Marathon Runner Who Felt Breathless Finds Out She Has Heart Failure at 24

A marathon runner who worked out several times a week and was training for her first Ironman race was stunned to learn that she wasn't just getting out of breath, but she was suffering from heart failure. Madison DiBattista, now 25, has been running ever since she was a child, but she became far more intentional about it during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, she started running three to five times a week and even completed the Indianapolis marathon in 2023 and a half-marathon in 2024. However, while training for her first half Ironman race, DiBattista's health started to decline. For several months, she experienced shortness of breath, chest pain, extreme weight loss, nausea, night sweats, and rashes on her body. DiBattista, of Cincinnati, Ohio, told Newsweek that she believed her symptoms were "caused by anxiety" and she was concerned her mental health was impacting her physical health. She's a Generation Z (people born between 1997 and 2012) marathon runner in seemingly great shape, so this had to be an anxiety response—or so she thought. "I would sit on the couch to watch a scary movie, and my heart rate would be 150," DiBattista said. "I honestly thought I wasn't managing my stress and anxiety well enough. In a way I was gaslighting myself into believing that my symptoms were anxiety, rather than a very real health issue."

She went to her primary care physician for a blood test, but they said she was in "great health" at the time. DiBattista wondered if she was just dehydrated or was taking longer to recover after going running. The symptoms continued to progress over the weeks, and by the time DiBattista was diagnosed, she could "no longer get up a flight of steps." The most basic exercise had become too much, and she felt constantly exhausted and nauseous. As DiBattista and her family grew increasingly concerned, she went to the hospital for several tests and scans, including an electrocardiogram, an echo scan, and a CT scan with contrast. When the results came back, the mood in the room changed and the surgeon told DiBattista that it was worse than they suspected. At just 24 years old, she was diagnosed with an anomalous left main coronary artery (LMCA), which is a rare congenital heart defect that can lead to heart failure.

"I was told that day that I was not to exercise, or even to walk, under any circumstances. I was also told that I would likely not live another 10 years with the condition my heart was in. It was a terrifying reality to suddenly be classified as sick, when I was such an independent and active person," DiBattista said. An anomalous coronary artery is one that didn't form correctly prior to birth, and in many cases, it may be in the wrong place. Symptoms will vary depending on which artery is affected, but they can include shortness of breath, heart failure, heart palpitations, and heart attack, as explained by the Cleveland Clinic. It's thought that less than 1 percent of the population has an anomalous coronary artery. Following her shock diagnosis, DiBattista was left with one overwhelming question. How had she survived this long? Not only was she running every week, but she'd completed marathons with a heart defect. But now in her mid-20s, she was suffering from heart failure. "Any doctor I have spoken to has had the same question, but it's a miracle that we may never fully understand. I think running saved my life. I was born with this, but by being in touch with my cardiac health and understanding my baseline, I noticed all these symptoms. Knowing my heart rate was the biggest tell," DiBattista told Newsweek. DiBattista underwent open heart surgery six weeks after her diagnosis in 2024.

She still has long road ahead in her recovery, but DiBattista can't wait to put her "Olympic 2028 level heart" to the test. Throughout this journey, she has been documenting her experience on TikTok (@crazimadi) to connect with others and raise awareness for heart disease, which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. Following the surgery, it was noticeable how much more energy she had already. It made her realize that the exhaustion she had grown used to wasn't actually normal. "From the day I got my diagnosis, I've been grateful for my team, family and friends supporting me. I know that it's my duty to advocate for people to take their health seriously. I'm shocked by the volume of people who are scared to run since hearing my story. I think we need to remember we are on it together and medicine is important," DiBattista said. Is there a health issue that's worrying you? Let us know via health@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.