HEART HEALTH PROMOTION
Heather Ebbs has been actively promoting women's heart health awareness since 2019.
My Story
On 2 May 2019, the morning after returning from a business trip to Arizona, I was working in my home office on preparations for the forthcoming annual indexing conference, for which I was coordinator. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my upper left back, and then what felt like a cylinder of pain going from there to my chest. It turned out I had had a heart attack caused by spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). Testing at that time also identified an earlier, previously undiagnosed SCAD. At the time, SCADs were still considered somewhat rare, but it is now thought that they may be responsible for up to 25% of heart attacks in women under the age of 50.
Through an online support group for SCAD survivors, I not only met other women whose shared experience helped me tremendously, but I found out about a couple of programs offered through the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI). One of these was called Women@Heart, a peer support program led by women with heart disease for women with heart disease. I took the program during the winter of 2019/2020, and a couple of years later I applied to become a peer leader in the program. Training was extensive, and I've now led or co-led two groups. See more about the program below.
Even before taking the Women@Heart program, I knew I wanted to support other women with heart disease, so I took the UOHI's Community Advocacy training so that I could offer information sessions about women and heart disease in my various communities. I've given this one-hour session many times now, to businesses, professional groups, church groups, social clubs and others.
In 2023 I became a member of the Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance, and I'm also a co-administrator of a Facebook/Meta group for women and men with SCAD.
About the Programs
"Heart disease is the leading cause of premature death for women in Canada. When it comes to heart disease, women are under-studied, under-diagnosed, under-treated, under-supported and under-aware. Women themselves tend to under-estimate the risk of dying or becoming seriously unwell due to heart disease. Educating women greatly increases their willingness and ability to take heart-protective action." These few sentences from the Canadian Women's Heart Health Centre encapsulate why I am so passionate about women's heart health. And through training from the CWHHC, I am able to offer women information about heart disease and what they can do to minimize their risk.
Women@Heart is a peer support program led by women with heart disease, for women with heart disease that aims to create a caring environment for women to learn from each other. It provides access to emotional support, educational support and a caring environment for a better recovery after a cardiac event. Find out more here.
The UOHI Community Advocacy training provides individuals such as me with the tools needed to present about women's heart health in their local community. Besides training the advocate, the toolkit includes an information deck and other resources to support presentations. Find out more here.
On 2 May 2019, the morning after returning from a business trip to Arizona, I was working in my home office on preparations for the forthcoming annual indexing conference, for which I was coordinator. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my upper left back, and then what felt like a cylinder of pain going from there to my chest. It turned out I had had a heart attack caused by spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). Testing at that time also identified an earlier, previously undiagnosed SCAD. At the time, SCADs were still considered somewhat rare, but it is now thought that they may be responsible for up to 25% of heart attacks in women under the age of 50.
Through an online support group for SCAD survivors, I not only met other women whose shared experience helped me tremendously, but I found out about a couple of programs offered through the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI). One of these was called Women@Heart, a peer support program led by women with heart disease for women with heart disease. I took the program during the winter of 2019/2020, and a couple of years later I applied to become a peer leader in the program. Training was extensive, and I've now led or co-led two groups. See more about the program below.
Even before taking the Women@Heart program, I knew I wanted to support other women with heart disease, so I took the UOHI's Community Advocacy training so that I could offer information sessions about women and heart disease in my various communities. I've given this one-hour session many times now, to businesses, professional groups, church groups, social clubs and others.
In 2023 I became a member of the Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance, and I'm also a co-administrator of a Facebook/Meta group for women and men with SCAD.
About the Programs
"Heart disease is the leading cause of premature death for women in Canada. When it comes to heart disease, women are under-studied, under-diagnosed, under-treated, under-supported and under-aware. Women themselves tend to under-estimate the risk of dying or becoming seriously unwell due to heart disease. Educating women greatly increases their willingness and ability to take heart-protective action." These few sentences from the Canadian Women's Heart Health Centre encapsulate why I am so passionate about women's heart health. And through training from the CWHHC, I am able to offer women information about heart disease and what they can do to minimize their risk.
Women@Heart is a peer support program led by women with heart disease, for women with heart disease that aims to create a caring environment for women to learn from each other. It provides access to emotional support, educational support and a caring environment for a better recovery after a cardiac event. Find out more here.
The UOHI Community Advocacy training provides individuals such as me with the tools needed to present about women's heart health in their local community. Besides training the advocate, the toolkit includes an information deck and other resources to support presentations. Find out more here.
"We are so fortunate to have you as our facilitator! You are so compassionate and thoughtful.
Thank you for all of the time you dedicate to make this group so worthwhile for us."
Diane, participant in Winter 2023/24 W@H program
Thank you for all of the time you dedicate to make this group so worthwhile for us."
Diane, participant in Winter 2023/24 W@H program