When Sarah Thompson first visited her GP with concerning symptoms, she never imagined she'd be fighting for her life just weeks later. The 34-year-old marketing manager from Bristol was told her palpitations and breathlessness were "just stress" - but the reality was far more dangerous.
The Warning Signs Everyone Should Recognise
"It started with heart palpitations that would come out of nowhere," Sarah recalls. "Then I began feeling breathless just walking up the stairs. As a busy working mum, I put it down to exhaustion at first."
When her symptoms persisted for several weeks, Sarah decided to seek medical advice. "The doctor asked about my stress levels and when I mentioned work pressures and parenting challenges, he immediately latched onto that explanation," she says.
The Dismissal That Nearly Cost Everything
Despite describing classic cardiac symptoms, Sarah was sent away with advice to "manage her stress better" and consider meditation. "I left feeling embarrassed, like I was wasting NHS time with anxiety complaints," she admits.
But three weeks later, Sarah collapsed at her daughter's school playground. Rushed to Bristol Royal Infirmary, tests revealed she was suffering from myocarditis - a serious heart inflammation that can be fatal if untreated.
Life-Saving Treatment and Recovery
"The cardiologist told me I was lucky to be alive," Sarah says, her voice trembling. "My heart function had deteriorated significantly in those weeks when I was told it was just stress."
Sarah spent two weeks in hospital undergoing intensive treatment to reduce the inflammation around her heart. She now faces months of rehabilitation and will require lifelong cardiac monitoring.
A Warning to Other Women
"Women's heart symptoms are too often dismissed as anxiety or stress," says Dr Emma Richardson, a cardiologist at Bristol Heart Institute. "There's a dangerous perception gap where women's cardiac concerns aren't taken as seriously as men's."
Sarah urges others to trust their instincts: "If you know something's wrong with your body, don't take 'it's just stress' for an answer. Push for second opinions, demand tests, and advocate for yourself. I wish I hadn't waited."
Red Flags You Should Never Ignore
- Unexplained shortness of breath
- Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Extreme fatigue that doesn't improve with rest
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
Sarah's message is clear: "Your life might depend on speaking up when you know something isn't right. Don't let anyone dismiss what your body is telling you."
