'I got out of bed and fell over — it began to dawn on me that my legs wouldn't work'

Cardiovascular disease affects females as much as males, with their risk increasing around the time of menopause due to hormone changes in the body

Rachel Corbally and her grandson Finn, 4 months. Photograph Moya Nolan

LIFE changed forever for Rachel Corbally in January 2017. “I was so healthy back then,” the 53-year-old former building contractor from Naas, Co Kildare says.

“My diet couldn’t have been better. I spent hours at the gym, three or four times a week, working out on the treadmill and rowing machine before doing weights, resistance training and swimming 30 laps of the pool. I felt strong and looked amazing.”