I thought I was just stressed from a triple tragedy – then an alert on my watch said my own life was in danger
HIDDEN THREAT I thought I was just stressed from a triple tragedy – then an alert on my watch said my own life was in danger
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CONSUMED by grief following the death of her father, loss of her pet dog and the breakdown of her marriage, Sam Adams felt like her life had hit rock bottom.
But nothing could prepare her for what was to come - a series of events that began with her Apple Watch going off, and ended with her life hanging in the balance.
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Sam Adams was feeling stressed after her marriage broken down, her dad died and she lost her dog
Credit: Sam Adams
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But her life was actually in danger - something she had no idea about until a notification from her Apple Watch
Credit: Sam Adams
Sam, 57, who lives near Brighton, East Sussex, tells Sun Health: 'In 2020, I lost my dad. I nursed him in the last couple of weeks of his life.
'My dog passed away suddenly and my marriage had recently broken down all within a matter of months.
'The grief was literally almost unbearable. It challenged my sense of identity and it left me struggling to move forward with anything in my life or business.
'I felt completely stuck. I was hugely stressed, although I felt like I was mentally strong.
'I felt like I was emotionally drowning and hit rock bottom with depression.'
After spending most of 2021 'piecing herself together' - Sam embarked on a one-month solo trip to Costa Rica the following year.
'It gave me a reset,' she says. 'I fell in love with trees and nature and I got into a regular breathwork practice out there, which became a big part of my healing.'
But just two weeks after returning home, things took another, unexpected turn.
'I'd hit my head badly while I was away and couldn't shake off this jet lag feeling,' says Sam.
'I got out of my car looking at my phone to find a coffee shop and hit my head on a metal pole.
I was given a week to live after doctors found a decade-old tumour on my brain
'I was dazed and bruised so I took it easy for a few days.
'But after I had been back for two weeks, I was still feeling awful.
'I thought it was jet lag - I had really low energy and a dull headache at the front of my head.
'My Apple Watch also kept saying my heart rate was low.'
Sam says she didn't pay a huge amount of notice at first - she had just returned home after a life-changing trip and an 11-hour flight, and was battling a seven-hour time difference after all.
But two weeks later, she went to a pharmacist to get her blood pressure checked.
The results were sent to her GP and Sam says she received a call the same day telling her she needed to come in first thing, do no exercise and ring 999 if she suffered shoulder, chest or jaw pain.
I was spiralling. I slept sitting up and was terrified to go to sleep in case I wouldn't wake up
Sam Adams
'I was very alarmed,' she recalls. 'I went out for dinner with my sister that night and we were both so worried.
'The next day I had an ECG and it was discovered that my heart was throwing out ectopic beats.'
Also known as cardiac ectopy, the condition causes extra beats or palpitations that feel like your heart is skipping a beat.
Stress, anxiety, a lack of sleep, too much booze, smoking and caffeine are all triggers for the common issue, which is usually harmless and doesn't damage the heart, according to the British Heart Foundation.
In some cases though, it can be deadly.
Medics sent Sam for further investigations - and she spent the day in hospital having blood tests.
'They asked if I had done any foreign travel and when I said 'yes', they asked if anything had happened,' she says.
'I said I had hit my head so I went for a CT scan.'
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Sam was diagnosed with cardiac ectopy, then doctors discovered she had a brain tumour
Credit: Sam Adams
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'I was completely forced to face my own mortality,' she says
Credit: Sam Adams
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Sam had to wear a heart monitor and start taking medication
Credit: Sam Adams
Sam was given a heart monitor to wear for 24 hours, and was prescribed beta blockers, which are used to slow down the heart.
Two weeks later she received a call from her cardiologist - one she will never forget.
It was earth-shattering news; they had discovered a brain tumour.
Despite having nothing to do with her head injury, or heart condition, the CT scan she had had as a result of her investigations had proved vital.
Sam, who loved tennis and bike riding but was no longer able to exercise says: 'My head was spinning, I was spiralling; I sat alone on the sofa and phoned my sister.
'I was completely forced to face my own mortality - mentally it was huge.
'I slept sitting up and was terrified to go to sleep in case I wouldn't wake up.'
The 6 barely-there symptoms of a brain tumour
BRAIN tumours are one of the most deadly forms of cancer — but not all tumours are cancerous.
Glioblastomas are the most common type of malignant brain tumour, affecting around 2,200 Brits a year and making up a third of all brain tumours diagnosed in England between 1995 and 2017.
They develop from glial cells — the supporting cells of the brain and spinal cord.
Other types of brain tumour, both cancerous and not, include: astrocytoma, ependymoma, medulloblastoma, pituitary and spinal cord.
Doctors can test for tumours with MRI or CT scans, as well as neurological examinations and biopsies.
