For years, a healthy and active 61-year-old field geologist battled an unsettling mystery: she would suddenly faint, often in hot weather. The episodes struck without warning—at the gym, during outdoor excursions and even while riding her horse. As the incidents became more frequent, she knew she had to find answers.
Her journey for a diagnosis began with her primary care provider, who noted her high blood pressure but found no other immediate concerns. A cardiologist conducted multiple tests—stress tests, echocardiograms and scans with radioactive dye—yet everything appeared normal. She tried adjusting her diet and blood pressure medications, but the fainting spells continued, leaving her frustrated and fearful.
Then came a turning point. After fainting while riding her horse one day, she sought a second opinion from another cardiologist. He took a fresh look at her symptoms: increasing fatigue, shortness of breath and recurring blackouts. A new echocardiogram revealed a key clue—thickened walls in her left ventricle. This signalled a condition known as hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM), a genetic heart disorder.
HOCM affects blood flow by thickening the heart muscle, making it harder to pump efficiently, especially during exertion. The cardiologist explained that while the condition often remains undetected in early stages, it gradually worsens over time. The wrong medications could exacerbate symptoms and, without intervention, the condition could become life-threatening.
Armed with this diagnosis, her treatment plan changed. Supported by her cardiologist, she switched medications to better manage her symptoms. As her heart’s obstruction progressed, surgery became necessary, and in 2021 she underwent a procedure to thin the overgrown heart muscle. Since then, she has not fainted once. She now exercises regularly, manages her condition effectively and enjoys life without the constant fear of collapsing.
Her story highlights the importance of persistence in seeking medical answers. HOCM affects about one in 500 people, often running in families. She has since discovered a pattern of undiagnosed heart disease among relatives. For years, she dismissed her fainting spells as an unfortunate quirk. Now, she understands that they were warning signs of a serious, treatable condition. Thanks to expert care and a determined spirit, she has reclaimed her active lifestyle.
Adapted from an article in ‘Diagnosis’, The New York Times.