Menopause and your heart: Courtney's story

“I went through being hot all the time, day and night for a year or two. I have a little fan I keep in my top pocket, and I whip it out when I need to cool down.

Looking back, I realise that I had other symptoms that affected my confidence. I would cry once or twice a week over nothing, and I had started gaining weight.

I had a blood test as part of a health check and the nurse rang me up to tell me my cholesterol was too high. It was an absolute lightbulb moment for me.

It was an absolute lightbulb moment for me.

I bought a healthy eating for low cholesterol book and cut out red meat, butter and sugar. I look on the BHF website often for recipes, and when I go shopping I check the labels for foods low in saturated fats.

A month later I had another blood test and my cholesterol had fallen. I’m really proud of that.

I do not class myself as on a diet, I’m on a Mediterranean diet yes, but it’s my lifestyle now.

I also started exercising every week. I got an exercise DVD and built it up gradually. It took time but now I’ve lost two stone.

When out and about I’ll take the stairs instead of the escalator. Over time you get fitter and healthier and getting up the stairs gets easier.

At my age I want to be healthy and now I feel better and have more energy. I would suggest making small changes over the weeks until it becomes the norm.”

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