Life after CHD led me to a healthy reset

By Dianne Ruiz, GRFW Real Woman 2022

At just one year old I underwent surgery to correct pulmonary stenosis, a congenital heart valve disorder that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood. After that, my parents enrolled me in dance classes, softball, basketball, and soccer to strengthen my heart.

Ever since then, I’ve always been on the go. I’ve worked since I was a junior in high school, and my friends tease me for never sitting still for too long. Being busy helps me maintain my rhythm.

But one day my rhythm was suddenly disrupted. My heart started racing and I couldn’t catch my breath. I couldn’t swallow, and my palms became sweaty. I didn’t feel in control of my body, and I was scared I was having a heart attack because of my congenital heart defect. This made me more anxious, creating a domino effect of emotions.

Turns out, it was just a panic attack — the first of many over the coming months. I was unemployed for the first time and learning to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic which were both increasing my stress and anxiety. I knew I needed to listen to my heart and change my lifestyle.

I started taking long walks around my neighborhood in Burbank, California, listening to podcasts to help me relax. In the process, I lost 20 pounds.

I also started limiting my food portion sizes. I avoided snacking and limited myself to only an occasional glass of wine. My heart condition has made me more disciplined.

Around the same time, I met a new cardiologist, who had good news: Other than a murmur, my heart was in great shape.

I’ve only recently started to talk about being a survivor. Some members of my family have shared with me that my story is motivating them to eat healthier and become more active. This is so important to me because I want them to be around for a long time.

I am sharing my story in hopes that it will help other CHD survivors and let them know they are not alone. I also want to be a voice to advocate for better health and well-being in my community because 43% of Hispanic women ages 20 and up are living with some form of cardiovascular disease. I’m here to let other women know that if you invest in yourself, you will never regret it.

Dianne Ruiz is a member of the Go Red for Women 2022 Class of Real Women.

For more information on this health topic, visit heart.org.

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