Ronnie Daines loves to garden – it's her green fingers that help keep her active. While it's a weekend chore that some might take for granted, the exercise Ronnie gets from working in the garden is a very important aspect in her life after suffering a heart attack at age 29.

Her story is one with a very important message. We're talking about heart attacks, which can strike anyone, at any age, any time.

Ronnie Daines is glad to put her health issues behind her, to spend more time in the garden. Photo by Bruce Barnard.

A ‘she'll be right' attitude and concerns about the cost of an ambulance are among the reasons Kiwis delay calling for help when they have symptoms of a heart attack.

New research from the Heart Foundation has found New Zealanders are not taking heart attack symptoms seriously.

To combat these findings, the Heart Foundation has launched its largest ever public awareness campaign to educate people how to recognise the typical symptoms of a heart attack and to respond urgently.

You've probably seen the television ads.

Tauranga woman Ronnie was one year away from her 30^th birthday when she experienced one.

'I was a smoker at the time and overweight,” says the now 47-year-old. 'I had a cup of tea and my first couple of puffs on my smoke and that was it. I thought I was having an asthma attack.

'The back of my shoulders were sore and I wasn't really out of breath. I don't know how to describe it.”

But the pain moved from her back to her chest, so Ronnie drove herself to the Accident and Healthcare medical clinic on Second Ave, claiming she was having an asthma attack.

Driving isn't recommended when having a heart attack, but Ronnie wasn't aware she was having one.

'They told me to lay down on my back and I couldn't. It really hurt when I was starting to lie down. I was really scared. I went into a bit of a panic.”

Ronnie wasn't suffering an asthma attack – she was having a heart attack.

'I found out it's hereditary it runs in the family,” she adds.

'My dad had just had one and he had pain down his arms and tingly fingers. I didn't realise that females can be different from males. Mum had one at age 60 and her brother had one at age 45.”

Since her heart attack Ronnie has changed her diet and makes a point to exercise, saying goodbye to her 113kg-self and hello to a healthy 65kg in just one year.

'I had no choice,” says Ronnie.

Her weight fluctuates due to her endometriosis and cysts, which bloat her, but she still maintains a healthy diet and goes to the gym every day.

Ronnie admits the heart attack has changed her for the better.

'After a heart attack you reboot your life. If you have any kind of chest pain or any symptoms, get it checked. Try to stay healthy and exercise.”

Heart Foundation Tauranga heart health advocate Sandy Ritchie says people so often blame unusual feelings in the chest on indigestion, muscle strain, and, in this case, asthma – rather than getting it checked.

'This is why the message is so important. The perception is heart attacks are an ‘old man's disease', but they can actually strike anyone at any age, male or female.”

Sandy says 29-years-old is a young age for someone to have a heart attack, but she's dealt with people aged 24, 34, 40 and 43 recently.

For more information, or to donate, visit www.heartfoundation.org.nz

Sidebar:

What are the symptoms of a heart attack?

It's not always like we see on TV or in Hollywood movies – heart attack symptoms can be subtle too. The common symptoms of a heart attack are:

Chest discomfort lasting 10 minutes or longer – this could feel like a squeezing, heaviness, pressure or burning. It may spread to your jaw, shoulders or back.

You may also have excessive sweating, shortness of breath and nausea.

What should you do if you think you are having a heart attack?

- Stop what you are doing and rest

- Tell someone nearby how you are feeling

- Don't delay, seek urgent medical attention – call 111 now

- The longer you wait, the more risk of death or permanent damage to your heart

If you think someone near to you is having a heart attack:

Don't delay, seek urgent medical attention – call 111 now