Kayleigh Brady, 36, from South Lanarkshire, was admitted to hospital for six days after testifying against her former partner Andrew Dolan, suffering from broken heart syndrome triggered by the severe stress of reliving the abuse in court.
Abusive Relationship and Court Stress
Brady was in an emotionally and physically abusive relationship with Dolan for over three years. The stress of giving evidence in court against him in January led to her hospitalization with takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as broken heart syndrome. This condition mimics heart attack symptoms and can be fatal, affecting thousands in the UK annually.
Dolan was convicted in April and sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work and a five-year non-harassment order.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Brady recalled: "It was after his arrest when the stress really started to get bad... When I gave my statement in court was when I became unwell. That feeling of a tight chest was just getting worse." She woke at 5 a.m. with pain radiating to her shoulder, back, and jaw, prompting her to seek emergency care.
Doctors initially had "no idea" what was wrong, but blood tests showed elevated troponin levels, indicating heart damage. An angiogram revealed no blockages, confirming broken heart syndrome.
Treatment and Recovery
Brady spent six days in hospital, requiring daily morphine for pain and stress management. She was discharged on heart medications for three months, describing it as "the worst time of her life." She added: "The pain of what's happened to me in the past few years just doesn't compare."
Clinical Trial Participation
Brady is now part of a seven-year clinical trial for long-term management of takotsubo cardiomyopathy, involving nearly 1,000 patients from 40 hospitals across the UK. The study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
She stated: "I just want other women to be so aware that are in these kinds of relationships that this could happen to them too... it could potentially kill you."