The main treatments are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, as well as supportive treatments to ease symptoms.
Symptoms depend on where tumours are located on the brain and can often be missed at the early stages of the disease, when it is easier to treat.
They can also easily be mistaken for something else, so it is important to know what to watch out for.
While they can cause headaches, nausea and seizures, some more subtle signs include: Getting irritated easily - as well as losing motivation, depression, anxiety, mood swings and difficulty planning, organising or identifying emotions
Growth spurts - brain tumours can affect the pituitary gland (a part of the brain that makes hormones, including the ones that cause growth), so they can cause people to quickly increase in height
Difficulty making facial expressions due to nerve damage (e.g. being unable to smile, frown or move their face when speaking)
Voices in your head - as well as short-term memory loss
Struggling to read
Needing the toilet more often due to changes to the endocrine system (which controls a range of bodily functions)
Due to the location of Sam's tumour, doctors have told her that while it is likely to be benign, it is inoperable.
She has to take aspirin every day for the rest of her life, and has brain scans every month.
'I was told these tumours are generally benign and they don't operate unless it is impacting life,' she says.
'But it can affect your vision and speech, and cause seizures.
'It can't be operated on because of where it is but they want to keep a close eye on it so if it does start to grow they will have to intervene.'
In August 2022, Sam, who also takes blood pressure tablets, underwent an ablation - a procedure using heat or cold energy to create tiny scars in the heart and stop the electrical impulses that cause irregular heart rhythms.
She says: 'My heart was under immense strain and needed treatment.'
Sam recalls how she could not be sedated as they had to see her heart.
She describes the ordeal, where her organ was 'zapped', as 'horrific'.
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Sam says she has 'gone through hell' but breathwork has helped her find hope
Credit: Sam Adams
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She believes her ordeal was triggered by stress
Credit: Sam Adams
Now, still living with the tumour, which she has nicknamed Timmy, she says: 'I have gone through hell.
'I worry about the brain tumour. If I lose balance I catastrophise, asking myself, 'Is it Timmy?'
'I suffer what I call 'scanxiety' - both pre and post my scans.
'I am 2st heavier and I don't have the energy I used to.'
Looking back, Sam believes stress was the cause of her ordeal.
'The early warning I didn't know I needed'
'In 2020, like many others, I experienced extreme emotional pressure - and I now understand just how much unprocessed stress and trauma can live in the body,' she says.
'That realisation led me to deepen my own healing and ultimately shape the work I now do through Life and Breath — a method that combines deep coaching and breathwork to help people move through emotional overload, burnout, and feeling stuck.
'Breathwork has been a powerful part of my own recovery.
'It's helped me regulate my nervous system, reconnect with my body, and process the stress I didn't even realise I'd been carrying.
'I now guide others through the same techniques — from business leaders to athletes — helping them find clarity, calm, and resilience before their bodies shout for attention like mine did.'
While Sam's heart issue has been successfully treated, medics regularly monitor her brain tumour.
In spite of everything she's been through, she says she feels lucky.
'That trip to Costa Rica gave me the space and courage I needed; it reminded me what life is about,' Sam adds.
'I came back clearer, braver, and more connected to myself than I'd been in years.
'Now I work as a life coach and breathwork facilitator, helping others reconnect with themselves after big life moments.
'And I am so grateful for my Apple Watch - I don't know what would have happened if it had not gone off.
'I still live with the tumour, but I'm well, managing it, and grateful that technology gave me the early warning I didn't know I needed.'
