My brush with heart failure at 31

To conclude our series of articles for Heart Month, Thomas Maher encourages people to listen to their body’s distress signals

At the relatively young age of 31, facing the possibility of lifelong consultations with a ‘heart failure nurse’ is a daunting reality I never imagined.

However, this is the consequence of a serious illness that developed just a few years ago.

I had a recurring cough which I initially thought was the lingering effect of a Covid infection. But, no matter how many cough bottles I downed, it would not go away.

Still, I continued to ignore it… to a point where that was no longer an option.

As weeks passed, my health deteriorated rapidly. Simple tasks like walking from the shop to my house became Herculean feats because I was struggling to breathe.

I eventually contacted the after-hours service at Omagh Hospital and was given some antibiotics, after being told it was probably a chest infection.

I went back home to Coleraine for Christmas but my cough got worse and I could barely get out of bed.

The turning point arrived when a particularly bad coughing fit led me to the A&E department at Coleraine Hospital.

I had my blood pressure taken and was shocked to see the digital readout stating it was over 200.

My heart rate was very fast and a nurse informed me I was at a major risk of having a stroke or heart attack.

I was given four tanks of air to help with my cough and sent up to the cardiac care ward.

I would remain in hospital for 14 days until my heart rate and blood pressure went down again.

It was a pretty scary experience but the staff were excellent and the care I received was fantastic.

I was told that the coughing was created by high blood pressure causing water to flood into my lungs, which actually made me feel as if I was drowning.

Thankfully, once my blood pressure receded the cough went away.

I was discharged but the medics diagnosed that high blood pressure had caused my heart to swell to the extent that it wasn’t pumping blood properly. This condition was probably worsened due to my Covid-19 infection, I was told.

Once my blood pressure was in check the swelling went go down.

Now, aged 33, I can live a fairly normal life as long as I continue to take medication and see the heart failure nurse for the rest of my life.

But things could have turned out much differently if I had sought medical help earlier.

The fact that I didn’t nearly killed me, so I would encourage anyone who is feeling unwell to heed your body’s distress signals and seek assistance from your GP or hospital.