MILWAUKEE — Health and wellness has always been a top priority for Diane Steinert.

“I taught yoga for 10 years,” said Steinert. “I was an athlete in school. Bike riding, swimming, had a pool at home. Ran until my knees gave out.”

So she knew something was wrong when she couldn’t breathe while on a bike ride.

“We were riding our bikes right up here near Lincoln Memorial Drive,” said Steinert. “That big hill as you come up to lake drive. I couldn’t get up it. I had to get off the bike and walk. I cried in shame and thought I was out of shape all of a sudden after the pandemic.” 

Steinert felt off, so she made an appointment with her doctors. Sure enough, she was diagnosed with three leaky heart valves.

A year ago, she had them repaired, but it wasn’t enough. She had to go back into surgery to have them totally replaced.

Now she’s in cardiac rehab to rebuild her strength. 

“We are doing aerobic exercise to get my heart back in shape because it is a muscle and just like your legs and arms if you don’t use them, they get weak and out of shape,” said Steinert.

Katrina Schultz is a clinical exercise physiologist at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s, who works alongside Steinert.

“Our goal is to set people up for success so they can know what they need to do now,” said Schultz. “They’re more educated on what they should be doing and shouldn’t be doing and how they should be getting that exercise and how it looks like.” 

Steinert now shares the message that you should always be aware of your body and how you are feeling and speak up if you notice something is off.

“If you see something, say something,” said Steinert. “If you feel something, say something. If you’re not happy with the first answers you get, you have to keep investigating. It’s your responsibility to take care of yourself.”