Emily Brady, a 39-year-old mother from Taunton, is preparing to run the Cardiff Half Marathon next month in support of the British Heart Foundation (BHF), after a dramatic escalation in her heart condition left her unable to function for months.
Diagnosed at 18 with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), a condition she inherited from her mother Subatra, Emily had initially managed well. AVNRT causes the heart to beat over 100 times per minute but is generally not life-threatening. “Episodes were rare—maybe once a year,” Emily, a product manager, recalls. “It didn’t really bother me at first.”
However, after becoming pregnant, her symptoms worsened, requiring yearly hospital visits for drug treatments to reset her heart rhythm. Through fitness, and by avoiding caffeine and alcohol, Emily learned to control her episodes. She also mastered the Valsalva manoeuvre—a technique involving controlled breathing and leg elevation—to slow her heart during attacks. Yet, the condition was always a challenge. “Once, I had to perform the manoeuvre in an airport after a flight—it was awkward but necessary,” she says.
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Her health deteriorated sharply in December last year following a viral illness that left her unable to perform the Valsalva manoeuvre due to a severe cough. This led to frequent emergency room visits, sometimes twice in a single day. “I was on first-name terms with the doctors,” Emily shares.
In hospital, she received Adenosine to stabilize her heart rhythm—a treatment she describes as feeling like “a hippo sat on your chest.” The recurring episodes left her physically exhausted and emotionally drained. She took two months off work and needed constant company, fearing to be alone for long periods.
Emily’s independence was severely affected. “I felt lost, not wanting to be more than 20-30 minutes from a hospital. My normal life came to a standstill,” she says.
In March, Emily underwent a cardiac ablation procedure, initially unsuccessful, but a second treatment in April finally eliminated most of her palpitations. “I still experience some tachycardia, but being able to run again is huge.”
Determined to reclaim her life, Emily signed up for the Cardiff Half Marathon. “Running is how I care for myself. I want to get back to it—and maybe even beat my personal best.”
Emily credits the British Heart Foundation for their invaluable support. “Their guides helped me understand the ablation process. It’s amazing how much treatment has improved since my mum’s procedure 25 years ago—she stayed in hospital for three days, whereas I was home within four hours.”
On October 5, Emily will join thousands of runners in Cardiff, raising funds for the BHF’s lifesaving research. “This run is about reclaiming my independence and supporting the charity that helped me when I needed it most.”
In Devon alone, around 170,000 people live with heart or circulatory conditions. Stevie O’Connor, BHF events executive, praises Emily’s progress and fundraising efforts, highlighting the impact of BHF-funded research on improving cardiac ablations since the 1980s. “Thanks to Emily and supporters like her, we can continue advancing treatments to benefit future generations.”