I was 17 when I found out I had a heart condition that could cause sudden cardiac arrest. At the time, I was heavily involved in sports and played a lot of softball. After one game, I started having severe spasms in my upper back.
The pain felt like it was coming through my chest, so I went to the emergency room. That visit led to months of testing. I spent hours on treadmills, attached to electrocardiogram machines and answering questions from doctors.
Eventually, I was referred to a cardiologist, who diagnosed me with Long QT Syndrome Type 2, a genetic heart rhythm disorder. The condition affects the electrical system of the heart. In simple terms, my heart takes longer than it should to reset between beats.
For someone with Long QT Syndrome Type 2, sudden shocks or scares can be dangerous. If I'm startled and not properly protected by medication, it could trigger a life-threatening heart rhythm and lead to sudden cardiac arrest. I can't use alarms to wake myself up because a sudden loud noise could startle me.
If my neighbor upstairs drops something in the middle of the night and it wakes me suddenly, that's something I have to think about. The irony is that I can still do many physical activities. I work out, go paddle boarding and generally live an active life.
The greater concern comes when I'm at rest and something unexpectedly shocks me. Explaining that to people can be difficult. When dating guys, I've had to tell them about the condition.
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