Fit at 42. Then Diagnosed | Mitral Valve Prolapse (Pt 1)

I never thought heart disease would be part of my story.

At 42, in the best shape of my life, I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse and severe regurgitation. What started as a strange episode during a workout turned into months of fear, waiting, uncertainty, and eventually heart surgery.

This is Part 1 of My Heart Story. In this episode of Anatomy of a Leader, I share what it was really like to be diagnosed with a heart condition at 42 — from early symptoms and medical tests to the emotional impact of living with uncertainty while raising young children and running a business.

This is the beginning of a deeper series about fear, vulnerability, healing, and what happens when your body forces you to slow down and listen.

This is not medical advice. This is my real story — shared in the hope that it helps someone feel less alone, recognise symptoms earlier, or feel brave enough to get checked.

In this episode I talk about:

– Mitral valve prolapse diagnosis

– Heart palpitations and symptoms

– ECG and echocardiogram experience

– Waiting for cardiology appointments

– Anxiety and fear after diagnosis

– Exercising with a heart condition

– Women’s heart health being underdiagnosed

– Why “being strong” can make illness lonelier

00:00 Thought Heart Disease Was an Old Man’s Problem

00:51 I Was Physically Fit & Healthy

01:20 The Workout That Changed Everything

01:56 Why I Nearly Ignored The Symptoms

03:14 Going To The GP

03:45 ECG Referral & Experience

06:11 Echo Referral & Experience

09:03 Hearing “Mitral Valve Prolapse”

09:50 Waiting, Fear & Not Knowing

13:00 Anxiety vs Heart Condition

13:23 Tachycardia, A&E & Health System

14:21 Symptoms of Mitral Valve Prolapse

16:12 Exercise Regularly & Monitor

17:49 Exercising With A Heart Condition

18:39 Loss Of Control & Trust

20:38 Women’s Heart Health Being Missed

23:10 What I Wish I’d Known

25:15 If You’re Ignoring Symptoms — Please Listen

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Website: https://www.anatomyofaleader.com/

Artwork and video by https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com/

If you’re living with a heart condition, supporting someone who is, or ignoring symptoms because life feels too busy — this episode is for you.

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💬 Leave a comment if you’ve experienced something similar or have any questions — I read them all.