'Doctors told me I was having panic attack – but half my heart had died'
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A fitness coach who was told by doctors she was having a panic attack turned out to have a life-threatening heart attack. Faith Harrison, who was 22 at the time, is marking a year since she miraculously survived a heart attack after her symptoms were initially mistaken for a panic attack or a stomach bug. The young woman from Little Minsterley, Shropshire, began feeling unwell following a hockey match on January 6, 2024, and thought she might have pulled a muscle.
However, when she got home the situation escalated as she started vomiting, experiencing pins and needles in her left arm and suffering chest pains. Despite calling 999 and mentioning her history of two blood clots, she was told it was likely a panic attack and that emergency care wasn't necessary.
When her condition didn't improve, her family rushed her to A&E where she was first diagnosed with a stomach bug. It wasn't until doctors performed an ECG "just to make sure" that they realised Faith was actually having a "widowmaker" heart attack, caused by a blockage in the main artery to the heart.
Following emergency surgery, Faith was informed her heart was operating at only 27% capacity and she might require a heart transplant. But through sheer determination, changes to her mindset, lifestyle, and diet, Faith has managed to increase her heart function to 47%.
She's now celebrating this significant milestone with her family and a specially made heart cake. Recalling the terrifying experience, Faith, who works as a fitness coach, said: "It felt like I was being run over from head to toe. I said on the 999 call about central chest pain and my left arm had pins and needles. They said 'you're having a panic attack'.
