Rhianna Benson
A British woman whose heart failure was initially misdiagnosed as a stomach issue is issuing a vital warning.
Sue Hounsell's health battle began some years ago, when she suddenly began experiencing a number of unnerving symptoms.
Not only did the 61-year-old's abdomen begin swelling up out of the blue, but she began become increasingly breathless whilst attempting to carry out some of life's simplest tasks.
Being a former gym manager, Sue noticed her symptoms immediately.
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"I've always been an active person, but I'd noticed that when I was moving equipment around at my gym that I was getting out of breath a bit more," she recently told the BBC.
"I couldn't stop work or take any time off as I had such a busy schedule, but I was having to sit down a lot more as I was continuously out of breath.
It was only when her breathing difficulties began extending into the evening and interrupting her sleep, Sue, from Trowbridge in Wiltshire, decided to seek medical intervention.
Sue eventually booked an appointment with her GP, who referred her immediately to a local hospital - Royal United Hospitals Bath (RUH).
There, she stayed for two weeks whilst undergoing a number of scans and tests.
Eventually, doctors discovered that Hounsell was suffering with faults in two of her heart valves, and that this was preventing her body from bumping blood around as effectively as possible.
Essentially, she was suffering with a severe case of heart failure.
The common condition can occur at any age, but is mostly seen in older individuals. Whilst it cannot usually be cured, the symptoms of heart failure can be managed with both lifestyle changes and medication.
Sue battled two of the four most common symptoms of heart failure - stomach pain and difficulty breathing.
Another common indicator of heart problems are swollen ankles. Many patients also complain about suffering severe levels of fatigue, which often emerges in partnership with general lightheadedness and possibly fainting.
Following her diagnosis, the woman was prescribed medication to relieve the symptoms, and now uses her experience as a means of warning others to trust their gut when it comes to their health.
"I’m really keen that people know what symptoms they should be looking out for and to make sure they seek help and advice as early as possible," she explained.
"The earlier heart failure is detected, the sooner you can get the treatment you need."