Marie, 59 years old

Last summer during the heatwave, I had difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, even though walking was my favorite pastime. I lead a healthy life and eat a balanced diet.
I decided to see my doctor because of the chronic fatigue and shortness of breath. I was worried about light pain in my arm that felt like rheumatism and a toothache. I was told that I had elevated troponin levels, which was an indication of damaged heart muscles. I was quickly hospitalized in cardiac intensive care and got my diagnosis: I had acute coronary syndrome. In other words, I was having a heart attack. A coronary angiography revealed that my right coronary artery was blocked. Unfortunately, an attempt to open the artery failed. My coronary artery will be blocked for the rest of my life. Now I’m getting full medical care and my doctor carefully monitors my condition. I had no warning before this event. This isn’t just something that happens to others!