heartdiseasefacts.com
[ad_1]
Five years after Naz Saleem won her battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at just 25 years old, she gave birth to a son. And she realized that her cancer treatment had left a lasting impact on her body.
Saleem, now 52 and living in Oak Brook, Illinois, was diagnosed with aortic valve leakage, also known as aortic regurgitation, the day after giving birth. The condition causes some of her blood to flow backwards from the aorta (the main blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood throughout the body) and into the left ventricle instead of outside the body, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).
The radiation that helped Saleem treat her cancer was taking a toll on her mind. A month after giving birth to her son, Saleem underwent the first of several heart surgeries, including her first valve replacement. She knew that in the future she would need another successor.
For the next 13 years, Saleem’s symptoms were under control. She was doing CrossFit five or six times a week. But in her early 40s, Saleem noticed her persistent symptoms. It’s the same kind of uncharacteristic anxiety she experienced during her first week of motherhood, the result of her heart pumping faster due to a leaky valve.
She underwent a second open-heart surgery, this time much more complicated than the first valve replacement, but doctors feared the treatment would not be enough. Saleem was placed on the list for a heart transplant because her heart was expected to continue to be damaged by the radiation.
During that time, doctors encouraged her to maintain the healthy eating and exercise habits she had cultivated throughout her adult life and to minimize stress. Saleem says she feels lucky that keeping a positive attitude seems to be in her DNA. Five years after she was on the transplant list, she was taken off the transplant list because she was able to manage her symptoms on her own.
We spoke to Saleem, one of the 2024 AHA Go Red for Women Real Women, to learn how she was able to advocate for herself and manage her heart disease as a new mom. I did.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Daily Health: There are so many things happening in a person’s body after giving birth. What happened that made you decide that something was wrong? How did you effectively communicate that to your health care provider?
Nazneen Saleem: My pregnancy wasn’t too complicated, but the morning after I gave birth, my heart started racing, and that’s when my first symptoms appeared. A nurse came in and said, “Your heart rate is high, but the baby has just been born.” I didn’t feel well that whole day, so I insisted on getting it checked out, and it was discovered that there was a leak in the valve.
EH: The first week you became a mother was also the first week you were diagnosed with heart disease. Can you describe what your first week with her was like for you?
NS: Every night I had severe anxiety. A sense of impending doom seemed to wash over me. I kept telling my family, “This isn’t right, this isn’t who I am.” There are 4 doctors in my family and they all told me this was a new baby. They weren’t ignoring the diagnosis, but they had a rationale to justify it. With certain heart disease problems, people notice symptoms such as a racing heart and shortness of breath, but I never complained about those problems. I hope my story helps readers understand that heart disease can manifest as extreme anxiety.
EH: Once again, you were a new mom when you were told you needed open heart surgery. Have you ever done anything in your life to stay calm when you were facing a situation like this?
NS: Normalcy could not be maintained. My focus was to not be afraid to ask questions, make informed decisions, and stay as positive as possible. Otherwise, it will be difficult to face the next day. I had a toddler at home, and it was difficult to discuss with my husband what we would do if we didn’t make it in time. My father said, “Don’t talk about that.” My mother said: Women and mothers have to think about it. ” That’s where Go Red for Women comes in, and why it’s important for women to have support from other women.
EH: Do you have any advice for women or new moms who have recently been diagnosed with heart disease? Is there anything you would tell your younger self?
NS: If you’ve already been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, learn what your new baseline is and always advocate for yourself. No question is a stupid question, especially when it comes to health. I would like to ask new moms to be in tune with themselves and take care of their new moms. It can be scary in the early days when you have small children at home. You may be able to focus on your baby or your partner, but don’t forget about yourself. If you don’t feel well after giving birth, it could be a serious problem and you may not want to ignore it and miss out on being around your beloved child.
EH: Why did you decide to share your story?
NS: It’s scary to say you’ve experienced these things. Because people or bosses might think, “This person can’t take what we’re giving them anymore.” But so many friends and colleagues have reached out and shared their stories of stroke and heart disease that they had never told anyone before. I want people to know that it is possible to have aspirations beyond heart disease. You should do everything in your power to prevent it, but if you can’t, do what you can and live your life with it.
[ad_2]
Source link
