Story by: Viola Mayne Picture: Provided by Heart Research Australia
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for Australians, and is the leading cause of death for women globally. With rising pressure coming from economic circumstances, stress is quickly becoming a key issue that increases our risk of heart attacks, cardiovascular disease and sudden cardiac events.
“Most people think of stress as emotional or mental, but the heart feels it too,” according to Nicci Dent, CEO of Heart Research Australia. “We’ve normalised being wired and tired – but living in stress mode is like leaving your car engine running all night. The cost-of-living squeeze means many Australians feel like every day is a crisis – and our hearts are paying the price.”
With stress becoming regular in our daily lives, we need to recognise its risks. Stress can affect women’s hearts more than men’s, and long-term stress can damage the arteries and worsen other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Recognising small signals such as poor sleep, constant tension, headaches or snapping at small things, is the first step to resetting and keeping our heart healthy. Simple, everyday actions can bring stress systems back into balance.
“A hug, a laugh, or a walk in the park aren’t luxuries – they’re medicine for the heart.” Clinical Neuropsychologist Dr Miranda Say insists.
Heart Research Australia, a charitable organisation, are going into their fourteenth year of their annual charity event REDFEB, a National month-long fundraising campaign dedicated to raising awareness for heart health in February.
With climbing concerns for cardiac issues, Heart Research Australia provides this campaign to donate money to cardiac researchers and to encourage the Australian community to focus on personal wellbeing by challenging them to take the time to look after themselves.
“You can’t always control the cost of living or your workload, but you can control how your body navigates back to baseline,” assures Nicci Dent.
With heart disease killing more than twice as many Australian women than breast cancer (3), many women are unaware that they are at risk of heart disease. Even with no symptoms, no known history of cardiac issues in the family and not drinking alcohol or smoking, it is still possible to have a cardiac attack.
What started out as a normal day for Australian author Rachel Jayne Cassidy quickly turned on its head when she came home feeling unwell. Experiencing a heart attack, the day turned into a frightening ordeal that left a long road of recovery, physically, emotionally and mentally.
“That morning, I was a seemingly healthy woman,” Rachel Jayne described. “Now I was lying in a hospital bed hooked up to beeping machines, grappling with the words, ‘heart attack’.” Slowly learning to shape her lifestyle around her shocking heart attack, Rachel Jayne found a new way to thrive and enjoy life while keeping an eye on her wellbeing.
She not only started taking the time to look after her own heart— as a heart health advocate she started looking after the hearts of the national and international community. Spending almost 6 years researching and writing her much sought-after heart health book In a Heartbeat, Rachel Jayne provides a valuable guide which features uplifting, inspiring accounts of human survival against all odds, alongside valuable heart health information from well-recognised cardiologists and health professionals across Australia. She is dedicated to ensuring that those who have experienced a heart event find comfort and reassurance in this book, knowing they are not alone.
“Awareness [for heart issues] is dangerously low, particularly for women, and it is literally costing lives.” Says Nicci Dent. “People don’t tend to understand what having heart issues really entails, because the government is not giving cardiovascular science the necessary attention.”
About 40% of heart attacks in women are fatal, and many occur without prior warning. Sadly, the majority of women don’t realise it’s one of their leading causes of death.
While symptoms can vary from person to person, it’s important they are not dismissed by rationalisation.
“Although I had textbook symptoms, my mind wasn’t processing what was occurring in my body.” Rachel Jayne describes her experience in the preface of In a Heartbeat. “…I rationalised every warning sign… unaware of the serious nature of my condition.”
While Rachel Jayne gave herself a reason for the pain in her shoulder blades and tingling of her fingers, she still found it odd and reached out to family. By paying even a little attention to your health, the severity of cardiovascular issues goes down, overall reducing the risk of damaging your heart.
It’s time to shine a light on heart health.
In a Heartbeat can be purchased online, in bookstores or ordered from your local library.
Heart Research Australia email: enquiries@heartresearch.com.au
Australians are encouraged to wear red, take part in the REDFEB Bingo Challenge, and donate to Heart Research Australia at www.heartresearch.com.au
