Atlanta executive Tangela Q. Parker calls for stronger awareness of heart disease in women and encourages individuals to take an active role in protecting their cardiovascular health.

ATLANTA, GA / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2026 / Marketing and corporate affairs executive Tangela Q. Parker is raising awareness about one of the most serious but often overlooked threats to women's health: heart disease.

Although heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States, public awareness and prevention conversations still lag behind other health issues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in every 5 female deaths in the U.S. is caused by heart disease, accounting for more than 310,000 deaths each year.

Parker, a senior communications and healthcare strategy leader based in Atlanta, says the gap between risk and awareness remains a major concern.

"Many women don't realize how serious heart disease is until it directly affects someone close to them," Parker said. "The reality is that heart health should be part of the conversation much earlier. Awareness gives people the opportunity to act before problems escalate."

Over the course of her career, Parker has held senior leadership roles at major healthcare organizations, including CVS Health, Centene Corporation, Wellcare Health Plans, UnitedHealthcare, and Humana. Her work has often focused on how institutions communicate health risks, public policy, and patient education in complex environments.

She believes that improving women's heart health starts with making the issue more visible and understandable.

"Health literacy matters," Parker said. "When women understand their risk factors and symptoms, they're better equipped to advocate for their own health and make informed decisions."

Why Women's Heart Health Requires More Attention

Despite the scale of the problem, heart disease in women is often misunderstood.

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease kills more women each year than all forms of cancer combined. Yet symptoms in women are frequently different from the traditional signs most people associate with heart attacks.

Women may experience symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, or pain in the jaw, neck, or back, rather than the sudden chest pain often portrayed in media or public awareness campaigns.

These differences can delay diagnosis and treatment.

"Part of the challenge is that many women don't recognize the warning signs," Parker said. "Understanding how heart disease can present differently in women is an important step in protecting long-term health."

Risk factors also remain widespread. The CDC reports that nearly half of all Americans have at least one major risk factor for heart disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, diabetes, or lack of physical activity.

For Parker, conversations about women's heart health are closely tied to leadership, sustainability, and long-term well-being.

"Professional success without personal grounding eventually shows up in poor judgment," Parker said. "Taking care of your health isn't separate from leadership. It's part of sustaining the work and showing up well for the people who depend on you."

Building Awareness Through Everyday Actions

Public health experts agree that early awareness and prevention can significantly reduce cardiovascular risk. According to the American Heart Association, up to 80 percent of cardiovascular disease may be preventable through lifestyle changes and early management of risk factors.

Parker believes that progress often begins with small, consistent actions.

"You don't need a complex system to start protecting your health," she said. "Pay attention to your body, stay physically active, and make time for routine screenings. Those simple steps can have a meaningful impact over time."

She also encourages more open conversations about women's health within families, workplaces, and communities.

"Health conversations shouldn't only happen after a crisis," Parker said. "They should happen earlier, when people still have time to make meaningful changes."

A Call to Action for Women's Heart Health

Parker encourages individuals to take proactive steps to understand their cardiovascular health better. Learning the symptoms of heart disease in women, scheduling regular health screenings, staying active, and discussing family health history are important starting points.

"Awareness is powerful," Parker said. "When women have the information they need, they are better positioned to protect their health and advocate for themselves."

She also believes that broader public conversations about women's health will play a critical role in improving outcomes in the years ahead.

"Leadership sometimes begins with raising the right questions," Parker said. "The more we talk about women's heart health, the more people will begin paying attention to it."

To read the full interview, visit the website here.

About Tangela Q. Parker

Tangela Q. Parker is an Atlanta-based corporate affairs, marketing, and strategic communications executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience in healthcare and public-sector organizations. She has held senior roles with major institutions, including CVS Health, Centene Corporation, WellCare, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and Planned Parenthood Southeast. Parker specializes in enterprise communications, reputation strategy, crisis management, and stakeholder engagement in complex and highly regulated environments. A graduate of Alcorn State University with executive leadership studies completed at Harvard Business School, she is also active in civic and professional organizations, including the Junior League of Atlanta, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and the National Association of Female Executives.

Contact:

Info@tangelaqparker.com

SOURCE: Tangela Q. Parker