World Heart Day 2020

According to the World Heart Federation, cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death on the planet. It can be caused by our lifestyle choices like smoking and what we eat, to air pollution or how much stress we are exposed to. If you are like me, some of us can even inherit heart disease.

#WorldHeartDay is a day that is literally ‘close to my heart’.

I have a diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, often referred to as ‘sudden death syndrome’. Unfortunately, my illness left me needing to have open heart surgery in 2019, aged just 28 years old.

I am delighted to say that the NHS did an incredible job and my surgery has overall, been a huge success. Thanks to my surgical team and the amazing doctors, nurses and hospital staff, I can now live a fulfilling life as a mother, a young (ish!) person and as a career-driven individual. But many people do not know about the journey that I have been on to have this almost ‘normal’ life, and I just do not feel that heart health is talked about much in general in our society.

I think the hardest thing about having poor heart health, is that you cannot really ‘see’ this illness. It is invisible and so very easy to overlook. I am fortunate that my employer supported me both throughout my journey with heart surgery and the long and painful recovery process that followed. But most importantly, they continue to make adjustments for my needs, wherever I need them, because I will always need them.

So I ask employers… how much thought have you given to cardiovascular disease? How can you support those that need it, whilst also encouraging good heart health in general? Are your employees over-worked? Do you provide sufficient breaks? Do you encourage rest, work-life balance and healthy eating?

I also ask you to think about this current (and rather strange) world of COVID-19. Heart patients are faced with a ‘double-edged threat’, as described by the World Heart Federation. Not only are we more at risk of developing severe forms of this virus, the thought of going to our appointments for the care and treatment that is required, becomes alarming too. As employers, let us recognise this anxiety exists for many and may we not forget to ‘check in’ with all employees that are sadly, at a greater risk should they contract this virus.

Today, I am going to #UseHeart by talking and sharing my own personal experience, with the hope that I can inspire others to take care of their good heart health, if they are fortunate enough to have this already. I would give pretty much anything to have a healthy heart! Beyond this, I aim to keep encouraging the sharing, the talking and raising knowledge and awareness of these silent, yet often aggressive conditions.

How are you going to #UseHeart today?