 | Just two years ago at age 23, the last thing Jenna Bell from Fort Riley expected to hear her doctor say was “You’re at risk for sudden cardiac death” and hand her a brochure on heart failure. She was healthy, thin, young and happy, but her heart was functioning just barely above those in need of transplants. It wasn’t a total surprise to Jenna that something was wrong, however. She was getting ready to move, her fiancé was in Iraq, she was teaching special education and attending graduate school, so when her heart started racing for no apparent reason, she chalked it up to stress. Once it started happening more regularly, Jenna decided to see her doctor. |
She was given an EKG and told she had an idiopathic cardiomyopathy and underwent more tests to understand the severity. A cardiac catheterization determined that her heart was dangerously weak. Immediately, Jenna assumed a low-sodium diet and began taking medication.
“I was frustrated and scared. It wasn’t what I expected at only 23 years old,” she reflected.
Her husband Dan was fighting the war in Iraq when Jenna received the news. However, it was Dan who inspired her to make a complete lifestyle change.
“Dan was the catalyst for my change. I wanted to be around for him and have kids with him. I wanted to see my sister graduate from college. It rocked me to the core to think of all the things I would miss if my heart failed,” she explained.
Once she was fitted with an internal defibrillator, she was determined to make better choices for her heart. She began incorporating exercise into her routine and reducing the stress in her life dramatically.
“People think it won’t happen to them, but heart disease isn’t biased. It doesn’t exclude anyone. You’ve got to be proactive. You’re never too young for this to happen, so you have to listen to your body!”
After her real-life encounter, Jenna is determined to get the word out about women and heart disease.
“I am excited to bring a voice to this silent killer to help save lives,” said Bell. “I encourage women to listen to what their hearts are telling them, wear red on National Wear Red Day and spread the word to their friends and community about making the right choices and taking action.”
