Heart Talk with Hillary
After surviving Acute Heart Failure at 33 years old I felt very alone in my recovery. I had never met anyone with heart failure let alone someone near my age. After beginning to share my story publicly and on social media I began meeting many other people who had also survived Acute Heart Failure. Some of these people had experienced it years before me, some had received a heart transplant and others were loved ones with family members currently hospitalized due to it. Connecting with these patients and family members was carthartic and opened my eyes to a whole new community of people I now had much in common with. I wanted to create this podcast so that other people who experienced heart failure could find this community of beautiful people and find the same hope and comfort that I did from hearing their stories. I hope that this podcast not only opens your eyes to a whole new community of brave, inspiring individuals, but that you also learn more about heart failure and all the ways in which it can affect people. Thank you for being here!
Disclaimer: This podcast does not include any medical advice and should not be taken as such. All views are our own and they are based upon individual lived experiences. Please speak with your healthcare provider if you have any questions related to your own health.
If you'd like to follow along on my heart failure advocacy and recovery journey you can find me on Instagram @hillarysheart. For any questions, comments or inquiries you can contact me via email at hillary@hillarysheart.com.
Heart Talk with Hillary
Tara Benoit - SCAD
In today’s episode you will hear from an incredible woman named Tara Benoit. Tara is a former fitness competitor who was in the greatest shape of her life when she suffered the unexpected, a SCAD heart attack. SCAD stands for Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and has also been dubbed the healthy woman’s heart attack. I previously interviewed another SCAD survivor in April of 2024 named Marcie Westwater so if you’d like to hear another story on SCAD please go back and listen to that one as well.
In this conversation you will hear what it was like for Tara to have to advocate and fight for help when doctors initially brushed off her symptoms. This is an all too common theme and reoccurrence for women with heart attack and heart failure symptoms. And this is exactly why Tara is sharing her story.
Tara’s experience and survival sparked a new mission. She’s now a speaker, author, and advocate, using her voice to raise awareness about women’s heart health and to empower others who’ve faced a similar life-changing diagnosis.
In our conversation today, Tara opens up about what it was like to experience a SCAD heart attack, the road to recovery — both physically and emotionally — and how she’s turned her pain into purpose.
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Purchase Tara's new book, Torn Heart on Amazon by clicking here!
Follow Tara's Journey on Instagram: @tarabenoitinspires
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TODAY IS A GIFT!
DISCLAIMER: The information shared in this podcast is intended for educational, inspirational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my guests, based on our personal experiences. Always consult with your physician or qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions or concerns you may have about your health or a medical condition.
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to email Hillary at hillary@hillarysheart.com