Dublin Mum’s Urgent Message: Listen to Your Body for Heart Health
A Dublin mother, Emma Connors, is speaking up about her experience with heart failure after giving birth, urging other women to pay attention to their bodies and prioritize their heart health. Emma, 35 years old, had a healthy pregnancy despite managing gestational diabetes. However, shortly after returning home from a hospital visit where her newborn son was treated for jaundice, Emma noticed her legs had doubled in size and experienced shortness of breath during the night.
Concerned about her condition, Emma hesitated about going to the hospital due to the fear of contracting COVID-19, but she eventually decided to seek medical help. At the hospital, her vitals were alarming, and she was immediately admitted. Tests revealed fluid in her lungs, which had to be removed. Over the course of five days, a catheter removed over 8kg of fluid from Emma’s body.
Later that day, Emma was diagnosed with post-natal heart failure by the hospital’s heart consultant, Dr. Emer Joyce. Emma’s story is being shared to raise awareness for the Irish Heart Foundation’s ‘Her Heart Matters’ campaign. The campaign encourages women to prioritize their heart health through small, sustainable lifestyle changes.
Since her diagnosis, Emma has made significant changes to her lifestyle to manage her condition. She now consumes more oily fish, stays physically active, takes her medication daily, monitors her fluid gain by weighing herself regularly, reduces her salt and alcohol intake, and limits her fluid intake to 1.5 liters per day.
Emma emphasizes the importance of women listening to their bodies, stating that she dismissed her breathlessness multiple times without realizing her body was drowning in fluid. She considers herself fortunate to have returned to normal life but urges other women to take care of their hearts, emphasizing that their heart health matters.
The ‘Her Heart Matters’ campaign by the Irish Heart Foundation highlights the sobering statistic that one in four women dies from heart disease and stroke. For more information on the campaign and to access practical tips and support, please visit irishheart.ie.
It is crucial for women to be proactive about their heart health, recognizing the signs and symptoms that may indicate a problem. Emma’s story serves as a reminder that taking care of one’s heart is essential. By listening to your body and making small lifestyle changes, you can prioritize your heart health and reduce the risks associated with heart disease and stroke. Remember, your heart matters, so take charge of it today.
