In January of 2023—yes, this year—I found myself in an ambulance being rushed to the emergency room due to a heart issue. That day was a major milestone in what was a year-long journey of problems with my heart.
I thought I was fine. The year before, in January 2022, it was identified that I had an arrhythmia, also known as an irregular heartbeat. But after a series of tests, it was determined that I could continue to live a normal life with no concerns. And so, I did just that. Unfortunately, the arrhythmia was just a warning signal for increasing problems with my heart. In November of 2022, at a regular doctor's appointment, it was discovered that my resting heart rate was too low—another warning sign. My symptoms were getting worse.
Everything came to a head on New Year’s Day 2023. I was driving to church with my son. When I arrived, I experienced a significant dizzy spell, lightheadedness and disorientation. I could feel my heart beating so fast. I knew something was wrong. I was then rushed to the hospital in an ambulance where I was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia (VT). VT is a fast, abnormal heart rhythm and if it lasts for more than a few seconds at a time, it can become life-threatening. My situation was serious.
Thankfully I had a procedure on my heart within two weeks of that incident and my heart is now beating normally. I know that organizations like the American Heart Association make a difference in awareness and research about heart disease, allowing for better outcomes for people like me.
