Jovita Jones, a retired NHS radiographer and mother of two from Abergavenny, has shared her story of surviving two heart attacks caused by an invisible inherited condition. She was diagnosed with extremely high cholesterol at age 24 while living in the Philippines and was immediately put on statins.
Diagnosis and treatment
After moving to Hong Kong and then to Wales in 1996, Jovita registered with a GP who increased her statins to 40 milligrams and added beta blockers for high blood pressure. Despite medication and a healthy lifestyle, her cholesterol remained dangerously high.
In 2010, she suffered a heart attack at work at Neville Hall Hospital. Colleagues noticed she was slurring her words. Tests confirmed a narrowed artery, and she had stents fitted at the University Hospital of Wales. A year later, she was diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), inherited from both parents.
Second heart attack and ongoing challenges
In 2012, Jovita had a second heart attack. She described going on "a long, emotional journey." Today she takes more than 20 tablets a day and receives injections to manage her condition, experiencing side effects like body aches and sleep difficulties. She teaches tai chi in a local village hall and volunteers at the BHF shop in Abergavenny.
Heart disease has claimed her parents and two brothers at young ages. "I live with that fear," she says. "But I also remind myself that I’m still here." Her son Adrian was inspired to pursue a career in cardiology.
Raising awareness
Jovita wants to challenge assumptions about who is at risk of heart conditions. "You cannot see someone’s heart health from the outside," she says. "Look at me – I’ve had two heart attacks, and I’m still going. A heart attack doesn’t have to be the end."
Since 2015, she has fundraised for the British Heart Foundation (BHF), raising tens of thousands of pounds. Her story is featured on a BHF red bench outside the Abergavenny shop where she volunteers. Rhodri Thomas, head of BHF Cymru, said: "Jovita’s story shows the true reality of living with cardiovascular disease, and we are so grateful that they are courageously sharing their experiences to help others."