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The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
The 8 warning signs your anxiety has slipped into a disorder – and how to beat it
WHETHER it's an important work presentation, an overcrowded train or a first date - we all get anxious. It's very normal, especially in nerve-wracking situations like these! 5 But if your anxiety is persistent, excessive and interferes with daily life, it might be more than just 'everyday worries'. Here's how to tell when your anxiety has slipped into a disorder and might require professional help… WHAT IS ANXIETY? 'ANXIETY is the body's alarm system being stuck in the 'on' position – without a clear, present danger,' Clare Patterson, a therapist registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), tells Sun Health. 'It is different from fear, which is a natural human response and arises as a helpful signal to the body that something needs our attention. 'When we perceive danger, the hypothalamus in the brain signals to the adrenal glands (above the kidneys) to release stress hormones – cortisol and adrenaline. 'This is part of the HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis), which is the body's central stress response system. 'Once the situation is dealt with or passes, the system returns to baseline. 'What can sometimes happen though, through exposure to chronic stress or trauma (particularly in early life), is that the system gets 'stuck'.' Here's how: Overactivation of HPA axis - if the brain continues to perceive a threat (whether real or imagined) the hypothalamus continues to signal to the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. Cortisol flooding - high levels of cortisol over time begin to desensitise cortisol receptors in the brain, especially in the hippocampus (which helps regulate the HPA axis) and prefrontal cortex (which helps with rational thinking and emotional regulation). Loss of feedback loop - this feedback mechanism, where cortisol is supposed to shut down the stress response, gets impaired, so the system doesn't know how to switch off. The body stays in a state of hypervigilance. 'As a result, the nervous system remains on high alert, even in the absence of real danger,' Clare adds. Feeling stressed Watch our 4-minute at-home yoga workout scientifically proven to reduce anxiety and tension 'The body reacts as if a threat is always imminent. 'Triggers (even minor ones) can feel overwhelming. This can manifest as panic, intrusive thoughts, physical tension, and chronic worry, and this is what we might call 'anxiety'.' THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 'REGULAR' ANXIETY AND AN ANXIETY DISORDER 'REGULAR' anxiety tends to be situational. 'You might feel anxious before getting medical test results, or before a job interview,' Clare says. 'But once the perceived threat has passed, the symptoms subside. 'It's only when anxiety becomes chronic, disproportionate and disabling - when it is no longer just a signal but the environment you're living in - that it may be said to be disordered.' There are seven types of anxiety disorder recognised by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). These are: Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) - excessive worry about various aspects of life, most days for at least six months, accompanied by symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance. Panic disorder – recurrent, unexpected panic attacks followed by at least one month of worry about future attacks or behaviour changes to avoid them. Social anxiety disorder – marked fear or anxiety in social situations where the person may be scrutinised. Specific phobia – intense fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation (e.g. flying, heights, animals), which is out of proportion to the actual danger. Agoraphobia – fear of being in places where escape might be hard or help unavailable in the event of panic-like symptoms. Separation anxiety disorder – excessive fear or anxiety about separation from attachment figures. Selective mutism – consistent failure to speak in certain social situations despite speaking in others which interferes with functioning and is not due to language or communication disorders. So how do you tell if you've got one of these disorders? 5 1. NO COPING MECHANISMS CLARE says: 'A person with 'regular' anxiety may be somewhat nervous to walk into a party full of strangers, but has the ability to self-regulate, and so takes steps to make themselves feel safe. 'These might include things like positive self-talk, seeking out a familiar face, or deep breathing and body awareness to help ground themselves and manage their anxiety.' Someone with a disorder may not have these healthy coping mechanisms. 'The rational part of their brain may be overwhelmed by the anxiety and so they exist in a fight/flight/freeze state where there is a lack of trust in themselves to cope and manage,' Clare adds. 'This can trigger even more anxiety, sending them into a spiral, and even lead to physical symptoms including panic attacks, headaches and dizziness. 'They may 'get through' the event, not really being present for it, relying on old survival wiring, rather than learning that they can cope, and so developing resilience and confidence for next time a similar event occurs.' 2. CATASTROPHISING DO you worry excessively about future problems or what could go wrong? This is another sign of an anxiety disorder. Clare says: 'You might lie awake at 2am thinking, 'What if I lose my job? What if I can't pay the mortgage? What if I end up homeless?', even when nothing has changed at work. 'You may also catastrophise, always assuming the worst-case scenario. 'For example, your partner doesn't reply to a message for a few hours and your brain jumps to, 'They're in a crash' or 'They're leaving me'.' 