Davina McCall reveals cardiovascular disease and urges women to seek checks

Davina McCall has revealed that she has cardiovascular disease, saying she wants women to take checks seriously after a run of health problems. The 59-year-old presenter shared the diagnosis on her Begin Again podcast in a conversation with Louise McGill, a heart attack survivor.

McCall said she had high cholesterol for a long time before the diagnosis. In the podcast, she asked whether high cholesterol can be a useful warning sign, and it was described as a good indicator. She urged women, especially those who are post-menopause, not to brush things off and to get their blood pressure and cholesterol checked.

Cardiovascular disease, or CVD, is the name for a group of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. The NHS says it is often caused by a build-up of fat in the arteries, which makes it harder for blood to flow around the body. It can be prevented or managed through a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise, lower stress levels and medication.

The World Heart Federation says CVD is the leading cause of death for women worldwide. The presenter wanted to highlight how little women know about the condition, which is often thought of as a man's disease and has been researched mostly in men. One charity said the risk of heart disease increases substantially after menopause because of a decline in estrogen. Symptoms in women can present differently and include palpitations, extreme tiredness and shortness of breath.

It is not known which specific cardiovascular condition McCall has. Her case was described as sounding different because she had high good cholesterol rather than high bad cholesterol. The diagnosis is the latest in a series of health issues for McCall. She had emergency surgery to remove a rare brain tumour two years ago, and earlier this year she was given the all-clear from breast cancer after an operation to remove a lump from her breast.