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Thirtysomething heart patient hopes his story helps others

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By Tiffany Y. Latta, Staff Writer 3:05 AM Thursday, September 9, 2010

HAMILTON — James Fowee’s decision to volunteer at an American Heart Association event nearly three years ago may have saved his life.

After hearing a guest speaker in her mid-40s talk about her symptoms of heart disease — symptoms Fowee was experiencing after suffering strep throat — he went to see a doctor and was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy.

“My original cardiologist said if I wouldn’t have come in when I did, my heart would have only had six months or so before it would have given out on me,” said Fowee, now 34.

Fowee will share his story as keynote speaker of the association’s Butler County Heart Walk on Saturday, Sept. 11, on the Hamilton Bike Path.

His hope is to raise awareness about heart disease, particularly in young people like him who may not realize they’re at risk.

Cardiomyopathy develops when the heart becomes inflamed and doesn’t work as well as it should. There may be multiple causes including viral infections, according to the AHA.

Symptoms include shortness of breath on exertion, dizziness, fainting and chest pain or discomfort caused by reduced blood supply to the heart muscle, according to the AHA.

Fowee was 31 when diagnosed. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound avid soccer and softball player had no family history of the disease. But after the strep, he learned the virus had attacked his heart and it was functioning at a third less than a normal heart.

Lori Fovel, spokeswoman for the AHA in Cincinnati, hopes Fowee’s story helps others.

“Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the U.S. and stroke is the No. 3 killer and the No. 1 disabler,” Fovel said.

Fowee, who has a pacemaker and is on medication, said it’s been an uphill battle. But he considers it a blessing he heard the speech that led to him to a doctor. “You never know whether a person standing in the crowd or one of their family members are experiencing it,” he said.

American Heart Association’s Butler County Heart Walk

When: 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 on the Hamilton Bike Path

Registration: 9 to 10 a.m. at The Fitton Center, 101 S. Monument Ave. Register at www.heartwalk.kintera.org/hamiltonfairfieldoh

Cost: Free

For more: Call Ray Meyer at (513) 842-8874 or e-mail him at ray.meyer@heart.org

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