At 41, It Didn’t Feel Like a Heart Attack—But It Was

It didn’t feel like a heart attack.

Adrienne Phillips was 41, sitting on her couch after a long day. She’d worked out that morning, eaten dinner with her family, and was ready to relax. Then, something strange happened.

“I just felt off,” she says. “It wasn’t pain—it felt like I needed to burp. Then I started sweating, got dizzy, and my hands went numb.”

Adrienne remembered seeing a poster in the hospital elevator years before with a list of heart attack symptoms in women. She realized she had every one of them. 

“I told my husband, ‘I think I’m having a heart attack.’ He looked at me in disbelief, but I just knew.”

A Wake-Up Call

Adrienne spent five days in the ICU recovering from a SCAD (spontaneous coronary artery dissection. This is a rare type of heart attack that mostly affects women in their 40s. 

When she first arrived at the hospital, her vitals looked fine, including her blood pressure. But a cardiac enzyme test confirmed an event had happened.

“Even though I was healthy, I learned that heart health isn’t always visible,” she says. “I wanted to understand my numbers, not just guess.”

Her family history had always been in the back of her mind. Her grandfather passed away at 53 from heart disease, and her dad lives with it today. But now, the risk felt personal. 

“It really wakes you up,” she says. “Especially as a mom. You want to be around for your kids. You want to be your best self.”

Small Steps, Big Change

Adrienne first heard about Hello Heart through a mailer from her employer, Piedmont Healthcare. As part of her HR role, she knew about the organization’s benefits programs, but this one caught her attention.

“It said you could get a free blood pressure monitor,” she says. “And I thought, why not? We work in healthcare. We should take advantage of the tools we have.”

She ordered one for herself and encouraged her husband to do the same. They’d check their blood pressure together every so often.

After her heart attack, this became part of their routine. Now, she checks it at home once or twice a week and logs her cholesterol and weight in the app. 

“When you know better, you can do better,” she says. “If you don’t have the information, you can’t do anything with it.”

She uses Hello Heart’s share feature to send her readings to her cardiologist. That way, her doctor sees her progress over time—not just a single reading at an appointment.

“It lets me go in already informed,” she says. “There are no surprises. I can say, ‘here are my trends, here’s how I’ve been feeling’. It makes me a more educated patient.”

Staying in Tune with Her Body

For Adrienne, Hello Heart turned awareness into action. The app makes tracking simple, and the reminders feel like a gentle nudge rather than a chore.

“It gives you little prompts—like, hey, this reading is higher than usual, or don’t forget to check again soon,” she says. “It’s never pushy, just helpful.”

Adrienne’s blood pressure is lower now, and she feels more in control of her health than ever before. When she feels tired or “just off,” one of the first things she does is check her blood pressure.

“It’s like taking my temperature,” she says. “It helps me know if something’s really wrong or if I just need rest.”

Sharing Her Story

Since her heart attack, Adrienne has become an advocate for awareness—especially among women. She’s shared her experience at work, giving presentations about the importance of listening to your body and knowing your numbers.

Her message is simple: heart disease doesn’t always look like you expect.

“I’ve met so many women who’ve had heart attacks or surgeries at young ages,” she says. “You’d never know just by looking at them. That’s why it’s so important to talk about it.”

She’s also encouraged her parents to check their insurance for free heart monitors. “I told them, don’t just buy one at the drugstore—get one that talks to your phone and your doctor. There’s no reason not to, not with all the technology we have.”

Living with Confidence

Today, Adrienne’s focus is on balance—staying active, managing stress, and being kind to herself. Her blood pressure cuff sits by her bed, as a reminder to check it regularly.

“It’s about owning what you can control,” she says. “You only see your doctor once a year, but there are 364 other days you can do something small for yourself.”

“Listen to your body. Advocate for yourself. Protect your peace,” Adrienne says. “That’s what I’ve learned through all of this.”

The Power of Paying Attention

Adrienne’s story shows how consistency builds confidence. After her heart attack, she wanted to stay informed and in control—and that’s exactly what Hello Heart helps her do.

Now she checks her blood pressure regularly, tracks her numbers, and shares trends with her doctor. Those small, steady actions give her peace of mind and help her feel connected to her health every day.

It’s a simple reminder: when you pay attention, you give your heart the care it deserves.

👉 Ready to start your own routine?

Open your Hello Heart app, take a quick reading, and check in with how you feel. Small, steady steps—just like Adrienne’s—can bring confidence and peace of mind every day. Check your eligibility here.