Fit at 42. Then Diagnosed | Mitral Valve Prolapse (Pt 1)

I never thought heart disease would be part of my story. At 42, in the best shape of my life, I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse and severe regurgitation. What started as a strange episode during a workout turned into months of fear, waiting, uncertainty, and eventually heart surgery. This is Part 1 of My Heart Story. In this episode of Anatomy of a Leader, I share what it was really like to be diagnosed with a heart condition at 42 — from early symptoms and medical tests to the emotional impact of living with uncertainty while raising young children and running a business. This is the beginning of a deeper series about fear, vulnerability, healing, and what happens when your body forces you to slow down and listen.This is not medical advice. This is my real story — shared in the hope that it helps someone feel less alone, recognise symptoms earlier, or feel brave enough to get checked.In this episode I talk about: – Mitral valve prolapse diagnosis – Heart palpitations and symptoms – ECG and echocardiogram experience – Waiting for cardiology appointments – Anxiety and fear after diagnosis – Exercising with a heart condition – Women’s heart health being underdiagnosed – Why “being strong” can make illness lonelierFollow Maria Hvorostovsky:IG: https://www.instagram.com/anatomyofaleader/IG: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvorostovsky/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mariahvorostovsky/Website: https://www.anatomyofaleader.com/Artwork and video by https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com/💗 Follow for honest conversations about leadership, health, emotions and real life.