04/11/2026
Szandra never suspected that the symptoms she was experiencing could be heart failure.
After months of worsening symptoms, including breathlessness and swelling, she was eventually admitted to hospital and diagnosed with heart failure.
Her experience of getting a diagnosis is one she now wants to use to help others:
“I want to be an advocate for young people with heart failure, especially women, because there are unfortunately a lot of people out there whose symptoms can get overlooked. It took such a long time for me to get diagnosed after living with worsening symptoms for over six months. It doesn't have to be like this.”
Szandra’s story comes as new data from our Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Observatory shows hospital visits for heart failure have risen by 52% in a decade.
Our newly launched CVD Observatory brings together cardiovascular data and insights to help build a clearer picture of heart health across the UK, shining a light on concerning trends and where action is needed.
