During American Heart Month, Carla Quisenberry is sharing her story in hopes it will help others listen to their bodies — and feel confident seeking care when something doesn’t feel right.
Carla first noticed something was wrong during everyday activities. Simple tasks like mowing the lawn left her unusually short of breath.
Her instinct led her to Providence Heart Institute at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, where cardiologist Jenna Kay, M.D., helped identify the cause: Cardiac amyloidosis, a rare condition in which abnormal proteins build up in the heart, making it stiff and less able to pump effectively. Fewer than 35 people per 100,000 are diagnosed with the condition.