5 This doom-mongering can significantly interfere with day-to-day life. 'You might be trying to focus at work but your mind is pinging from, 'I forgot to book the dentist' to 'Do I have cancer?' to 'I should drink more water', all in 30 seconds,' Clare says. 'You may also be in a meeting and notice every change in someone's tone, face or body language, and be convinced it means something bad about you.' 3. INDECISIVENESS BECAUSE anxiety affects someone's mental and emotional wellbeing, it can cause constant self-doubt. 'This often leads a person to second guess even small decisions, like what to wear or what to say in a text,' Clare says. 'They might also spend 15 minutes staring at a restaurant menu and still feel afraid of ordering the 'wrong' thing.' 4. CONSTANTLY OVERWHELMED 'SOMEONE with disordered anxiety may find everything overwhelming,' Clare says. 'For example, a relationship breakup might be overwhelmingly distressing, leaving them to assume they will be unable to cope without their significant other. 'They may be unable to eat, sleep or care for themselves at the prospect of such a loss. 'Someone with 'regular' anxiety will of course find such an event distressing too, but they have much more ability to take a step back from their anxiety and look at things practically. You might not be able to sit still watching TV so you keep checking your phone, pacing, or jumping up for no reason Clare PattersonBritish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy 'They may seek support from friends and relatives as well as engage in self-care activities to help calm the nervous system and prevent the symptoms of anxiety from becoming overwhelming. 'As their system is not stuck in the 'fight/flight/freeze' response, they have much better access to the parts of their brain responsible for making rational decisions.' Clare adds: 'For people with an anxiety disorder, the excessive stress hormones can feel overwhelming and effectively shut down these higher executive functions. 'It is not 'all in their heads'. It is a very real, physiological response.' 5. WITHDRAWAL SOCIAL situations can be anxiety-inducing for many of us. But it could be classed as a disorder if it starts to change your behaviour. 'It can make people withdraw, avoiding parties, dates or even not replying to texts because of fear or overwhelm,' Clare says. 'Cancelling plans, staying home or isolating - even when you feel lonely - is common because social interaction can just feel too intense.' 6. EMOTIONS ALL OVER THE PLACE MANY people with anxiety report feeling restless, agitated or 'on edge'. 'You might not be able to sit still watching TV so you keep checking your phone, pacing, or jumping up for no reason,' Clare says. But it's not all about being unable to relax. Anxiety can play with your emotions in other ways, like making you more irritated, fearful or guilty than usual. 5 'Snapping at your partner because they asked what's for dinner, even if you know it wasn't a big deal, is a common example,' Clare says. 'A low-level fear with no clear object, like waking up with a pit in your stomach for no reason, just a vague feeling something is going to go wrong today, is also common. 'Some people also find their anxiety is internalised and they keep thinking, 'What is wrong with me?' 'You might cancel plans because you're feeling overwhelmed, then spend hours criticising yourself for being 'flaky' or 'too sensitive'.' Do you have anxiety? AROUND one in six adults in the UK experience some form of anxiety disorder each week. Globally, anxiety disorders affect more than 300million people, making it one of the most common mental health conditions in the world. Post-pandemic levels are even higher, especially among young adults and women. Anxiety can affect anyone, but it's more common in certain groups: Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, which may be due to hormonal factors, social roles and higher rates of trauma. Young adults and teens, which may be due to social pressures, academic expectations, uncertainty about the future. People with a family history of anxiety – genetics can play a role but so can learned behaviours or anxious environments. Highly sensitive or empathic people – people who are deeply attuned to others' feelings may absorb more stress. Those with long-term stress or trauma – childhood emotional neglect, abuse or high-pressure environments can prime the nervous system for hypervigilance. LGBTQ+ communities – due to stigma, discrimination and social exclusion. Anxiety is usually diagnosed through a clinical interview with a GP, psychologist or psychiatrist, who will ask about symptoms, duration and how they're impacting your life. There are screening tools such as the GAD-7 (generalised anxiety disorder 7-item scale) which can help assess severity and track changes over time. Possible symptoms include: Physical: faster heartbeat, dizziness, headaches, chest pains, loss of appetite, sweating, feeling hot, shaking, breathlessness. Mental: feeling tense or nervous, being unable to relax, worrying about the past or future, feeling tearful, sleep problems, difficulty concentrating. Behavioural: not enjoying leisure time, difficulty looking after yourself, struggling to form or maintain relationships, worried about trying new things, avoiding places and situations that create anxiety. Speaking with a GP can rule out physical causes (such as thyroid issues), and discuss medication (e.g. SSRIs for moderate to severe anxiety). You may also be referred to talking therapy, like CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy). You can also find your own therapist via the BACP or The Counselling Directory. This guilt can also extend to others. 'If your friend seems sad, you assume it must be something you did - even if they say otherwise,' Clare adds. But anxiety can sometimes cause emotional numbness, where you feel very little at all, and perhaps even fear positive emotions. 