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a missed heart attack, coronary artery disease: how one woman refused to 'wait and see'

instead of blindly following her doctor's advice to 'wait and watch' after discovering she had survived a heart attack years earlier, christina stuwe pushed for more testing. in the end, her persistence saved her life.

by maja begovic

published feb 14, 2023

last updated apr 12, 2023

7 minute read

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7 minute read

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for christina stuwe, a heart attack was the first clue that something was not right. supplied

according to the heart and stroke foundation, many women in canada could be at risk for heart disease — pregnancy, menopause, birth control pills and diabetes are considered to be the biggest risk factors. and even when a woman survives a heart attack, she may not be provided with the information and the care she needs to manage heart disease. there is evidence that suggests that after a heart attack, women are less likely to be prescribed medication to help lower blood pressure or cholesterol, and less likely to attend a cardiac rehabilitation program. they’re also less likely to experience the textbook symptoms of a heart attack. instead of crushing chest pain, women may have more vague symptoms, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, indigestion, nausea, back or neck pain and some chest discomfort. christina stuwe didn’t know that she had survived a heart attack until years later a sudden onset of heart palpitations brought her to her family doctor. when she finally came face-to-face with a cardiologist, he insisted that they “wait and watch” her symptoms for another year. instead of blindly following his advice, christina did what many patients are often too intimidated to do — she pushed for conclusive answers and more testing — and in the end, her persistence saved her life. this is her story.

this interview has been edited for length and clarity.

i didn’t have the stereotypical, chest-grasping hollywood type of heart attack. in fact, it came and went very fairly quietly, several years after my pregnancy at age 44. i had experienced gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, both of which had resolved after birth, but at no point, during or after my pregnancy did any doctor inform me of the potential risk for heart disease. in fact, i first learned of the connection between heart disease and gestational diabetes and high blood pressure from a heart and stroke foundation report. if i had known that women who experience these complications could be at risk for heart disease years down the road, i would have been more proactive — i would have pushed for preventative testing.

christina’s (middle) husband (left) was by her side, advocating for more testing. supplied

i’m fighting to have preventative heart disease testing embedded within our medical system

unfortunately, women are still not being educated on the very real risk that looms after pregnancy. through advocacy, i’m fighting to have preventative heart disease testing embedded within our medical system — this one simple action could save more lives and empower women to take back control of their heart health. in an effort to raise awareness and help other women, i’ve shared my personal experience in my new book, ‘yes, it’s my heart…is it yours too?’ where i’ve documented the drawn out 13 months it took to get to the diagnosis and heart surgery, my rehabilitation process, and the lack of understanding, diagnosis, and unintended gender bias that women with heart disease often encounter in our medical system.

i first learned that i had survived a heart attack several years after my pregnancy, when i sought help for heart palpitations that came on suddenly one day, while watching cartoons with my young son. i went to see my family doctor — blood work didn’t show anything of concern, but several ecg tests picked up an irregular heart rhythm. i was given a heart monitor, the wearable device that can detect heartbeat irregularity and track how often it’s happening. at the time, my family doctor was retiring, and the process of moving my medical file to a new doctor had slowed down the diagnosis and the search for answers. by the time i came face-to-face with a cardiologist, more than seven months had gone by.

i thought that an appointment with a specialist would finally lead to a diagnosis, but unfortunately, the cardiologist didn’t seem to know what he wanted to do. i didn’t want to take any chances with my health, my father had had a quadruple bypass surgery more than two decades earlier, so i pushed for something more conclusive. every time a test came back either normal or inconclusive, i asked “what other tests are there left to do?”

the cardiologist ordered an echocardiogram, which showed that the lower left chamber of my heart was beating at just 35 per cent, but shockingly, his only advice was to wait another year, to see if anything would change. my husband and i pushed for further testing, and after an angiogram, it was revealed that i had angina [a symptom of coronary artery disease]. suddenly, the burning sensation in my upper back and numbness down into my arms, which had previously been surmised to be thoracic outlet syndrome, made sense. all along, it was never a muscle issue, but rather a symptom of heart disease.

