Go Red For Women

Spring Hill College Heart Disease A Mobile mother has a message she hopes all women take to heart.

by Jessica Taloney

Published: Fri, February 06, 2009 - 5:30 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, February 06, 2009 - 5:34 pm CST

Samantha Church looks like the picture of health. She's a wife, mother of three daughters and the Director of Annual Programs at Spring Hill College.

But, she hasn't always felt this good. For years, she struggled with symptoms doctors just couldn't diagnose.

"When I was in high school I would have what my parents and I termed as little episodes," says Samantha. "I would feel dizzy. I would feel nauseated. I would feel like basically I was going to pass out."

Doctors blamed the episodes on stress and exhaustion, and they simply told her to take better care of herself. But, Samantha's problems continued through college and into her first year of marriage.

One evening while she was home with her husband, Samantha actually passed out and her heart raced more than 230 beats per minute. Her husband finally pushed her to get answers, and a cardiologist eventually diagnosed her with supra ventricular tachycardia, a heart defect she's had since birth.

"That's just a real fancy way to say my heart beats too fast," says Samantha, who admits she was at risk of a heart attack.

Samantha now wears a Pacemaker and hasn't had any more episodes in more than a decade. She hopes women will take her story to heart.

"You gotta listen to your body," says Samantha. "You have to respect what it's telling you when you think something is wrong because normally you're right."

The American Heart Association says cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death among women, and one out of every three women are affected.

Friday, millions of Americans wore red to show support for women and the fight against heart disease. The Go Red For Women movement started in February 2007.

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