Former star of The Apprentice Lottie Lion has been given a “life-changing” diagnosis after suddenly collapsing on holiday.
The businesswoman, 24, has been in hospital receiving emergency medical care in Sydney after flying from the Indonesian island of Bali. Shortly after arriving on the island for some much needed rest and relaxation, she was struck down with the mysterious illness.
Since then, she has been recovering, having been on oxygen to ensure her breathing was steady. But it comes just weeks after she previously had heart surgery.
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The BBC star, who was aged just 19 when she starred on the show, has now received the news that she has been diagnosed with Wolff Parkinson-White syndrome, otherwise known as WPW. The condition is known for its effects on the heart, and can cause the heart to beat abnormally fast for any period of time.
(Image: Instagram/ @lottie.lion)
WPW is triggered due to extra electrical currents that pass through us as the heart pumps blood around our body. The electrical connection is with us from birth and helps to keep the heart beating when we are unconscious, but by having WPW, the heart works faster than it needs to and can cause many different other health issues.
While this is a well-known heart condition, symptoms of the disease can only be picked up on later on in life. The condition is not deemed to be “life-threatening” and can also be completely cured with a course of medical treatment.
(Image: lottie.lion/Instagram)
Though, sadly for Lottie, this is not the end of her medical woes as doctors also formally diagnosed her with an abnormal heartbeat, which increases her risk of suffering from the likes of a stroke or a heart attack.
Speaking to The Sun following her diagnosis, Lottie said she was “devastated” at the news and pondered how she would live a normal life now. “This is going to be life-changing for me, as I usually live an extremely active lifestyle attending the gym every day – I took for granted how fit and healthy I was,” she said.
“I absolutely loved my active lifestyle and I’m devastated and very frustrated that I can’t at present continue that,” Lion added. “I am on strict instructions having to take four different medications three times a day until I am able to have my second heart surgery.”
(Image: lottie.lion/Instagram)
Lottie added that a second operation will be needed that will involve cauterising the pathway to stop the extra electrical current from coming through. She will then be put into recovery for two months to allow herself time to rest and heal.
In a story uploaded to her social media on Monday (February 26), she gave her loyal fans an update, saying that she was doing well and “taking life slowly” in order to help her recover faster. She added: “I’m on four different types of medication, twice a day for three months and then hopefully things will be okay after my second procedure.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
