Four years ago, after going to the doctor with a severe bout of suspected indigestion, Carol Breen, who is now 54, was diagnosed with a blocked artery and had to undergo emergency surgery before being put on medication for life.
As the Irish Heart Foundation is focusing its annual heart awareness campaign on women this year, Breen believes her story should encourage others to pay attention to their heart health and take all the necessary steps to ensure it functions properly for as long as possible.
“Over the years I had mild indigestion on and off. I didn’t get it every week, but I would always have had a bottle of Gaviscon handy, just in case I needed it. If I was going on holiday, or to a wedding or something, I would always remember to bring a bottle with me. But even though it was a regular occurrence, I didn’t think it was important enough to mention to my doctor,” she says.
“In the spring of 2011, I had three very bad migraines over the space of two weeks and my doctor gave me some medication. I was also referred for tests to decipher why I was having the migraine. But before I went for these, my indigestion pain started up again so I went back to the doctor, who checked me out thoroughly.
“I had my blood pressure taken, which was normal, and I went for an ECG, which also came back fine, but my doctor wasn’t happy and referred me for a thorough investigation at the Bons Secours Hospital [in Cork].”
Blockage in main artery
“The tests showed that my stomach seemed fine but an angiogram revealed that I had a 98 per cent blockage in a main artery of my heart.
“I couldn’t believe it: this was very shocking news and was distressing for me and for my family. I was terrified that I had such a serious problem. Like many women I have always had a few pounds to lose, but never had any reason to go to hospital before so this was totally new territory for me.
“I was admitted straight away and sent down to ICU for the night, which was very scary. The following morning I was brought down to theatre to have a stent put in, which was also a traumatic experience. I had never even heard of a stent before, and suddenly I was there having it inserted. The doctors and nurses were very nice and kind but I still found it all very daunting.
“I was in hospital for eight days altogether, and before I was discharged I was put on aspirin and Plavix to thin the blood. I was also put on cholesterol medication and a beta blocker.
“Once I returned home, it took a good few weeks to get over the shock but it was recommended that I begin exercising as soon as possible, so when I felt fit enough I started going out for walks. I had always enjoyed walking and swimming but didn’t do it regularly enough; [after this event] I was told I had to exercise every day.
“Knowing that I had a serious heart condition made me really nervous: I was worried that I might have a cardiac arrest if I did anything too strenuous. But I was referred for a six-week cardio rehab programme which I found invaluable. Twice a week, the cardiac nurses, Mary and Ann, along with Marian the physiotherapist, put me through a circuit programme. This was really helpful because all the time during the exercise, they monitored my heart while I was hooked up to a special machine.
“I found this very comforting and it gave me the confidence to know that I could do a hard workout without being afraid for my heart. During the weekly classes, a dietitian, a cardiologist and a pharmacist came in to teach us how to look after ourselves in future: they were a great help as they explained everything to us.
“Four years on, I still attend the classes once a month as I find they really help me to cope with my condition. I also visit my own doctor regularly for check-ups and I see my cardiologist once a year, so I feel I am keeping on top of things.
“Since I was diagnosed, I have made some changes to my life, the biggest being that I make sure to exercise daily. I either go for an hour’s walk or for a swim every day, and I go to an aqua aerobics class twice a week. My diet has also changed dramatically as I am much more conscious of the food I eat and try to eat healthily all the time. I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, have swapped red meat for fish and chicken, and have cut out junk food. Mind you, I’m not a complete angel and do have the odd treat occasionally.
“If I could give some advice to other women, I would say take care of your heart as it is not until problems arise that you realise how vital it is. No one expects to have problems with their heart until they are older, but I was only 50 and my symptoms were not typical. Thankfully, my doctor persisted until she found out what was wrong with me. So I would encourage people to go to the doctor and get checked if they have any concerns. I am so lucky that I did because it truly saved my life.”
To mark the Irish Heart Foundation’s #RedAlert to women, download the free Women and heart magazine on irishheart.ie or tel. 1850 364 364.
