'My stomach swelling turned out to be heart failure'

A woman has urged people to learn more about the symptoms of heart failure after she was rushed into hospital with the condition.

Sue Hounsell, 61, from Trowbridge, Wiltshire, initially experienced shortness of breath and abdominal swelling. But it was not until she began having trouble breathing at night, she decided to seek medical help.

The former gym manager spent two weeks at Royal United Hospitals Bath (RUH), where it was found she had problems with two of her heart valves.

She now attends a new support group for heart failure patients at RUH, which allows patients to share their experiences of living with the illness and get advice from clinical staff.

Ms Hounsell first noticed her symptoms while at work.

"I've always been an active person, but I'd noticed that when I was moving equipment around at my gym that I was getting out of breath a bit more," she said.

"I couldn't stop work or take any time off as I had such a busy schedule, but I was having to sit down a lot more as I was continuously out of breath."

"I also had pain in my abdomen which was causing me discomfort and swelling.

"It was when I started having trouble breathing at night, especially when I was laying down, that I knew I had to get checked out," she added.

The GP sent her to hospital where she stayed for two weeks while she underwent multiple scans and tests.

It was found she had problems with two of her heart valves and her heart was not pumping blood around the body effectively.

She was not in pain during the process and her only noticeable symptom was the struggle to breathe.

"I'm really keen that people know what symptoms they should be looking out for and to make sure they seek help and advice as early as possible," she said.

"The earlier heart failure is detected, the sooner you can get the treatment you need."

Heart failure does not mean it has stopped working, just that it the organ needs help to work properly.

It can occur at any age but is more common in older people.

It cannot usually be cured, however symptoms can be controlled for many years with medication and lifestyle changes.

The most common symptoms include fighting for breath, fatigue and swollen ankles and legs.

Anyone experiencing symptoms should contact their GP.

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.