Woman's 'panic attack' was actually something far more terrifying
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Faith Harrison is celebrating the one-year anniversary of her heart attack with a heart-shaped cake. The attack occurred when she was just 22, and initially, she mistook her symptoms for a pulled muscle after playing hockey on January 6, 2024. Her condition quickly deteriorated; she began vomiting, experienced pins and needles in her left arm, and suffered chest pains. Despite calling 999 and mentioning her previous blood clots, she was told it was likely a panic attack and that emergency care wasn't necessary.
Her family insisted on taking her to A&E, where she was first thought to have a stomach bug. An ECG revealed she 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 a mere 27 percent capacity, and she might require a heart transplant.
Against all odds, Faith, now 23 and a fitness coach from Little Minsterley, Shropshire, has managed to improve her heart function to 47 percent through a combination of mindset shifts, lifestyle adjustments, and dietary changes. She's now commemorating the incident's anniversary with her family and a specially made heart-shaped cake.
Reflecting on the harrowing experience, Faith recounted: "It felt like I was being run over from head to toe.". She also recalled telling the 999 operator about her central chest pain and the sensation of pins and needles in her left arm, only to be dismissed with, "They said 'you're having a panic attack'. It was the worst day. My heart was working at 27 per cent back in January 2024.".
