Sometimes life just keeps throwing challenges at you, one after another, and it can take a serious toll on both your mental and physical health. And this is exactly what happened when 57-year-old Sam Adams from East Sussex faced the loss of her father, the passing of her pet, and a heartbreaking divorce. The constant stress and grief soon triggered frequent anxiety attacks and severe headaches, which she initially thought were a part of the emotional turmoil. But it was something way more serious than she could have ever imagined.
“I just thought it was stress and negativity in my life,” Sam told The Sun. But her Apple Watch had other ideas. The device began alerting her to unusually low heart rates, something she hadn’t paid much attention to at first.
One day, after hitting her head on a pole, Sam’s headaches worsened, and she felt constantly tired. “My Apple Watch kept showing a low heart rate,” she said. Worried, she got her blood pressure checked, which led doctors to do an ECG. The test revealed she was having ectopic heartbeats or cardiac ectopy.
What is cardiac ectopy?
As per American Heart Association (AHA), cardiac ectopy is a condition that occurs when the heart’s electrical system misfires, causing it to contract too early or skip a beat. While usually harmless most of the time, it can sometimes indicate a heart problem. Symptoms may include palpitations, dizziness, chest discomfort, fatigue, or shortness of breath.
Experts say triggers include stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, alcohol, and caffeine. Sam was prescribed beta blockers to slow her heart rate and given a heart monitor to wear for 24 hours.
But the story didn’t end there. During further investigations, including blood tests and a CT scan, doctors found a brain tumour. “My head was spinning; I was spiralling. I sat alone on the sofa and called my sister. I was forced to face my mortality,” Sam told The Sun.
Although the tumour is likely benign, due to its location, surgery is impossible. Sam now takes aspirin daily and undergoes brain scans every month to monitor it.
Early warning signs matter
Sam reveals that she may have ignored years of unprocessed stress and trauma, which led to chronic headaches. While her heart issue has been treated successfully, her brain condition still requires careful monitoring. “I still live with the tumour, but I’m well, managing it, and grateful that technology gave me the early warning I didn’t know I needed,” she told The Sun.
Signs you shouldn’t ignore
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), people with cardiac ectopy may experience a range of symptoms, including shortness of breath or trouble breathing, persistent palpitations, chest tightness or discomfort, dizziness or confusion, fainting episodes, sudden fatigue or tiredness, and swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet.
Sam’s experience shows how minor symptoms, when ignored, can lead to a serious condition. “Listen to your body,” Sam advises. “What seems like stress or fatigue could be a sign that something more serious is going on. Don’t wait until it’s too late,” she further told The Sun.
