Having a Heart Attack at 30

For a long time I felt like damaged goods. I was only 30 and already had a heart attack— what next? I saw a lifetime of hospital stays, sicknesses and a changed life. I feared I would not wake up one morning. It took a long time to feel confident that I would be OK. I did not want this having a hold on my life. I took control of my emotions and started to slowly get back into running. I became educated about heart disease and could name all the cardiac tests, understood the medical terminology and knew the symptoms and risk factors.

What I Learned

I learned that I could not just sit back and live in fear of my heart attack. I also learned that you cannot control all aspects of your life—you never know when you'll get thrown a curveball. I became a volunteer for WomenHeart and told my story to other women, which was very cathartic. It's a great feeling to help other women. If I could prevent just one woman from being misdiagnosed like me, then it's a victory.

I definitely listen to my body more and try not to stress about things I cannot control. I have a wonderful job I love and recently got married. I also ran a marathon four years after my heart attack. Becoming educated about what happened to me really helped me heal.

I would advise women: listen to your body—you know it better than any medical professional. Be adamant about your treatment and become educated about your medical condition. It will make you feel more in control during a situation that feels out of control.