Fabulous Survivors:

Meet Audrey Weidman – Heart Attack Survivor

Audrey Weidman is passionate about educating and empowering women about heart disease. Why?  Because she is a heart attack survivor.

To look at her, you would NEVER have said: “That is a heart attack waiting to happen.”   She exercised, ate well, lost weight and even reduced her cholesterol prior to having a heart attack.   Her heart attack could’ve been much more severe if she hadn’t already been on a healthy lifestyle track.

Fabulous Women Audrey Weidman- imageOn October 22, 2016, Audrey suffered a heart attack while doing yard clean up and walked around for two days not knowing she had it.  She only discovered the heart attack at her previously scheduled annual physical two days later.

Heart disease is the #1 cause of death among women in the western world.  And it is largely preventable.  Women delay seeking emergency medical help — even in the middle of serious heart attack symptoms.  This is one of the main reasons heart attacks are so deadly for women.

Audrey is a prime example.  She got dizzy and felt a burning sensation with diffuse chest pain.  She attributed those symptoms to vigorous exercise she had done the day before and the yard work she was in the middle of.  She never thought she was having a heart attack.  Her husband even asked her to see a doctor and she brushed it off thinking she had her annual physical scheduled and she’d see the doctor in a couple of days.

Heart disease happens over time, often without symptoms.  If you have a nagging feeling that you may be at risk for heart disease or have a strong family history of heart disease, be proactive.  Audrey remembers the impact the heart attack had on her family.  Her husband, daughters and extended family were so shocked, worried and frightened.  When someone has a heart attack, the people who love you are affected as well.

Visit your doctor and get blood work done to determine if you have a genetic risk for high cholesterol and what you can control with your diet. Ignorance is not bliss.

Inflammation and stress are some of the root causes of heart disease.  And the good news is that you do have the power to change that.  Pay attention to what you eat.  Move more.  Be grateful for the moment.  And learn to manage stress.  You have more power than you think.


Here are heart attack symptoms to look for:

  • Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
  • Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
  • Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
  • Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
  • Women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are more likely than men to experience other common symptoms.

Source: American Heart Association


Audrey encourages and mentors women to confidently transform their wellness goals into an ongoing sustainable lifestyle using a combination of stress management, diet, and exercise within a community.   She walks the talk and invites others to learn from her.   Audrey offers 12 powerful stress reduction tips for free.  Get your copy at her website here.

 

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