn more.