I agree with Sagemother that it's important to inform yourself about risk factors for heart disease and to speak to the doctor in his/her own language.

I also think it's important to trust your intuition. Some of the women I've known who've had heart attacks (like my co-worker) suspected there was something seriously wrong but were afraid to act on their feelings out of fear of being labeled "hysterical" or "irrational" or _______________ (fill in your favorite minimizing insult).