Mum-of-two’s ‘wake up call’ after sudden heart attack aged just 45

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A busy mum-of-two has said having a heart attack at the age of 45 has give her a huge ‘wake up call’. Kirsty Cherry, is aiming to raise people’s awareness about heart disease after she was left shocked by the sudden health problem.

The self-employed events manager knew her health wasn’t great because she is diabetic and her family history features heart issues but the cardiac arrest still caught her completely by surprise.

Now six months after her heart scare Kirsty is aiming to bring to people’s attention to the risks of heart failure in the hope that she can help save someone's life. “There are heart problems on the paternal side of my family, affecting my grandmother and father, who have both had bypasses, while most of my aunts and uncles have had other issues too,” Kirsty told Belfast Live. “My dad’s heart problems were discovered when he was 48.

I always thought that it might catch up with me eventually but obviously I imagined I’d have a lot more time! I’m also diabetic and that tends to escalate things so you’re more prone to other health issues.“But I just wasn’t looking out for myself, I was overweight and worrying about keeping a roof over my head, bills, the kids getting back to school - stressing about things not in my control.”Kirsty, who is from Moneyreagh, Co Down and mum to Katie, 15, and Thomas, 13, is a PR professional who also owns Cherry Moon candles.It was normal Friday morning on August 20, 2021 when she first noticed the warning signs.“I was eating a piece of toast when I took a terrible pain in my chest and shoulders and what I thought was awful heartburn.