'Some people feel 'shut down' or flat, like they 'should' feel something but don't,' Clare says. 'This often masks chronic anxiety. 'You might also feel uneasy or suspicious when things are going well, waiting for the 'others shoe to drop'.' 7. TENSE ALL THE TIME TIGHTNESS in your chest, headaches, jaw pain, back niggles and being unable to relax in bed - these are all signs your anxiety is causing tension. And sometimes this tension simply won't go away. That's when it might be disordered. Clare says: 'Anxiety isn't just a mental response – it's a whole-body experience that can involve a racing heart, nausea, dizziness, muscle pain, insomnia, digestive issues and chronic tension. 'The idea that it's just in someone's head can make people believe they're overreacting or being silly, when in reality their distress is very real and valid.' 8. PERFECTIONISM AROUND 85 per cent of people consider themselves to have some perfectionist traits, so striving for flawlessness and setting unrealistic standards is pretty common. But in some people, it can signal an anxiety disorder. 'Anxiety can lead to perfectionism and procrastination, putting off work because it's never quite good enough,' Clare says. If it causes significant distress or impairment, it is time to seek help. 5 Clare says: 'If anxiety is interfering with a person's day-to-day functioning, it is important to seek treatment. 'It may be that the body's natural stress response has become dysregulated, and this can take time to resolve and re-regulate. 'For many people, this was established in early childhood. Home and school environments were not always predictable, and any unresolved trauma may have led to a 'freeze' state which can take time to ease and resolve. 'Talking therapies can be very helpful. Many people absorb the message that there was something wrong with them, meaning the stories the mind tells in times of threat are ones of mistrust or fear. 'Low self-esteem can make it so that people underestimate their ability to deal with real or imagined danger. 'Therapy can help understand what dynamics might have led someone to feel a lack of trust in themselves, and help them build a more accurate self-view and healthier coping strategies.' Medication can also help some people. This is usually a type of antidepressant called an SSRI. Speak to your GP about what might work best for you. How to beat anxiety By Susan Griffin, Features Writer 1. Stop thoughts spiralling The first step is understanding and acknowledging what is happening when you begin to feel anxious – your body is going into protective mode. The second step is to focus on the facts, rather than letting your imagination run wild. 'So, when you start panicking, instead of thinking: 'My body is falling apart and something terrible is going on,' think: 'My heart is racing and that is my healthy heart responding to adrenaline, because I'm anxious about such and such',' says NHS GP Dr Martin Brunet, 'It is about taking a step back, allowing the adrenalin in your body to drop a little bit and your breath to slow down, so you are not spiralling.' 2. Rethink your language Your language reflects your mindset, and therefore, adapting it can prove empowering. Someone stuck in 'obey mode' to their anxiety often tells themselves 'I can't' or 'I have to' statements. Dr Brunet explains: 'It restricts their life, leaving them powerless.' Reframing your anxiety as a doubting disorder, for example, can be useful. 'Anxiety is best thought of as a problem with uncertainty or doubt,' says Dr Brunet. You might remind yourself: 'I find it difficult to deal with uncertainty and doubt.' He adds: 'You're acknowledging it's not what you want, and it's a challenge for you, but notably, you can work with that and move forwards.' 3. Expand your comfort zone Anxiety can be all-consuming, so Dr Brunet suggests approaching recovery like rehabilitation of a physical injury – slowly and kindly. He recommends drawing three large circles, one inside the other. The inner circle is the Comfort Zone. He says: 'Write down activities where anxiety might not be absent, but you do them freely because you enjoy them.' The outer circle is the No-Go Zone: 'Write down activities or situations anxiety currently stops you from doing, but you would be happy to never do. It reminds us that anxiety is normal.' This could include getting public transport, for example. The middle circle is the Expansion Zone: 'Write down activities or situations you can't do because of your anxiety, but would like to do.' For example, you would like to go to your friend's party, despite knowing few people. Work on expanding your Comfort Zone. 'Pick something you think you can realistically achieve and plan how you might start doing that thing in little steps,' says Dr Brunet. 'It might be going that bit further or doing something a bit longer each time, and then practise getting used to each step, tolerating and accepting the feeling of anxiety that you get when you do it.' 4. Imagine your anxiety monster It might sound absurd to put yourself in situations where you have to endure anxiety. So, imagine your anxiety as a goofy monster or an excitable puppy, and give it a name you find funny – in his book, Dr Brunet calls it Wilbur. 'You can't expect Wilbur to stay at home, so you acknowledge he will be with you as you go about your day,' he says. 'You're not going to fight him; you're not going to let him be the boss. You might even thank him for trying to keep you safe, but reassure him everything is OK. That way, he quietens down.' If this feels daft, it should do! 'Anxiety takes itself very seriously and there is power in the silliness,' says Dr Brunet. 'So, if thinking of your anxiety monster makes you smile, you are building new associations in the brain and changing your relationship with anxiety.'
Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I thought I was just stressed from a triple tragedy – then an alert on my watch said my own life was in danger
Sam was convinced her symptoms were nothing to worry about until a notification on her Apple Watch changed everything HIDDEN THREAT I thought I was just stressed from a triple tragedy – then an alert on my watch said my own life was in danger Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CONSUMED by grief following the death of her father, loss of her pet dog and the breakdown of her marriage, Sam Adams felt like her life had hit rock bottom. But nothing could prepare her for what was to come - a series of events that began with her Apple Watch going off, and ended with her life hanging in the balance. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Sam Adams was feeling stressed after her marriage broken down, her dad died and she lost her dog Credit: Sam Adams 7 But her life was actually in danger - something she had no idea about until a notification from her Apple Watch Credit: Sam Adams Sam, 57, who lives near Brighton, East Sussex, tells Sun Health: 'In 2020, I lost my dad. I nursed him in the last couple of weeks of his life. 'My dog passed away suddenly and my marriage had recently broken down all within a matter of months. 'The grief was literally almost unbearable. It challenged my sense of identity and it left me struggling to move forward with anything in my life or business. 'I felt completely stuck. I was hugely stressed, although I felt like I was mentally strong. 'I felt like I was emotionally drowning and hit rock bottom with depression.' After spending most of 2021 'piecing herself together' - Sam embarked on a one-month solo trip to Costa Rica the following year. 'It gave me a reset,' she says. 'I fell in love with trees and nature and I got into a regular breathwork practice out there, which became a big part of my healing.' But just two weeks after returning home, things took another, unexpected turn. 'I'd hit my head badly while I was away and couldn't shake off this jet lag feeling,' says Sam. 'I got out of my car looking at my phone to find a coffee shop and hit my head on a metal pole. I was given a week to live after doctors found a decade-old tumour on my brain 'I was dazed and bruised so I took it easy for a few days. 'But after I had been back for two weeks, I was still feeling awful. 'I thought it was jet lag - I had really low energy and a dull headache at the front of my head. 'My Apple Watch also kept saying my heart rate was low.' Sam says she didn't pay a huge amount of notice at first - she had just returned home after a life-changing trip and an 11-hour flight, and was battling a seven-hour time difference after all. But two weeks later, she went to a pharmacist to get her blood pressure checked. The results were sent to her GP and Sam says she received a call the same day telling her she needed to come in first thing, do no exercise and ring 999 if she suffered shoulder, chest or jaw pain. I was spiralling. I slept sitting up and was terrified to go to sleep in case I wouldn't wake up Sam Adams 'I was very alarmed,' she recalls. 'I went out for dinner with my sister that night and we were both so worried. 'The next day I had an ECG and it was discovered that my heart was throwing out ectopic beats.' Also known as cardiac ectopy, the condition causes extra beats or palpitations that feel like your heart is skipping a beat. Stress, anxiety, a lack of sleep, too much booze, smoking and caffeine are all triggers for the common issue, which is usually harmless and doesn't damage the heart, according to the British Heart Foundation. In some cases though, it can be deadly. Medics sent Sam for further investigations - and she spent the day in hospital having blood tests. 'They asked if I had done any foreign travel and when I said 'yes', they asked if anything had happened,' she says. 'I said I had hit my head so I went for a CT scan.' 7 Sam was diagnosed with cardiac ectopy, then doctors discovered she had a brain tumour Credit: Sam Adams 7 'I was completely forced to face my own mortality,' she says Credit: Sam Adams 7 Sam had to wear a heart monitor and start taking medication Credit: Sam Adams Sam was given a heart monitor to wear for 24 hours, and was prescribed beta blockers, which are used to slow down the heart. Two weeks later she received a call from her cardiologist - one she will never forget. It was earth-shattering news; they had discovered a brain tumour. Despite having nothing to do with her head injury, or heart condition, the CT scan she had had as a result of her investigations had proved vital. Sam, who loved tennis and bike riding but was no longer able to exercise says: 'My head was spinning, I was spiralling; I sat alone on the sofa and phoned my sister. 'I was completely forced to face my own mortality - mentally it was huge. 'I slept sitting up and was terrified to go to sleep in case I wouldn't wake up.' The 6 barely-there symptoms of a brain tumour BRAIN tumours are one of the most deadly forms of cancer — but not all tumours are cancerous. Glioblastomas are the most common type of malignant brain tumour, affecting around 2,200 Brits a year and making up a third of all brain tumours diagnosed in England between 1995 and 2017. They develop from glial cells — the supporting cells of the brain and spinal cord. Other types of brain tumour, both cancerous and not, include: astrocytoma, ependymoma, medulloblastoma, pituitary and spinal cord. Doctors can test for tumours with MRI or CT scans, as well as neurological examinations and biopsies. The main treatments are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, as well as supportive treatments to ease symptoms. Symptoms depend on where tumours are located on the brain and can often be missed at the early stages of the disease, when it is easier to treat. They can also easily be mistaken for something else, so it is important to know what to watch out for. While they can cause headaches, nausea and seizures, some more subtle signs include: Getting irritated easily - as well as losing motivation, depression, anxiety, mood swings and difficulty planning, organising or identifying emotions Growth spurts - brain tumours can affect the pituitary gland (a part of the brain that makes hormones, including the ones that cause growth), so they can cause people to quickly increase in height Difficulty making facial expressions due to nerve damage (e.g. being unable to smile, frown or move their face when speaking) Voices in your head - as well as short-term memory loss Struggling to read Needing the toilet more often due to changes to the endocrine system (which controls a range of bodily functions) Due to the location of Sam's tumour, doctors have told her that while it is likely to be benign, it is inoperable. She has to take aspirin every day for the rest of her life, and has brain scans every month. 