- Marian Dancy, a woman from Ohio, shares her story of being diagnosed with a rare form of heart failure months after giving birth, raising awareness about the signs of heart disease.
- Dancy’s symptoms were dismissed multiple times by doctors due to her young age and healthy history, causing her condition to worsen over time.
- Heart failure can occur at any age and is a leading cause of death among women in the US, emphasizing the need for education and proactive measures to maintain heart health.
Additional Coverage:
- A doctor told a 35-year-old who felt like she was suffocating that she was young and healthy. She was having heart failure. (businessinsider.com)
Marian Dancy, a woman from Columbus, Ohio, started experiencing exhaustion, shortness of breath, and weakness six months after giving birth. After visiting the doctor four times, she was finally diagnosed with a rare form of heart failure. Dancy is sharing her story to raise awareness about the signs of heart disease.
Dancy’s symptoms began gradually but worsened over time. She sought medical help when she started feeling like she couldn’t breathe properly and experienced temporary blindness. However, her doctor initially dismissed her symptoms due to her young age and healthy history.
As her symptoms continued to worsen, Dancy visited a second doctor who believed she had a virus and advised her to wait it out. However, her fatigue became so severe that she could barely walk, and her chest felt congested. She felt like she was suffocating.
Dancy eventually went to the emergency room where she was misdiagnosed with pneumonia. The prescribed treatment only made her feel worse. It was during her fourth visit to the ER that she was finally diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy, a rare form of heart failure that can occur after childbirth.
Dancy was shocked by her diagnosis as she was not aware that heart disease could affect younger individuals. She also felt that her symptoms had been dismissed by doctors due to her age and apparent health.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States, accounting for one in three deaths each year. Heart failure, which occurs when the heart cannot pump properly, is one type of cardiovascular disease. It often occurs as a result of other health conditions or lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity, and sedentary behavior.
Peripartum cardiomyopathy, the type of heart failure Dancy was diagnosed with, is rare but cases are increasing. While being pregnant is a risk factor, there is no known cause. However, obesity, poor diet, smoking, multiple pregnancies, and being of African American descent can increase the risk.
Although heart failure is commonly associated with older individuals, it can happen at any age. Recent studies have shown an increase in heart failure-related deaths among younger people, with Black adults at a higher risk.
While heart failure is a lifelong condition, it can be managed with medication, surgery, implanted devices, and lifestyle changes. Dancy was prescribed medication, received a pacemaker, and was advised to adopt a low-sodium diet and engage in heart-healthy exercise. She also sought therapy to manage her stress levels.
Dancy’s condition has improved, and she now has more good days than bad. As part of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women program, she wants to raise awareness about the signs of heart disease and promote heart health education.
Heart disease can affect anyone regardless of age or appearance, so it is important to be informed and proactive about maintaining heart health.