Overview
- Willis, 49, says a routine health check last January identified an atrial septal defect she had unknowingly lived with for decades.
- She subsequently underwent surgery to close the hole and describes the experience as a turning point in her recovery.
- The British Heart Foundation campaign will install 65 red benches across the UK to honor people affected by cardiovascular disease and boost awareness.
- Untreated atrial septal defects can lead to heart failure, stroke and pulmonary hypertension, with adult symptoms ranging from breathlessness and fatigue to palpitations and fainting.
- Treatment depends on defect size, with larger or symptomatic holes closed via keyhole or open-heart procedures because no medication can seal an ASD.