'I was told these tumours are generally benign and they don't operate unless it is impacting life,' she says. 'But it can affect your vision and speech, and cause seizures. 'It can't be operated on because of where it is but they want to keep a close eye on it so if it does start to grow they will have to intervene.' In August 2022, Sam, who also takes blood pressure tablets, underwent an ablation - a procedure using heat or cold energy to create tiny scars in the heart and stop the electrical impulses that cause irregular heart rhythms. She says: 'My heart was under immense strain and needed treatment.' Sam recalls how she could not be sedated as they had to see her heart. She describes the ordeal, where her organ was 'zapped', as 'horrific'. 7 Sam says she has 'gone through hell' but breathwork has helped her find hope Credit: Sam Adams 7 She believes her ordeal was triggered by stress Credit: Sam Adams Now, still living with the tumour, which she has nicknamed Timmy, she says: 'I have gone through hell. 'I worry about the brain tumour. If I lose balance I catastrophise, asking myself, 'Is it Timmy?' 'I suffer what I call 'scanxiety' - both pre and post my scans. 'I am 2st heavier and I don't have the energy I used to.' Looking back, Sam believes stress was the cause of her ordeal. 'The early warning I didn't know I needed' 'In 2020, like many others, I experienced extreme emotional pressure - and I now understand just how much unprocessed stress and trauma can live in the body,' she says. 'That realisation led me to deepen my own healing and ultimately shape the work I now do through Life and Breath — a method that combines deep coaching and breathwork to help people move through emotional overload, burnout, and feeling stuck. 'Breathwork has been a powerful part of my own recovery. 'It's helped me regulate my nervous system, reconnect with my body, and process the stress I didn't even realise I'd been carrying. 'I now guide others through the same techniques — from business leaders to athletes — helping them find clarity, calm, and resilience before their bodies shout for attention like mine did.' While Sam's heart issue has been successfully treated, medics regularly monitor her brain tumour. In spite of everything she's been through, she says she feels lucky. 'That trip to Costa Rica gave me the space and courage I needed; it reminded me what life is about,' Sam adds. 'I came back clearer, braver, and more connected to myself than I'd been in years. 'Now I work as a life coach and breathwork facilitator, helping others reconnect with themselves after big life moments. 'And I am so grateful for my Apple Watch - I don't know what would have happened if it had not gone off. 'I still live with the tumour, but I'm well, managing it, and grateful that technology gave me the early warning I didn't know I needed.'
The Sun
13 hours ago
- The Sun
I thought I was just stressed from a triple tragedy – then an alert on my watch said my own life was in danger
CONSUMED by grief following the death of her father, loss of her pet dog and the breakdown of her marriage, Sam Adams felt like her life had hit rock bottom. But nothing could prepare her for what was to come - a series of events that began with her Apple Watch going off, and ended with her life hanging in the balance. 7 7 Sam, 57, who lives near Brighton, East Sussex, tells Sun Health: 'In 2020, I lost my dad. I nursed him in the last couple of weeks of his life. 'My dog passed away suddenly and my marriage had recently broken down all within a matter of months. 'The grief was literally almost unbearable. It challenged my sense of identity and it left me struggling to move forward with anything in my life or business. 'I felt completely stuck. I was hugely stressed, although I felt like I was mentally strong. 'I felt like I was emotionally drowning and hit rock bottom with depression.' After spending most of 2021 'piecing herself together' - Sam embarked on a one-month solo trip to Costa Rica the following year. 'It gave me a reset,' she says. 'I fell in love with trees and nature and I got into a regular breathwork practice out there, which became a big part of my healing.' But just two weeks after returning home, things took another, unexpected turn. 'I'd hit my head badly while I was away and couldn't shake off this jet lag feeling,' says Sam. 'I got out of my car looking at my phone to find a coffee shop and hit my head on a metal pole. I was given a week to live after doctors found a decade-old tumour on my brain 'I was dazed and bruised so I took it easy for a few days. 'But after I had been back for two weeks, I was still feeling awful. 'I thought it was jet lag - I had really low energy and a dull headache at the front of my head. 'My Apple Watch also kept saying my heart rate was low.' Sam says she didn't pay a huge amount of notice at first - she had just returned home after a life-changing trip and an 11-hour flight, and was battling a seven-hour time difference after all. But two weeks later, she went to a pharmacist to get her blood pressure checked. The results were sent to her GP and Sam says she received a call the same day telling her she needed to come in first thing, do no exercise and ring 999 if she suffered shoulder, chest or jaw pain. 'I was very alarmed,' she recalls. 'I went out for dinner with my sister that night and we were both so worried. 