Doctors diagnosed Katie Phillips, a British girl, with a rare disease when she was 21 years old after she lost consciousness and fainted.
After this diagnosis, the girl has to carry packets of salt with her at all times because of a rare disease that affects her heart and circulatory system.
Katie Phillips, from Southend, began experiencing serious symptoms at the age of 21 when she collapsed while jogging at university. Doctors initially thought she had suffered a heart attack, but later discovered she had vasovagal syncope and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.
As a result of this condition, her heart rate fluctuated sharply (from 60 to nearly 200 beats per minute), her blood pressure spiked suddenly, and she fainted, forcing her to temporarily stop exercising. Later, after being fitted with a heart monitor, she developed sepsis, further complicating her recovery.
Currently, Katie, 26, follows a strict regimen – she stays adequately hydrated, follows a balanced diet, and consumes salt regularly, which helps her control her symptoms.
She explains: "I always carry bags of salt with me in case I feel any tremors, as this is conclusive evidence that the body is working harder to regulate the heart rate."
Despite the difficulties, the girl managed to return to training and participated in the London Half Marathon this year.
Katie hopes her story will help others pay more attention to their bodies' signals and not ignore worrying symptoms.
