Muriel, 44 years old

Six years ago, on November 17, 2018, I felt bad, really bad, without having any major pain. For several weeks and especially since the day before, I've been feeling oppression, but this sensation has intensified today.

There's a sneaking pain in my chest and a tingling sensation in my left arm. I grimace in front of a mirror to see if it's a stroke and check if my face freezes or becomes paralyzed.

My 14-year-old son is next to me. I tell him, "If I feel faint, call 911. He replies with impressive lucidity: "But Mom, why wait? Call now. And he's right.

I call for help, but my profile is unremarkable. 41 years old, athletic, 3 hours of sport a week, not overweight and, above all, lucid and calm on the phone...
I explain my symptoms, but help doesn't come...

They don't understand... and I don't blame them. They advise me to go to the medical centre. But deep down I know I must REAGAIN. My instinct tells me: "No, I have to go to the emergency room.

So I grab my jacket and my things and say to my son, "I'm off to the ER. He replies: "I'll go with you, but on my bike, so that I can call the emergency services if you faint in the car. I don't have to be with you.

We set off for the hospital in Romans. At every intersection, my son glances at me, and I wave like a scuba diver.

By the time we reach the hospital, I'm in so much pain that I cling to him standing up so they'll notice me sooner. Finally, a patient understands the emergency and alerts the medical team. I'm immediately taken care of, and then it all becomes clear: I'm having a heart attack.

I was quickly transferred to the hospital in Valence, where a fantastic team took care of me. In less than 45 minutes, I was in the coronary angiography room, where I was fitted with a stent. My life is saved.

I had been under intense stress for 4 years. I had a bit of high blood pressure, and sometimes my heart even sputtered and spiked from everything I was going through. But I didn't worry, when I should have. Women too often forget themselves...

I've learned that taking care of yourself doesn't make you selfish.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, yet we don't talk about it enough. Unfortunately, diagnosis is sometimes too late. Women's hearts don't work the same way as men's. Symptoms are often discreet, almost unnoticeable. Symptoms are often discreet, almost silent, and we don't listen to ourselves enough.

Stéphanie, age 41

Marignane, administrative employee

At the age of 31, I was diagnosed with arteriopathy of the lower limbs, with pain on walking, probably due to a favorable hereditary background as well as the use of contraception with synthetic estrogens and heavy smoking. Stenting of my primitive iliac artery and dilatation of my internal iliac [...]

Marie, 44

Sales Director, Rouen

I learned four important things over the May 1st weekend that I’d like to share here, even though they seem unrelated to Labor Day. Saturday, April 29. 8 a.m. I wake up and feel a sharp pain in my chest, like a cramp shooting down my arm... on the right side. I feel worse by the minute. I’ll [...]

Françoise, 66 years old

Retired farm worker and administrative assistant at city hall, Achiet-le-Grand

A few weeks ago, I had a stress test. The results came back normal, and I was relieved. But that evening, I didn’t feel well…I had a headache, nausea, the urge to vomit, and—most notably—on two separate occasions, the sensation that someone was jabbing large needles into my chest.The next [...]