She Thought It Was Just Heartburn—It Was Actually a Heart Attack | The Medical City

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She Thought It Was Just Heartburn—It Was Actually a Heart Attack

By The Medical City (TMC), Ortigas | February 19, 2025

She Thought It Was Just Heartburn—It Was Actually a Heart Attack

Mild discomfort. A busy day ahead. A thought: “Maybe I should just push through.”

We all do it—brush off discomfort, dismiss fatigue, and tell ourselves it’s just stress or something we ate. Who has time to worry about every little ache when there are deadlines to meet and responsibilities to juggle? 

That’s exactly what Mags Castro, an IT executive, thought when she felt an unusual heaviness in her chest. It wasn’t pain. Just a discomfort, like heartburn. 

Still, something didn’t feel right. So, she made a decision that ended up saving her life—she drove to The Medical City’s Emergency Room. 

 By the time she arrived, her husband was waiting for her. The last thing she remembered before blacking out was being wheeled into the hospital. 

 “The next thing I knew, I was waking up to doctors telling my husband that I had a heart attack and they needed to do a procedure.” 

 An angioplasty restored blood flow just in time. Had she waited any longer, the outcome could have been far worse. 


The Problem With Being “Too Busy” For Your Own Health 

If this story sounds familiar, it’s because it’s all too common—especially among professionals who are used to powering through discomfort. High stress, long hours, and little time for self-care create the perfect storm for heart disease to develop unnoticed. 

For women like Mags, heart attack symptoms can be different from what you expect. Instead of severe chest pain, many experience: 

  • Mild chest discomfort (easily mistaken for heartburn) 

  • Unusual fatigue (feeling drained without a clear reason) 

  • Shortness of breath, nausea, or dizziness 

The reality? Your body always gives you signs. You just have to listen. 

  • Stress and long hours can increase your heart disease risk. 

  • Fatigue, indigestion, and dizziness might not just be stress—they could be warning signs. 

  • A quick hospital visit can save your life. 

Heart Health, Without the Hassle 

Like most professionals, Mags didn’t have time to deal with a complicated recovery process. That’s where The Medical City’s expert team stepped in. 

 “They kept checking on me, making sure I was okay. I wasn’t afraid to go through the process because I knew they were monitoring me every step of the way. There’s a relationship—it feels like family.” 

 The Medical City understands that time is valuable. That’s why they’ve created executive-friendly heart health solutions, designed for people who need top-tier care—without the long wait times.  

Take It From Someone Who Almost Ignored the Signs 

Mags could have easily dismissed her discomfort and gone about her day. Instead, she made one choice that saved her life—she got checked. 

 As the only JCI-accredited hospital in the Philippines for Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI), The Medical City ensures professionals like Mags get world-class cardiac care when it matters most. 

 There’s always another meeting. Another deadline. Another reason to put off your checkup. But the reality is, your health can’t wait. 

Know your heart. Prevent disease. Trust the experts. 

Schedule your executive heart screening today.  Visit https://tmcph.co/HeartCheck or m.me/TheMedicalCity 

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