Audrey in a scene that is soon to be shown
Audrey Roberts has become an iconic member of Coronation Street and - Spoiler Alert - in a forthcoming episode she will suffer from a heart attack.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is urging women to take the storyline to heart and take an online test to see if their own lifestyle could be putting them at risk.
Heart disease kills three times as many women as breast cancer and is the single biggest killer of women across the UK. Yet many women simply aren't aware that they should regularly check their Heart health in the same way they examine their breasts or have a smear test.
Worrying survey statistics from the charity show that less than a third of women are aware that heart disease is the UK's biggest killer and less than half would dial 999 if they showed the symptoms of a heart attack.
Over the past few months viewers have seen Audrey attempt to lead a healthier lifestyle following a trip to her GP, by increasing the amount of exercise she does and cutting down on alcohol. Next Monday’s double feature programme, which will air from 7.30pm, will see Audrey have a heart attack after a family argument at the salon.
Sue Nicholls, who plays Audrey Roberts said: “Audrey is a much loved character and many women will identify with her lifestyle – she works long hours, has little time to exercise and enjoys a tipple down the Rovers. After her heart attack, Audrey starts to think more about her heart health and lifestyle. I hope the women watching Coronation Street will think about theirs too. The truth is it could happen to anyone of us – it’s not just middle-aged men who are affected.”
Other Coronation Street women who have suffered a heart attack include May Hardman, Martha Longhurst, Judy Mallett, Jay Fishwick, Angela Hawthorne and Vera Duckworth.
Doireann Maddock, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the BHF said: “The sad truth is that almost 40,000 women die from heart disease each year and too many lives are lost to a killer which is largely preventable. Audrey is a seemingly fit and healthy woman so this is a real wake-up call to all of us to ‘think heart’ and look after our health more. We're urging all women to take our online lifestyle check, it takes less than 10 mins but could help make a big difference to your heart health in the future."
Tagged in Coronation Street Heart Sue Nicholls Health