Faith Harrison, a 23-year-old fitness coach from Shropshire, has overcome an unimaginable challenge after suffering a heart attack at 22. The incident, which occurred during a hockey match, left her in emergency surgery and diagnosed with heart failure.
A year later, Harrison’s life has undergone a significant transformation. Despite being described as “very healthy” before the incident, she has had to drastically change her lifestyle to manage her condition. Her doctors said she was a surprise to be doing so well.
Harrison’s diagnosis revealed two underlying congenital conditions: a patent foramen ovale (PFO) and May-Thurner Syndrome. The latter is rarely diagnosed in women and affects blood flow in the pelvis. She was told her heart’s ejection fraction, which measures how much blood leaves the heart each time it squeezes, was 27%, significantly lower than the normal threshold.
However, with treatment and lifestyle changes, Harrison’s ejection fraction has increased to 47%. Despite this progress, she struggles with trauma and flashbacks from the incident. She now raises awareness about women suffering from heart issues as an ambassador for the British Heart Foundation.
Harrison credits her newfound passion for Pilates, a lower-impact activity that replaced hockey and weight training in her routine, for helping her recover. Her diet has also undergone significant changes, with dozens of medications taken daily to manage her condition.
As the anniversary of her heart attack approaches, Harrison plans to celebrate by eating a heart-shaped cake. She sees this as an opportunity to acknowledge her second chance at life and not take anything for granted.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3wedqexpyvo