Survivor secures research grant for heart condition affecting women
A woman who suffered a serious heart condition mainly affecting females has secured a health grant of almost £200,000 to pioneer research into vital rehabilitation.
Western Isles teacher Mary Galbraith was 39 when she became desperately ill with a heart condition.
After an initial delay in diagnosis, she was taken to hospital by an experienced paramedic who had known her for years and realised she was seriously ill.
The former geography teacher from Benbecula suffered a spontaneous coronary artery dissection (Scad) – a major cardiac attack that involves injury to a major blood vessel.
About 95% of the estimated 459 Scad patients in Scotland are women, many middle-aged and younger than typical heart patients, but the research into treatment and rehabilitation is scant, said Galbraith.
She is now addressing this with a major grant in collaboration with university academics.
Galbraith said: “As I recovered, I discovered a worrying gap in diagnosis and treatment for women with heart conditions.
“I am glad to be part of the campaign that has seen Edinburgh Napier University’s Centre for Cardiovascular
Health receive a grant of £184,716 to pioneer rehabilitation for other women.
“There is little in the way of research or recovery programmes for this major heart event experienced by mainly by women, many of whom are younger than most heart patients. Napier University’s professor Lis Neubeck has been inspirational in support of women with cardiovascular problems.
“I have had multiple Scads and very familiar with the struggles of recovery. Worry over reoccurrence is considerable. Many women are not even diagnosed. My cardiologist, professor Colin Berry at the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank, diagnosed it and referred me to the UK leading expert in Leicester.”
Galbraith had to leave her teaching job at the age of 40, feeling she had little purpose in life. She said: “I was devastated but have gone from the classroom to campaigning for better heart health for other women.
“Much of previous cardiac research has been carried out in men and the time is well overdue to focus on women.”
She is among the voices calling for the appointment of a Woman’s Health Champion.
“We need a Women’s Health Champion now. I contributed to the Women’s Health Plan Heart Health section and now sit on the Women’s Health Lived Experience Group,” adds Galbraith. “The Scottish Government should be inspiring women’s health and we need a Women’s Health Champion now.”
The £184,716 grant secured by Galbraith from the Burdett Trust for Nursing is aimed at improving life after Scad. Professor Neubeck, of Edinburgh Napier Centre for Cardiovascular Health, said: “There is an urgent need to develop physical and psychological recovery for Scad survivors and test effectiveness with randomised control trials.”