'The next day I had an ECG and it was discovered that my heart was throwing out ectopic beats.' Also known as cardiac ectopy, the condition causes extra beats or palpitations that feel like your heart is skipping a beat. Stress, anxiety, a lack of sleep, too much booze, smoking and caffeine are all triggers for the common issue, which is usually harmless and doesn't damage the heart, according to the British Heart Foundation. In some cases though, it can be deadly. Medics sent Sam for further investigations - and she spent the day in hospital having blood tests. 'They asked if I had done any foreign travel and when I said 'yes', they asked if anything had happened,' she says. 'I said I had hit my head so I went for a CT scan.' 7 7 7 Sam was given a heart monitor to wear for 24 hours, and was prescribed beta blockers, which are used to slow down the heart. Two weeks later she received a call from her cardiologist - one she will never forget. It was earth-shattering news; they had discovered a brain tumour. Despite having nothing to do with her head injury, or heart condition, the CT scan she had had as a result of her investigations had proved vital. Sam, who loved tennis and bike riding but was no longer able to exercise says: 'My head was spinning, I was spiralling; I sat alone on the sofa and phoned my sister. 'I was completely forced to face my own mortality - mentally it was huge. 'I slept sitting up and was terrified to go to sleep in case I wouldn't wake up.' The 6 barely-there symptoms of a brain tumour BRAIN tumours are one of the most deadly forms of cancer — but not all tumours are cancerous. Glioblastomas are the most common type of malignant brain tumour, affecting around 2,200 Brits a year and making up a third of all brain tumours diagnosed in England between 1995 and 2017. They develop from glial cells — the supporting cells of the brain and spinal cord. Other types of brain tumour, both cancerous and not, include: astrocytoma, ependymoma, medulloblastoma, pituitary and spinal cord. Doctors can test for tumours with MRI or CT scans, as well as neurological examinations and biopsies. The main treatments are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, as well as supportive treatments to ease symptoms. Symptoms depend on where tumours are located on the brain and can often be missed at the early stages of the disease, when it is easier to treat. They can also easily be mistaken for something else, so it is important to know what to watch out for. While they can cause headaches, nausea and seizures, some more subtle signs include: Getting irritated easily - as well as losing motivation, depression, anxiety, mood swings and difficulty planning, organising or identifying emotions Growth spurts - brain tumours can affect the pituitary gland (a part of the brain that makes hormones, including the ones that cause growth), so they can cause people to quickly increase in height Difficulty making facial expressions due to nerve damage (e.g. being unable to smile, frown or move their face when speaking) Voices in your head - as well as short-term memory loss Struggling to read Needing the toilet more often due to changes to the endocrine system (which controls a range of bodily functions) Due to the location of Sam's tumour, doctors have told her that while it is likely to be benign, it is inoperable. She has to take aspirin every day for the rest of her life, and has brain scans every month. 'I was told these tumours are generally benign and they don't operate unless it is impacting life,' she says. 'But it can affect your vision and speech, and cause seizures. 'It can't be operated on because of where it is but they want to keep a close eye on it so if it does start to grow they will have to intervene.' In August 2022, Sam, who also takes blood pressure tablets, underwent an ablation - a procedure using heat or cold energy to create tiny scars in the heart and stop the electrical impulses that cause irregular heart rhythms. She says: 'My heart was under immense strain and needed treatment.' Sam recalls how she could not be sedated as they had to see her heart. She describes the ordeal, where her organ was 'zapped', as 'horrific'. 7 7 Now, still living with the tumour, which she has nicknamed Timmy, she says: 'I have gone through hell. 'I worry about the brain tumour. If I lose balance I catastrophise, asking myself, 'Is it Timmy?' 'I suffer what I call 'scanxiety' - both pre and post my scans. 'I am 2st heavier and I don't have the energy I used to.' Looking back, Sam believes stress was the cause of her ordeal. 'The early warning I didn't know I needed' 'In 2020, like many others, I experienced extreme emotional pressure - and I now understand just how much unprocessed stress and trauma can live in the body,' she says. 'That realisation led me to deepen my own healing and ultimately shape the work I now do through Life and Breath — a method that combines deep coaching and breathwork to help people move through emotional overload, burnout, and feeling stuck. 'Breathwork has been a powerful part of my own recovery. 'It's helped me regulate my nervous system, reconnect with my body, and process the stress I didn't even realise I'd been carrying. 'I now guide others through the same techniques — from business leaders to athletes — helping them find clarity, calm, and resilience before their bodies shout for attention like mine did.' While Sam's heart issue has been successfully treated, medics regularly monitor her brain tumour. In spite of everything she's been through, she says she feels lucky. 'That trip to Costa Rica gave me the space and courage I needed; it reminded me what life is about,' Sam adds. 'I came back clearer, braver, and more connected to myself than I'd been in years. 'Now I work as a life coach and breathwork facilitator, helping others reconnect with themselves after big life moments. 'And I am so grateful for my Apple Watch - I don't know what would have happened if it had not gone off. 'I still live with the tumour, but I'm well, managing it, and grateful that technology gave me the early warning I didn't know I needed.'
