‘Don’t want it to happen to anyone else’: Qld mum struck down by ‘silent killer’

Andrea Smyth was just 54 and seemingly “the healthiest” she had been her entire adult life when she was struck down by a silent killer.

Jordie Smyth, her brother Nate and their mother Andrea Smyth, who sadly passed away aged just 54. Photo: Supplied.

Andrea Smyth was seemingly “the healthiest” she had been her entire adult life when she was struck down by a silent killer.

It was a heart attack and one that came with virtually no symptoms.

The 54-year-old was living with her 16-year-old daughter Ruby in Sippy Downs, on the Sunshine Coast, when she passed away in September last year.

Her other daughter, Jordie Smyth, said accepting her mother’s sudden death was an everyday struggle.

“Mum had previously been warned about high cholesterol levels, and was monitoring this, however, her diagnosis was so long ago that I wouldn’t be able to tell you exactly when,” she said.

Jordie Smyth says it has been a struggle to accept her mother’s death. Photo: Supplied.

“The diagnosis was certainly well before her heart attack, and I think that she was close to her healthiest when the attack occurred.”

Ms Smyth said her mother’s passing show just how important it was for women to stay on top of their heart health.

“I think women, and mums especially, look after everyone else first before themselves,” she said.

Ms Smyth and her brother Nate will take part in Coastrek’s 20km hiking challenge for the heart foundation on July 19.

“The cause struck a very sensitive nerve with me and so I thought it’d be especially nice for my brother and I to participate and raise awareness,” she said.

Their team name is Andy’s Army, and they have already raised over $2000 ahead of the event, with all funds going towards heart research for women.

Around 20 women die from heart disease in Australia each day, according to the Heart Foundation.

“In a perfect world, we don’t want what happened to us to happen to anyone else,” Ms Smyth said.

The heart foundation’s heart attack early warning signs:

chest pain, arm or shoulder pain

shortness of breath

dizziness

nausea

sweatiness

Pain in back, neck or jaw.