Gigi Campos, 35, had a coronary heart assault in February 2023. Although she had danger elements, docs had at all times instructed her that she was younger and wholesome. As she recovered, Campos joined WomenHeart, a nationwide patient-centered group targeted on ladies with coronary heart illness, to share her expertise with cardiac arrest and assist educate others about it. Right here’s her story, as instructed to well being author Julia Ries.

February 7, 2024 is my one-year “heart-iversary,” or as some folks name it, my “didn’t die date.” My story begins on one in all my common morning walks with my husband in Miami, Florida. Round 6:30 a.m., in the midst of our two-mile stroll, I felt some chest stress. I assumed, “Possibly I slept bizarre, or I’m anxious or slightly stressed.” In spite of everything, I had a high-pressure operations job at a close-by hospital—I knew stress effectively.

I stretched out my physique, however the stress continued. We went residence, and I showered, received dressed, and drove to work. At a mid-morning assembly, I nonetheless felt off. It was like somebody put a weight on my chest, or was urgent their hand above my breastbone. I assumed, “One thing’s not proper.” After the assembly, I drove to an pressing care clinic. I trembled as I crammed out the impossibly lengthy admission paperwork, scribbling “chest ache” as my cause for being there. As a result of I labored in hospitals, I knew that docs look at your coronary heart when you use this phrase. Nonetheless, I didn’t assume something was significantly unsuitable. 

I shared my danger elements with the well being care suppliers: I had not too long ago began taking low-dose statins as a result of my levels of cholesterol had been excessive, however this was extra so to be proactive about my future well being. I had a household historical past of coronary heart illness, however most of my relations who handled coronary heart issues had been a lot older males. As a baby, I’d been identified with atherosclerosis, a standard situation that causes plaque to construct up in your arteries, however I’d lengthy been instructed by docs that I used to be fantastic as a result of I used to be younger, bodily lively, and wholesome.

I had an electrocardiogram (ECG), a take a look at that data electrical indicators from the center to shortly detect coronary heart circumstances. Round this time, I developed a wierd, radiating ache alongside the fitting facet of my neck. The pressing care employees mentioned I used to be in all probability anxious. When the outcomes got here again, the suppliers mentioned one thing didn’t look proper and needed to repeat the take a look at. They ran a second ECG and instructed me that my outcomes weren’t totally regular, however they may be regular for me. They advised I get a full cardiac analysis, gave me an aspirin, and referred to as an ambulance.

My husband met up with me on the pressing care because the ambulance arrived. The paramedics instructed my husband I used to be 100% having a panic assault, and that pressing care clinicians ship everybody to the hospital out of warning. My husband thought this was completely believable, since I’d been so stressed about work. To be trustworthy? I did, too, though one thing inside me knew the persistent chest stress was totally different from the nervousness I’d felt prior to now.