A young woman has opened up about her diagnosis with one of the world's rarest heart diseases at just 21. Alicia Fairclough, now 23, is living with a condition known as Taakayasu's arteritis. This chronic inflammatory disease impacts the body's largest blood vessel - the aorta - and its branches.
While it can't be cured, it can be managed. Takayasu arteritis is incredibly rare, with only one to two cases reported per million worldwide. Studies show that it predominantly affects women.
Alicia's journey to diagnosis began two years ago when she developed a urinary tract infection, which then escalated into a kidney infection. Sharing her story on TikTok, the Liverpool native said: "Long story short, I had to go to A&E for antibiotics - but that's where the story starts." She also shared some insight into her previous health struggles: "Just for a bit of context, I have a condition called hypothyroidism and I've had that since I was 17.
So, I get regular blood tests." The NHS explains that an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) is when your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough hormones, reports Wales Online . Symptoms can include fatigue, weight gain, a puffy face, thinning or partial loss of eyebrows, slow movements and thoughts, constipation and depression.
Alicia's doctor noticed her inflammation markers were "super high" during regular blood tests, which she initially attributed to a kidney infection she was battling. Five months on, Alicia began to develop anaemia. ".
