Lucky Edel couldn’t have a happier heart

THE Happy Heart Appeal takes place this week from May 7-9 but there’s few happier hearts on the Northside than the one belonging to Edel Judge from Dublin 7.

On September 26 last Edel, from Blackhorse Avenue, woke up during the night feeling uncomfortable and not realising she was actually having a heart attack at the age of just 43.

“I hadn’t got a clue what was happening,

? she recalls.

“I felt peculiar and it just went on and on but I didn’t think too much about it.

“I was basically sitting up all night rocking back and forward.

“I thought it was trapped wind or something but I left well enough alone.

?

The next morning Edel, who works as a carer, decided to make an appointment with her GP.

He realized she had had a heart attack and sent her into casualty where a stent was put in immediately.

Edel spent five days in hospital and was surprised she’d had the attack as she didn’t have particularly high blood pressure or cholesterol levels.

She also had no family history of heart disease or stroke.

Edel is a reformed smoker, she quit over four years ago, and says everything happened so fast she didn’t have time to worry.

“I didn’t really get a shock to be honest, because it was all over with so quickly. I suppose it didn’t sink in at the time,

? she says.

“There’s no point panicking when it’s over and done with. Sure if you panicked, you’d only end up having another heart attack.

“I wouldn’t be the panicking type anyway.

?

Edel has made a good recovery and now regularly volunteers to raise money for hospitals around Dublin.

“I’m grand now, not a bother,

? she says.

“Basically I’m back at work now and I’m doing what they tell me. I try to follow the food pyramid as much as I can and get plenty of exercise.

?

Edel supports the work of the Irish Heart Foundation and is urging Northsiders to buy a

?¬2 Happy Heart badge this week from May 7-9.