North East woman who had a heart attack tells us about online abuse
53 year-old Louise McGill is highlighting the importance of sharing fears around prejudice
A woman from Newcastle is telling us about the online abuse she received whilst being in recovery from a heart attack.
53 year-old Louise McGill, who now lives in County Durham, is highlighting the importance of sharing fears around prejudice, eight years on since she found out she has cardiovascular disease.
She is one of dozens of people who have bravely shared their story to mark 65 years of British Heart Foundation (BHF)’s lifesaving research. The charity is unveiling 65 red benches across the UK in tribute to Louise and 64 others who live with heart disease – and to provide a place to reflect and open up about fears and stigma.
Louise had a heart attack at the age of 45 despite leading an active healthy lifestyle and only days after she had completed a 5k run.
Her heart attack happened as she lay in bed after a family day out when she began to feel excruciating pressure and pain in her chest. Her husband called an ambulance immediately and when the paramedics arrived they told her she was having a heart attack. Louise was taken straight to Freeman Hospital in Newcastle where she underwent a procedure to have a stent fitted in a blocked artery.
Louise has spoken out about the stigma she has experienced to highlight the importance of sharing fears around prejudice. When her story appeared on social media following her recovery, Louise was shocked to read a comment saying she “had eaten too many pies.”
Louise said: “That was just one of the aspects of shaming and stigma that I’ve experienced as someone living with heart disease. I couldn’t believe that anyone could be so unkind or think like that. I tried not to let it affect me.
“As a mother though you feel guilty enough putting your children through a scare like my heart attack and you can’t help but think ‘did I do something to cause it’? That comment did not help.
“It didn’t affect me, but I was shocked that people would comment like that on another person especially when it’s health related, and they never know what’s round the corner for them. My family and friends and I had gone through a lot when I was ill, and the comment was unnecessary and unkind.
How can someone who does not know you or anything about you say these things? Some people are too quick to judge and it can be hurtful and plainly inaccurate.
”All of the cardiac rehab people had reassured me that I was a healthy weight. I always ate healthily and exercised, but had high cholesterol, which is a risk factor for heart disease.”
“I’m really pleased that the BHF is honouring people living with heart conditions with the 65 red benches. They will hopefully provide a place to take time out to explain the complex feelings you can have after a diagnosis and to share any anxieties as well as hopes for the future.”
Every three minutes, someone in the UK dies from cardiovascular disease, with the condition affecting more than eight million people in the UK.
Louise’s experience is far from uncommon. A new survey of 2,000 UK adults living with cardiovascular disease has found that in addition to the physical and psychological impact of their condition, they can also face judgement and embarrassment.
The BHF hopes that the red benches will encourage others to open up about their experience of living with cardiovascular disease and help raise awareness across the UK.
The charity is also urging people to make donations so they can help fund more groundbreaking research to keep the nation beating.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive at the BHF said: “Louise’s story shows the true reality of living with cardiovascular disease, and we are so grateful that they are courageously sharing their experiences to help others.
“Despite being one of the UK’s biggest killers, our new findings show cardiovascular disease is still misunderstood or not taken seriously – and that those living with it face judgement and challenges.
“By sharing the stories of people who live with cardiovascular disease on our iconic red benches across the UK, we hope to start more conversations that change dangerous misconceptions. Research will help us save and improve more lives, but the only way we can fund the scientific breakthroughs of tomorrow is thanks to the public’s generous donations.”