Jingyue, 38

At 38, I led a very active life that I loved passionately. As a professor and researcher in sociology, my daily routine revolved around teaching, overseeing a master’s program, and research projects. It was a source of immense joy, but also of chronic fatigue and stress that I believed was “normal.”
The ignored warning: the trap of workplace stress
Everything changed in December 2025. On two separate occasions, severe chest pain radiated through my back and shoulder. Yet I didn’t go to the emergency room. My mistake? Believing it was just the aftermath of work-related fatigue and stress.
Even though the initial episodes subsided quickly, the tightness returned, always linked to stress or anxiety. I consulted a cardiologist in Paris in early January 2026: the clinical tests (auscultation, ECG) were normal. The cause of my pain remained unclear.
The turning point: a comprehensive and specialized approach
On the advice of doctor friends, I turned to a specialist in women’s heart health: Professor Claire Mounier-Véhier at Lille University Hospital. During a long and thorough consultation, she asked about my lifestyle, my emotions, and my medical history. This holistic approach, which I had previously encountered in traditional Chinese medicine, changed everything. Despite normal blood test results, she ordered a coronary CT scan.
The shock of the diagnosis: “It’s not psychological”
On January 29, 2026, my life was turned upside down. The diagnosis came with the coronary CT scan: a congenital malformation of the left coronary artery with a very high-risk course (inter-aorto-pulmonary).
As a sociologist, my reaction surprised me: beyond the shock, I felt immense relief. Finally, my pain had a biological reality. This powerfully revealed to me the weight of social norms and the stigma surrounding psychological disorders: I would rather have been diagnosed with a heart defect than a “simple” emotional problem.
The Struggle and Rebirth
After a period of hesitation and intense research to find a surgeon specializing in this type of congenital condition, I decided to have the surgery performed by Professor Francis Juthier in Lille.
The surgery, on March 23, 2026, proved more complex than expected with the discovery of an intramural course of the left coronary artery within the aorta. But thanks to a precise anatomical repair, I began my recovery. Day by day, I shed my medical “accessories”: catheters, drains, pacemaker, and Holter monitor.
My Life Lessons: Listen, Prevent, Act
Today, three weeks after the surgery, I feel as though I have a new heart and a new life. This ordeal has profoundly changed how I see myself. I still love my work and find it deeply meaningful, but I now question the dominant role it plays in my life. I’m trying to live differently: walking outdoors every day, taking the time to eat without sitting in front of my computer, slowing down, sleeping more, and truly listening to my body. These are simple actions, but for me they now hold immense value.

I’m sharing my story today to pass on what my journey has taught me:
- Listen to your body: don’t mistake a heart warning for simple fatigue. Looking back, I realize my body had already been sending me signals while I was exercising—signals I’d mistaken for muscle pain.
- The healthcare journey is a struggle: the healthcare journey often requires time, energy, and patience. The diagnostic phase can be long and unsettling, but it is crucial. Be persistent.
- Seek out expertise: It is crucial to be referred to professionals who understand the specificities of women’s cardiovascular health. This expertise can make all the difference.
- Take stress and emotional distress seriously: Scientific literature proves their major impact on our arteries. Your emotions speak to your heart; learn to listen to them.
Don’t wait for your life to change dramatically to start taking care of your heart. Because sometimes, behind what we call “fatigue” or “stress,” there is a heart crying out for help.