Miss Diagnosed
Meet Marian
At 23, Marian’s palpitations, tachycardia, and fatigue were dismissed as anxiety, despite being caused by arrhythmias she was born with. In 2024, after experiencing a heart attack at an air show, a cardiologist confirmed she had suffered a silent septal MI. Marian now shares her story to raise awareness of heart attack symptoms in women and encourage others to advocate for their health.
Patient Story Misdiagnosed
Palpitations, tachycardia, and fatigue
Anxiety—or a heart problem?
Marian’s Story
Hi, my name is Marian. When I was 23, I began to suffer worsening symptoms due to arrhythmias I was born with.
Despite these severe symptoms—palpitations, tachycardia, and fatigue—doctors dismissed me, saying it was ‘just anxiety.’
But in 2024, I had a heart attack at the air show with my best friend, where my heart rate hit nearly 200 BPM and my blood pressure was 190/105. I was experiencing many symptoms.
Doctors again called it a panic attack until a cardiologist finally confirmed the truth: I had suffered a silent septal MI, a type of ‘silent’ heart attack that doesn’t show up like a typical STEMI on an EKG and is often missed on testing.
Thanks to my cardiologist, I am now being treated.
Heart attack symptoms in women often differ from men’s, and young women with severe symptoms are frequently stereotyped as being merely anxious.
I’m sharing my story to raise awareness of these issues and encourage others to advocate for their health.
—Marian