Knowledge is a powerful tool when it comes to you and your body. That’s why a different perspective about your disease, prognosis and treatment options can help you feel more in control of your situation.

Jody Emerson, 50, assumed her heart was healthy. She didn’t have hypertension or diabetes, and no one in her family had heart disease. She knew her cholesterol was a little high, but she wasn’t on medication. And yet, when Jody felt an odd sensation in her jaw, it was unusual enough that she mentioned it to a friend.