'Our partners were under 50 when they died from heart attacks'

'Our partners were under 50 when they died from heart attacks'

Dawn Higgins is mourning the loss of her husband, Craig, who tragically died of a heart attack at the age of 48. Craig, a police officer from Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, collapsed while on duty with Greater Manchester Police in 2022. Despite appearing fit, healthy, and leading an active lifestyle, Craig had developed a thickening of the heart wall that hindered the pumping of blood around his body. His wife, Dawn, expressed disbelief at his untimely death, stating that statistically, there was no reason why he should have passed away.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) reported a concerning 23% increase in the number of 20-64-year-olds dying from heart and circulatory diseases in Yorkshire since 2019. Senior cardiac nurse Julie Ward highlighted the complexity of the situation, attributing the rise to multiple factors. Dawn’s story is not unique, as Melissa Antons also lost her healthy partner, Joe Banks, to a cardiac arrest caused by an aortic aneurysm at the age of 32 while participating in a half-marathon in Austria.

The BHF’s research revealed a 17% increase in the diagnosis of heart failure in Yorkshire and the Humber, emphasizing the importance of early detection and screening for heart disease. Melissa advocated for routine screening starting at the age of 30 to detect potential cardiovascular issues before it’s too late. Both Dawn and Melissa underscored the need for more widespread testing and screening programs to prevent unexpected deaths due to undiagnosed heart conditions.

As these heartbreaking stories shed light on the devastating impact of heart-related issues, calls for action to implement routine screening programs and promote awareness of cardiovascular risks have intensified. The Department for Health has been contacted for a response to address the concerns raised by individuals like Dawn and Melissa, who are grappling with the loss of their loved ones to heart conditions

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