Karen Wazen reveals her struggle with heart rhythm disturbances.

Lebanese influencer Karen Wazen announced that she has been suffering for four years from a heart rhythm disorder known medically as supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), coinciding with World Heart Day on September 29. She shared a photo album on her Instagram account documenting her episodes of the condition, along with an awareness-raising comment that sent a message of support to anyone suffering from the same condition.

A difficult personal experience

Wazen recounted the moment she discovered her condition, explaining that she initially thought it was a panic attack due to the sudden acceleration of her heart rate, which reached nearly 200 beats per minute. She was immediately taken to the hospital, where it turned out to be a cardiac condition, not a psychological one. She commented, "Anyone who has suffered from a heart rhythm disorder knows how stressful it can be... knowing what's going on inside your heart makes it all a little less scary."

Ways to deal with seizures

The Lebanese influencer indicated that she relies on certain techniques to reduce the severity of her attacks, including breathing exercises and vagus nerve maneuvers, while the final treatment is a medical procedure known as "heart ablation," which she is still postponing. She added that when she is unable to control an attack, she resorts to stopping any physical activity and lying down to monitor her pulse with her own device, which gives her some reassurance until the condition subsides.

lifestyle change

Wazen confirmed that this experience prompted her to make radical lifestyle changes, most notably quitting caffeine and smoking, improving sleep quality, and learning how to manage stress. Although the condition isn't life-threatening, it causes physical and psychological exhaustion, with unpleasant symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, and sometimes the risk of fainting. Nevertheless, she was keen to share her experience publicly to encourage others to be aware and take care of their heart health.