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Davina & Louise: Shock Heart Attack Stories
18 Oct
Summary
- High cholesterol led to heart attacks in otherwise healthy individuals.
- Heart attack symptoms included chest tightness and heaviness.
- Women post-menopause are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease.
On a recent podcast, Davina recounted her experience with high cholesterol, initially believing her 'good' cholesterol offset the 'bad'. She emphasized that cardiovascular disease and heart attacks are prevalent, particularly among women post-menopause, who may be unaware of their risk.
Her guest, Louise, shared a similar harrowing journey. Ten weeks after a routine health check identified slightly high cholesterol and a low-risk rating, she experienced a heart attack, described as a "tightening and heaviness" in her chest. This occurred shortly after she completed a 5k run.
Louise’s main artery was severely blocked, leading to months of distress where she slept upright, fearing she wouldn't wake. Nine years later, she is recovering. Davina, who first spoke about her cholesterol in 2021, discovered a family history of the condition, including her grandmother having a heart attack.
Davina urged listeners to prioritize their health by getting blood pressure and cholesterol checked and to heed their body's signals if something feels wrong, noting she herself experienced brain surgery in 2024 for a benign tumor. The key takeaway is not to brush off potential health concerns.
