Health & Fitness
My Asthma Hid a Secret: I Was in Heart Failure
She thought she was "Superwoman," but her shortness of breath wasn't from asthma. It was a sign her heart was functioning at only 20%
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Susan was the picture of energy, a woman always in motion. So when she felt short of breath, she naturally blamed her lifelong asthma. It was a symptom she was used to. She never imagined her heart was quietly failing.
After a routine check-up and an abnormal EKG, her primary care doctor urged her to see a specialist. That decision led her to cardiologist Sheila Sahni, M.D. who uncovered the shocking truth: Susan was in severe heart failure. The diagnosis was a devastating blow, leading to a difficult journey of fear, uncertainty, and the emotional toll of wearing a life-saving defibrillator vest.
With the expert care of Dr. Sahni and heart failure specialist Kanika Mody, M.D. at Hackensack University Medical Center, Susan began a comprehensive treatment plan of medication and cardiac rehab. Her story is a powerful reminder that even familiar symptoms can mask a life-threatening condition.
How did a viral illness lead to this diagnosis? And how did she go from questioning her mortality to reclaiming her life? Read Susan's inspiring story of recovery and learn the subtle signs of heart failure that everyone should know.
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