Virginie, 64 years old

“I hadn’t been feeling very well for several months. My leg hurt when I walked and I coughed a lot. I talked with my doctor who sent me to the hospital for a full battery of tests. At that time, I was still smoking around 20 cigarettes a day. I had been taking anti-depressants since I had my baby. I drank liquor in the evenings and had wine at every meal. I was stressed by retirement because my husband and I weren’t used to being together every day. I was also overweight. The tests showed I had very high blood pressure, peripheral artery disease in the right leg, chronic bronchitis and coronary arteries filled with plaque from cholesterol. I felt like I was in trouble and I’d had enough of all that. I got help to quit all my addictions. I went to cardiac rehabilitation for three weeks and then followed prevention recommendations and made lifestyle changes. I’m careful to take my medications every day. I’m much better now, but I really scared myself. I share my story with those around me so that this doesn’t happen to anyone else!”