“I was so tired, but couldn’t sleep” Jackie Williams, 42, PORT ST. LUCIE, FL
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hopping with her mom one day in 2014, Jackie could barely make it around the store. Back home that afternoon, despite her exhaustion, she couldn’t sleep, and her heart was pounding “erratically.” “Get dressed,” said her mother, a nurse. “We’re going to the hospital.” In her early 30s at the time, Jackie was astounded to discover that her heart was galloping at 200 beats per minute—more than double the normal resting heart rate. She was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that can cause blood clots and stroke. She was put on betablockers to stabilize her ticker.
Do one thing: Listen to
your body. If normal activity feels a lot harder all of a sudden, you’re short of breath, or you notice a fluttering or rapid heartbeat, get to a doctor ASAP. You can also do this quick heart check: Climb a flight of stairs, and if pain or tiredness intensifies, call a doctor.
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WINTER 2022
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W O M A N S D AY. C O M
WILLIAMS: BRANDEN LANIER. TELISKA-PARKE IN RED: ANASTASIA ARANOVICH PHOTOGRAPHY. TELISKA-PARKE WEDDING: CARLA MCTAGGART.
CHANGE OF HEART:
Jackie revamped her life: She now exercises, focuses on managing stress, and has made a point of slowing down. She eventually quit her high-pressure job, and she makes time for enjoyable activities on her bucket list, such as volunteering and travel.
