Martha Coomber details the ‘long road back’ after suffering multiple heart attacks in remote NT
A remote NT resident, who’s survived multiple heart attacks, has detailed the ‘long way back’ – and she’s not referring to the drive to the next major town. Find out more.
For Martha Coomber, the “long road back” isn’t referring to the hundreds of kilometres between her remote NT home and the nearest major town with essential services.
Ms Coomber, 59, is instead describing how she had to overcome diabetes, ditch a lifelong smoking habit, and transform her relationship with food in the wake of having multiple heart attacks.
A Mutitjulu resident, Ms Coomber lives 469km from Alice Springs – or 1300km from “the nearest major hospital” – where in the early hours of one morning she woke feeling nauseous, fearing she might be having a heart attack.
“Moments later, my intuition proved lifesaving. By the time the local clinic ambulance arrived, I had suffered two heart attacks and required defibrillation to stabilise my heart,” she said.
“The warning signs had started years earlier, an irregular heartbeat was detected during a routine check-up, followed by triple bypass surgery after a heart attack during testing. Recovery was slow and unsettling.”
Ms Coomber has been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, she has also since received an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator.
Living in remote NT – and at the base of Uluru, an Australian icon – comes with its own challenges, Ms Coomber said.
Grocery prices and access to fresh food was problematic she said – but the care she received from the local clinic was “reassuringly easy to access”.
Now, she’s sharing her story to raise awareness about high cholesterol and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, telling punters: “Don’t ignore the signs”.
“I was always big, as was my whole family. I was strong and did a lot of physical labour, so I thought I was fit. I believed I could run on petrol, but I was actually doing damage to my body and pushing it too hard,” she said.
“That is my warning. It is not just about fitness and strength, you need to pay attention to your blood results, your body and listen to the experts.”
Hearts4heart founder and chief executive Tanya Hall said “recent research shows that individuals who are informed are more likely to take proactive steps towards treatment and ongoing management”.
“There is a significant gap in understanding the different types of cholesterol and their impact on heart health. Even among those who have experienced a cardiovascular event, many are unaware of their cholesterol levels.
“Knowing your numbers is vital for managing cholesterol effectively.”
Ms Hall said it’s important to know the “ABCs of ASCVD (atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases)” – being Alert, adopting healthy Behaviours, and Checking your numbers.
“Heart attacks and strokes are preventable when you’re aware of your risk factors,” she said.