i needed triple bypass surgery. i was 47 years old

when i was also told that three of my arteries had significant buildup in their walls and that the third artery was 100 per cent blocked, i felt myself mentally check out. i was too overwhelmed with emotion to understand, let alone retain, the information that was being shared with me. i was fortunate that my husband was there to support me, as he has done through surgery and rehabilitation. i was given medication and told that i needed triple bypass surgery. i was 47 years old.

i waited nearly four months to have the surgery. by coincidence, one of my clients and a colleague both had heart attacks and underwent emergency surgery while i waited for mine. when my name was placed on the waitlist, there were 400 people ahead of me. heart surgery waitlists are notoriously long and don’t include the roughly 30 to 40 emergency procedures per month that are performed in addition to the scheduled operations. the waiting period was especially tough for me. i was constantly anxious about what might happen, and i wasn’t allowed to do very much either — extreme angina would set in from just climbing two or three stairs, and i wasn’t able to keep up with my young son. i felt powerless and found myself in a perpetual state of hyper-vigilance, worrying about every sensation in my body. it worsened the anxiety attacks that i had already started experiencing.

when the surgery finally happened, i was grateful it was performed by a wonderful doctor who is a pioneer in this field — she used a unique technique to help accelerate healing and ensure that i can have the longest life possible. three months after surgery, i began a two-year cardiac rehabilitation program, which gave me confidence in my new body. i learned how to build stamina and properly exercise, i learned the ins and outs of a healthy diet and stress management, but most importantly, i learned to honour my body, appreciate what it can do and accept its limitations. unfortunately, many women don’t have the opportunity to access this critical rehabilitation program — they’re either too busy with life, career, parenting, or the program isn’t offered in their region.

part of christina’s recovery journey has been learning how to properly exercise and lead a more active lifestyle. supplied

without a doubt, when you’re diagnosed with heart disease, your life changes, but with some adjustment, it is possible to live well. today, i am proud to say that i’m stronger than ever and that i’m in the best shape of my life. surviving a heart attack and triple bypass surgery gave me an opportunity to redefine my outlook on life. i am no longer afraid or ashamed to lean on others and ask for help, and occasionally, i receive support from a psychologist who helps me navigate some of the emotions. the heart and stroke foundation has also been instrumental in my recovery. there were times throughout my journey where i felt like i was the only person on the planet going through this experience, but the support i received — whether it was information or educational resources — made me feel less alone. finally, i am grateful to my family and my husband whose unwavering support got me through the toughest days.

over the years, i’ve found great joy in sharing my story and i know that i’ll continue to do whatever i can to help protect women’s health and affect change within our health system. i’m here as a heart thriver and i’m focused on making a difference, one heartbeat at a time.

christina stuwe’s book ‘yes, it’s my heart…is it yours too?’ is available for purchase on amazon today. the release date is symbolic for christina. on this day five years ago, she met her cardiac surgeon for the first time, who not only saved her life, but helped her find new ways to thrive.

maja begovic is a toronto-based writer.

do you have a story you’d like to tell in your own words? connect with us at info@healthing.ca.

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a missed heart attack, coronary artery disease: how one woman refused to 'wait and see'

instead of blindly following her doctor's advice to 'wait and watch' after discovering she had survived a heart attack years earlier, christina stuwe pushed for more testing. in the end, her persistence saved her life.

what are the signs and symptoms of a heart attack?

can a routine eye test predict the risk of a heart attack?

i’m fighting to have preventative heart disease testing embedded within our medical system

i needed triple bypass surgery. i was 47 years old

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a missed heart attack, coronary artery disease: how one woman refused to 'wait and see'

instead of blindly following her doctor's advice to 'wait and watch' after discovering she had survived a heart attack years earlier, christina stuwe pushed for more testing. in the end, her persistence saved her life.

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what are the signs and symptoms of a heart attack?

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i’m fighting to have preventative heart disease testing embedded within our medical system

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i needed triple bypass surgery. i was 47 years old

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