Sandra McCartney was 59 years old when her life changed in an instant on New Year’s Eve, 2019. The mother-of-four from Londonderry was on holiday in Spain when she collapsed. She lost consciousness, stopped breathing, and had no pulse or heartbeat. Medics worked frantically to save her, delivering six defibrillator shocks and five doses of adrenaline. They managed to restore a normal heart rhythm, but Sandra had been clinically dead for 10 minutes.
A Genetic Heart Condition Revealed
The cardiac arrest was triggered by a life-threatening genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia, or FH. This condition causes extremely high cholesterol levels. If left untreated, it significantly increases the risk of early heart attacks and coronary heart disease. Sandra had no idea she carried the gene. She believed she was fit and healthy, eating well and having no prior health worries.
FH affects approximately one in every 250 to 500 people. The condition is hereditary, meaning there is a 50% chance a child will inherit it if one parent has it. Despite its prevalence, more than two-thirds of people with FH in the UK are never diagnosed. The British Heart Foundation estimates that over 250,000 people in the UK live with the condition without knowing it.
Sandra’s experience in Spain was harrowing. She initially thought her symptoms were indigestion related to a hiatus hernia. However, acute pain and tingling in her right arm signaled something more serious. Her husband woke her as she began to drift off. A doctor later confirmed she was having a major heart attack. She was ventilated for 11 days in the hospital. Her four children flew to Spain as her condition remained critical.
Recovery and Ongoing Health Challenges
Sandra’s recovery was complicated by severe physical trauma. She suffered three cracked ribs from the CPR administered during the resuscitation attempt. She was ventilated for 11 days, but her lungs collapsed shortly after she was first brought round. She later developed laryngeal stridor, a potentially life-threatening breathing difficulty caused by the ventilation process, which required her to be ventilated again.
The physical toll was immense. She experienced significant muscle wastage and had to use a wheelchair upon discharge. The onset of the pandemic shortly after her return home meant she missed out on cardiac rehabilitation, which would have aided her recovery. She has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator fitted to prevent future cardiac arrests.
Even years later, the condition affects her daily life. Simple tasks, such as throwing a duvet on a bed, can leave her breathless. She has not returned to work but volunteers with NI Chest Heart and Stroke. Her children have all tested clear for the condition, providing some relief for the family.
Northern Ireland currently has the highest detection rate for FH in the UK. The Belfast Health Trust operates a screening service that contacts relatives of diagnosed patients to offer testing. A spokesperson for the trust noted that once patients are established on long-term cholesterol-lowering medications, they generally only require periodic cholesterol checks. Sandra’s story serves as a stark reminder of the silent nature of genetic heart conditions and the importance of early screening.
Source: BBC
