Jess to tackle Ultra Challenge after mum suffers rare ‘broken heart syndrome’
A Bridlington woman is taking on the brand new North Yorks Ultra Challenge event this weekend to raise funds after her mum received a rare, stress-induced heart condition diagnosis last September.
Jess Tate will be walking the event’s 10-mile route after mum, Amanda Tose, was rushed to hospital on September 18 with what everyone assumed was a heart attack aged 47. Following further tests and two weeks in the high dependency unit, she was diagnosed with Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.
A standard heart attack is caused by blocked arteries while Takotsubo, commonly referred to as broken heart syndrome, is a physical surge that can cause severe failure. In Amanda’s case, it led to her heart’s pumping power plummeting to just 28%.
The condition has received less research than more common heart conditions, with Takotsubo only being widely recognized outside Japan since the early 2000s.
Medication trials have started as more funding becomes available with Jess fundraising for British Heart Foundation to help push this research forward.
Jess has set up a JustGiving page with the aim to raise £250. She has already accrued £195 thanks to 15 supporters.
Jess, who works at the University of York, said: “Stress isn’t just in your head. For my mum, it was a physical surge that stunned her heart. It’s a relatively rare diagnosis affecting only 2-5% of patients presenting with heart attack symptoms.
“We need to understand the exact mechanism of how stress hormones can physically damage heart tissue before we can find a definitive cure.
“I also have PTSD from the day she went to hospital, so doing this challenge is also important for my mental health to give me a drive and focus.”
To donate to Jess’s fundraiser, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/jessica-tate-2