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Young Woman's Heart Woes Dismissed as Anxiety
20 Mar
Summary
- A 22-year-old experienced dismissed heart symptoms attributed to anxiety.
- She was diagnosed with second-degree type one heart block after two years.
- Her condition causes extreme fatigue and heart palpitations during daily activities.
A 22-year-old woman named Abbie Frankum is advocating for young people to trust their bodily instincts after a two-year struggle to diagnose her heart condition. Initially experiencing noticeable heartbeats and extreme tiredness, Frankum felt her symptoms were dismissed by doctors who attributed them to anxiety, partly due to her age. She described her heart condition, later diagnosed as second-degree type one heart block, making everyday activities feel like running a marathon and causing her to feel faint.
Her symptoms significantly impacted her life, causing her to withdraw from social activities and struggle with work due to overwhelming fatigue and breathlessness. After being told her concerns were anxiety, it took two years of pushing before she underwent tests. In September 2024, a 48-hour heart monitor revealed the heart block, primarily occurring at night. This diagnosis brought relief, validating her experiences and explaining her persistent exhaustion.
