Modern life can be relentlessly busy, and most of us know what it feels like to be tired, stressed, and even out of breath.
So, when Karen Berry, a mother of two, began experiencing fatigue and breathlessness in her mid-40s, she assumed she just needed to improve her fitness.
This feeling of exhaustion also saw her regularly fall asleep on the sofa during the day, and it soon became apparent to others that she wasn’t looking well.
However, it wasn’t until she fainted in 2022 that she decided to see her doctor.
Thinking that she may need something to boost her stamina, she was unprepared for the events that unfolded as her GP sent her to have tests, which resulted in open heart surgery followed by three weeks in hospital.
“I got a concussion in 2019 after that, had fatigue and cognitive problems, so I wasn’t aware of the new symptoms in the beginning,” she says.
”In hindsight, I probably should have noticed, but feeling breathless walking up the stairs wasn’t something I thought I needed to go to the doctor for — I just put it down to being 46.
“Then, after the fainting incident, I decided to go to the GP in case it was related to the concussion. She referred me for a medical assessment, and at this stage, no one had any thoughts about the heart as we all thought it was something to do with my head.”
A few days after seeing her GP, she went to her local hospital for tests, and while there weren’t any strong familial links to heart problems, she had developed a murmur while pregnant, so an echo-cardiogram was required, just in case.
Though usually there is a waiting list of several weeks, fortunately, there was a cancellation that day, so she agreed to take it.
She was urged to go home as she would get results the next day.
However, later that evening, she received a call asking her to come back to the hospital the following day for tests under sedation.
These revealed that she would need an operation as soon as possible as one of her heart valves was severely damaged and had a build-up of calcium.
She was transferred to the cardiothoracic ward, where she would undergo open heart surgery.
“This was a huge shock — I only went to the doctor initially because I had fainted, and now I was being told that I had to have heart surgery,” she says.
“My husband was abroad at a conference, [but his employers] made arrangements to bring him home immediately. Everyone was worried about me, but I was kept busy, telling myself I had lots to do before the operation in case I didn’t make it and wanted to leave everything sorted and up to date, both at home and work.
“I was busy making sure everybody else was OK, but when my husband finally arrived, we had a big cry — then it was all about getting ready for surgery. Everyone looking after me in the hospital was fantastic, and they knew I was in shock — I veered between laughing and crying as I waited for surgery.”
Due to pressure on the intensive care beds, her surgery was pushed back for two weeks, during which time she stayed in hospital.
While nerve-wracking for Berry and her family, the operation was a success.
Afterwards, the primary school secretary was told by her doctors that she would need to put her energies into getting better.
Her husband, Alan, sons Ruairí and Donnacha and their grandmothers, Ann and Eileen, all rowed in to help her recover.
She also attended cardiac rehab and availed of the physical and emotional support offered.
“There were so many supports available to help me recover, including exercise classes with nurses on hand to check blood pressure and heart, which is great for confidence as you know that if anything goes wrong, there is someone there. I also had a lot of support from the Irish Heart Foundation and Croí, which were fantastic as not everything is medical; sometimes you just want to ask if someone else is feeling the same way — and the counselling services were also great.”
The family decided to get a puppy last year, so she now walks a lot and has taken up drumming. “Both help to keep me busy and active. So, I am enjoying life, eating well, exercising, going away with friends for days out or weekends and really living as best I can.”
The Galway woman, who was off work for five months, feels lucky to be alive. “I was very, very lucky,” says the now 48-year-old.
“My heart had swollen because it was under so much pressure trying to compensate for the damaged valve — if I hadn’t fainted and then got it checked out, things could have been very different.
“I would tell others to get checked if something is new or doesn’t feel right. My symptoms came out of the blue, and initially, I didn’t want to waste time going to the doctor with tiredness or breathlessness, but it shows that every concern is valid.
“So if you’re not yourself, get it checked out. It may be absolutely nothing but don’t leave it to chance. I’m so thankful for all the people who have been there for me — surgeons, nurses, doctors, and also my family and friends — everyone has been amazing, and I will be forever grateful to them for the fact that I am here today.”
Dr Angie Brown, consultant cardiologist and medical director of the Irish Heart Foundation, says it is vital women are aware of their heart health as one in four will die of heart disease and stroke.
“Women are six times more likely to die of heart disease or stroke than breast cancer — and according to the CSO, 4,591 women died from heart disease and stroke in 2023,” she says.
“Heart disease increases with age, and our population is ageing. We are seeing more people with risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity — coupled with the older population, levels of cardiovascular disease are predicted to rise.
“Also, loss of oestrogen [during menopause] means women’s risk of cardiovascular disease increases as the protective effect is lost — lipid levels rise, triglycerides levels increase, and the bad cholesterol (LDL) increases. There is an increase in vascular tone, so the blood pressure rises, and the arteries stiffen. There are higher rates of glucose intolerance and obesity — all of this equates to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.”
Obesity, particularly abdominal obesity, is also a risk factor in men, she adds.
- Get blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checked and, if necessary, treated.
- Stop smoking, drink less alcohol, eat a Mediterranean diet with lots of vegetables, fruit, fish, and chicken.
- Physical activity is one of the greatest tools for preventing premature cardiovascular disease. A minimum of 150 minutes of moderate exercise divided into enjoyable and manageable amounts during the week is recommended.
- Stress can negatively impact health, as we are more likely to drink, smoke, and eat unhealthily. Combined with poor lifestyle choices, stress leads to the release of cortisol, which raises blood glucose and adrenaline, increasing heart rate and blood pressure, leading to higher cardiovascular risk.
- Irish Heart Foundation Nurse Support Line: 01 6685001 and irishheart.ie
