Women in Galway are being encouraged to register for a national webinar aimed at giving them the practical tools to protect their heart health.
The Irish Heart Foundation have organised a free online event for World Heart Day, September 29, as new research shows that a lack of motivation, stress and concerns that health checks are too expensive are preventing women from protecting their cardiovascular health.
The Ipsos data for the charity’s Her Heart Matters campaign, which is supported by the Department of Health Women’s Health Fund and the HSE, also shows that just over 51 per cent of women say they know the symptoms of heart disease and stroke.
It will explore the key symptoms of heart disease and stroke in women, how they can differ from men, how life stages like menopause affect your heart and practical, realistic steps to help lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Maura Derrane will MC the online webinar, which runs from 12.30 to 1.45 pm and will feature Dr Louise Fitzgerald, GP and clinical lead in menopause and occupational health.
The event will also feature the compelling personal story of 53-year-old Sharon Butler from Mahon in Cork: “It was my 46th birthday. My daughter Robyn and I had been shopping, had lunch and came home. I was trying on a new pair of shoes when I felt this sudden rush up my chest and a pain in my oesophagus. I thought it was indigestion.”
Sharon’s colour had changed, and the pain was not passing. Despite her protests, Robyn rang Sharon’s partner James, who had just started his medical internship. He told Sharon, “Women can present differently with heart attacks, and it does sound like you’re having a heart attack.”
After six hours and numerous tests in the Accident and Emergency department, a doctor confirmed she had suffered a heart attack.
The next day, Sharon underwent an angiogram. It was then that she first heard the term SCAD (Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection ). SCAD is an uncommon emergency condition in which a ‘tear’ happens within the layers of the wall of the artery, leading to blood becoming trapped within the artery, forming a clot and causing a partial or complete blockage.
Sharon got in touch with the Irish Heart Foundation for support and continues to work with them today.
Janis Morrissey, the Irish Heart Foundation’s Director of Health Promotion, is encouraging women in Galway to reflect on their current health and understand the factors that affect their heart health.
“Even one small change can make a huge difference,” she said, “It seems for many, life and lack of time is getting in the way, but it’s not about a drastic overhaul of lifestyle, just to ask themselves questions such as: am I stressed?, am I active?, how is my diet?, do I smoke?, when did I last have my blood pressure checked?"
Register for the webinar at www.eventbrite.ie
