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From sudden nosebleed to air ambulance

After surviving a heart attack with unexpected symptoms, Debbie has embraced lifestyle changes and actively supports the Heart Foundation, raising awareness about heart health and the importance of prevention.

For Debbie Silvester, 28 September 2022 began like any other day – until a nosebleed became the first sign of something far more serious. 

"I had no idea what was happening," Debbie recalls. "My nose just wouldn’t stop bleeding, and I started feeling dizzy." 

Concerned, she called her daughter, a nurse, who urged her to get to the medical centre in Bulls immediately. Dressed in her pajamas, Debbie tried to halt the bleeding for around twenty minutes, finally succeeding and managing to get changed before rushing to the clinic. 

By the time she arrived, her other symptoms had worsened. She felt dizzy, and her blood pressure had skyrocketed to over 200 (systolic). 

“They took me out back, did an ECG, and the next thing I knew, they were ringing for an ambulance,” Debbie says. 

What had begun as a nosebleed quickly escalated into chest and back pain. She was taken to Whanganui Hospital, where she was diagnosed with a heart attack. 

“My symptoms were quite rare,” she says. “All the doctors said they’d never heard of a nosebleed leading to a heart attack.”

Later that evening, she was flown by the Whanganui Air Ambulance to Wellington Hospital for further treatment.

An angiogram revealed that Debbie had three blockages in her heart, but stenting wasn’t possible due to the narrowness of the affected areas. 

“The blockages were too small to stent, so I was told I had to manage everything with medication,” she explains. 

Now on blood thinners, aspirin, and statins, Debbie feels lucky that she hasn’t experienced another heart attack since. 

"The cardiologist said I might have another one within two years, but so far, I’ve been fine."

Debbie has made significant lifestyle changes since the event. Though always fit and healthy, she admits, “I don’t understand why it happened. Maybe genetics – my father had a massive heart attack at 68, but he’s now 92.” 

Despite her cholesterol and blood pressure being normal before the heart attack, she lost weight and became more mindful of her diet. 

"It was scary at first – I didn’t know what to eat. Watching what you eat and exercising really is the only way to be sure that you’re putting yourself in the right position for the future. I believe that prevention is the best medicine."

Participating in the Heart Foundation’s MyMarathon 2024 challenge became a meaningful way for Debbie to stay active and raise awareness. 

"I did 42km over the month of May, just walking, and raised over $300," she says. Working in retail, Debbie gets in plenty of steps, but she also makes time to walk on the treadmill for 40 minutes each day. 

"I can’t run because of my heart condition and chronic muscle pain, but I love walking – it’s good for the heart."

Since her heart attack, Debbie has found support in the Heart Foundation community, especially through watching videos of others’ journeys. 

“When you’ve had a heart attack, it becomes personal. Seeing other people’s stories really helped me through it.”

Her advice to others is simple but powerful: "Check your family history." With her sisters both on blood pressure medication, Debbie stresses the importance of being proactive about heart health. "You also need to watch what you eat, exercise, and help others do the same. It can be hard sometimes to avoid sugary snacks, but you have to stay strong."

Supporting the Heart Foundation is now a personal mission for Debbie, and that’s why she’s raising awareness for the Big Heart Appeal. She encourages others to take control of their health, sharing her story as a reminder that heart disease can affect anyone, anywhere, anytime, even those who appear healthy on the outside.