Actor who lost father to heart disease favours the ‘brave’

Scots actor Siobhan Redmond spoke of losing her father to heart disease at the relatively young age of 59.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and Mclevy star said she would choose Brave as her badge.

She added: “Like many Scots, I lost my dad as a result of heart disease. He died at 59, the age I am now, of a massive heart attack apparently out of the blue.

“He laughed at the very idea of checking in with medical professionals – there had been a great deal of illness in my immediate family and he’d had enough of spending time in surgeries. “More than that, because he knew he lived dangerously, he didn’t want to have conversations about his choices.

“This is, of course, a person’s right: we are all entitled to live as we wish if we’re not hurting anyone else, but there were books he hadn’t yet read and stories to tell and jokes he’d have liked to make again and I hate to think there might have been more fun to be had if he’d just got himself checked out.

“Recently I’ve had treatment for my irregular heartbeat – it had begun to be a nuisance and I am profoundly grateful to live in a time and place where it’s possible to have keyhole surgery on your heart as a day procedure. “No more disco pulse for me and I really don’t miss the drama ... the badge I’d choose, though I like them all, is Brave. Just pluck up the courage to have the conversation – if you’re worried about your heart, or about someone else’s, speak up.

“It won’t kill you, but the alternative might. Nobody really likes being told they have to modify their excesses or to move more, but it’s worth it.”