When Your Body Doesn’t Fit the Medical Mold: Why Healthcare Gaps Go Beyond Race and Gender

When Your Body Doesn’t Fit the Medical Mold: Why Healthcare Gaps Go Beyond Race and Gender

When people talk about healthcare disparities, the focus is usually on race, gender, or income. And don’t get me wrong—those are major barriers that absolutely deserve attention. But what happens when adversity in healthcare doesn’t fit neatly into those categories? What if the challenges are just as real but not as obvious?

I’ve lived this firsthand. My journey with tricuspid valve disease, heart failure, and a rare lung condition has taught me that the system isn’t just failing people based on the usual checkboxes—it’s failing people in ways most don’t even think about.

Anatomy Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

Most people don’t realize that your anatomy can be a barrier to care. I certainly didn’t—until I was told that my heart isn’t shaped like the standard textbook version. It’s shaped like an avocado. And that difference? It matters.

Medical devices, procedures, and even the way doctors are trained rely on what’s considered “average.” But if your body doesn’t fit that mold, suddenly, your treatment options shrink. Some devices aren’t designed to fit certain anatomies. Some procedures are less effective or more dangerous for people whose bodies don’t fit the "norm." And some conditions—especially those that affect women—aren’t studied as thoroughly because they don’t fit into the "default patient" model that medicine has been built around.

3D image of my "avocado shaped" heart with the EVOQUE valve ❤️‍🩹🥑

And it’s not just me.

✔ Women are more likely to have their heart disease misdiagnosed because research and treatment guidelines have historically been based on men’s bodies.✔ People with congenital conditions often don’t fit the standard surgical or medical treatment pathways because their anatomy developed differently.✔ Anyone outside the "average" range—whether that’s due to size, shape, or underlying conditions—can face delays, misdiagnoses, or limited treatment options simply because the system isn’t built for them.

Yet, we don’t talk about this nearly enough.

Not Every Bias is About Race or Gender

Bias in medicine isn’t always about what you look like—sometimes, it’s about how you present. If you “look fine,” your symptoms might get brushed off. If your condition is invisible, you might have to fight to be taken seriously. And if you’re a woman? There’s a good chance a doctor has chalked your symptoms up to stress or anxiety at some point.

I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. And I know I’m not the only one.

How many times have we heard stories of people begging for tests, second opinions, or more answers—only to be dismissed because they didn’t “look sick enough”?

✔ If your pain isn’t visible, doctors might assume it’s exaggerated.

✔ If your heart symptoms don’t look “classic,” you might be misdiagnosed.

✔ If your test results look fine, you might be sent home—even if something is clearly wrong.

This happens all the time, especially to women. Research shows that women’s symptoms are more likely to be dismissed, their pain undertreated, and their concerns waved off as “hormonal” or “anxiety-driven.”

If YOU don’t prioritize your health, who will? Advocate for yourself —your life depends on it.❤️‍🩹🥑

And to be clear—this isn’t just frustrating. It’s dangerous.

For conditions like heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and rare illnesses, delays in diagnosis and treatment can mean the difference between life and death.

So, what do you do when bias gets in the way of care?

✔ Speak up—even when it’s uncomfortable. If something feels wrong, don’t let it slide.

✔ Keep records. Track symptoms, note changes, and bring data to your appointments.

✔ Find a provider who listens. If you feel dismissed, switch doctors. Period.

✔ Bring backup. A second voice in the room can make all the difference.  

Because at the end of the day, you know your body better than anyone.

So, What Needs to Change?

It starts with awareness, but it can’t stop there.

✔ Recognizing anatomical diversity in clinical trials – Our bodies aren’t one-size-fits-all, and medical advancements need to reflect that.

✔ Validating symptoms—visible or not – Just because someone looks okay doesn’t mean they are. We need to take invisible illnesses seriously.

✔ Holding the medical system accountable – Bias in medicine is real, and the only way to fix it is to keep pushing for change.

Healthcare adversity is more than statistics or demographics—it’s also about real people slipping through the cracks because they don’t fit the expected mold. It’s time to change that.

Have you ever faced a healthcare challenge that people didn’t see or understand? I’d love to hear your story. Let’s talk about the things that don’t always get talked about. This is how change happens❤️‍🩹🥑

#HealthcareDisparities #HospiceSurvivor #WomenAndHeartDisease #MedicalEquality #SelfAdvocacy #TricuspidValveMiracle #PatientVoice #DiversityInMedicine #HealthcareBias