Student, 22, saved by Apple Watch which alerted him to a deadly heart condition

A student was saved by his smart watch after it alerted him to a deadly heart condition – that he had been unaware of since birth.

Jorge Cox, 22, had five hours of open heart surgery in May 2019, at the private Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle, Manchester, after alerting medics to worrying heart rate readings from his Apple watch.

Mr Cox, who studies performing arts, first realised something was wrong when the device recorded heart rate readings of over 130bpm while he was resting in September 2018.

Jorge Cox, who studies performing arts, first realised something was wrong when the device (pictured) recorded heart rate readings of over 130bpm while he was resting in September 2018

He assumed the readings were to do with his caffeine intake and forgot all about it.

But after mentioning it to a nurse – who was checking him over before an unrelated throat procedure – at the Royal Oldham Hospital in November 2018, doctors ran tests and diagnosed him with Aortic Regurgitation, also known as a leaky heart valve.

The condition occurs when the heart’s aortic valve does not close tightly and results in some of the blood pumped out of the organ’s main camber leaking back into it.

It can lead to sudden heart failure if not treated and medics told Mr Cox he could have ‘dropped down dead’ at any time.

Mr Cox, a graduate from Blackpool and The Fylde College, who lives in Oldham, Manchester, said: ”It all began when I kept getting these heart rhythm readings.

Mr Cox, 22, had five hours of open heart surgery in May 2019, at the private Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle, Manchester, after alerting medics to worrying heart rate readings from his Apple watch

Mr Cox, 22, had five hours of open heart surgery in May 2019, at the private Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle, Manchester, after alerting medics to worrying heart rate readings from his Apple watch

Mr Cox, a graduate from Blackpool and The Fylde College, who lives in Oldham, Manchester, said: ''It all began when I kept getting these heart rhythm readings.' Pictured: Days after his life saving operation

Mr Cox, a graduate from Blackpool and The Fylde College, who lives in Oldham, Manchester, said: ”It all began when I kept getting these heart rhythm readings.’ Pictured: Days after his life saving operation

‘Basically the Apple Watch tells you if there is a spike in heart rate, but mine kept happening when I was lying down, watching TV or dozing which is unusual.

‘Your heart rate usually spikes if you’re doing something strenuous like excising or if you have lots of caffeine.

‘It didn’t make much sense, but I put it down to the amount of coffee I was drinking to get through my exams.

‘I’d always have at least one large iced coffee from Starbucks each day – sometimes more – to help with exam stress so assumed it was the caffeine from that.

‘In fact, I only mentioned it in passing to a nurse who was prepping me for a tonsillectomy because she asked if I had any history of heart problems.

Mr Cox, who studies performing arts, first realised something was wrong when the device recorded heart rate readings of over 130bpm while he was resting in September 2018. Pictured: His heart scar

After his drain pipe, which was attached to his heart

Mr Cox, who studies performing arts, first realised something was wrong when the device recorded heart rate readings of over 130bpm while he was resting in September 2018. Pictured: His heart scar (left) and after his drain pipe, which was attached to his heart (right)

‘She was amazing and made sure it was checked out straight away – thank god she did.

‘Finding out I was so ill was really scary, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, I was terrified for my life.’

Mr Cox got his Apple watch on finance in November 2016 and then upgraded to a Series Four model in January 2019.

Without the device, Mr Cox believes he might not be alive to ‘tell the tale’ as doctors warned he could have ‘dropped down dead’ at any time.

The singer now believes that he had ignored other symptoms after mistaking them for normal teen behaviours and school stress.

He assumed the readings were to do with his caffeine intake and forgot all about it. But after mentioning it to a nurse - who was checking him over before an unrelated throat procedure - at the Royal Oldham Hospital in November 2018, doctors ran tests and diagnosed him with Aortic Regurgitation, also known as a leaky heart valve. Pictured: with his mother Donna and father Paul

Pictured with his dog

He assumed the readings were to do with his caffeine intake and forgot all about it. But after mentioning it to a nurse – who was checking him over before an unrelated throat procedure – at the Royal Oldham Hospital in November 2018, doctors ran tests and diagnosed him with Aortic Regurgitation, also known as a leaky heart valve. Pictured: with his mother Donna and father Paul

He said: ‘In hindsight, I was always was exhausted, which I now know to be a symptom of the condition.

‘I was tired because not enough blood was circulating fast enough, but I just assumed it was normal growing pains.

‘All my friends were always knackered too and loved their lie ins but I now see that my fatigue was on another level.

‘Even though I’m still recovering I still have 50 per cent more energy than I did before – it’s crazy to think I lived so long not knowing how ill I was.

‘I also really have to thank my incredible surgeon too, I couldn’t be more grateful.

The condition occurs when the heart's aortic valve does not close tightly and results in some of the blood pumped out of the organ's main camber leaking back into it. It can lead to sudden heart failure if not treated and medics told Mr Cox he could have 'dropped down dead' at any time

The condition occurs when the heart’s aortic valve does not close tightly and results in some of the blood pumped out of the organ’s main camber leaking back into it. It can lead to sudden heart failure if not treated and medics told Mr Cox he could have ‘dropped down dead’ at any time

‘Even through the recovery has been such a slog, I’m really glad this has happened, my career is going to be a breeze now I’ve got my heart fixed.”

Mr Cox underwent the five hour operation at the private Alexandra Hospital as the NHS was not able to offer a quick enough slot.

The surgery, which involved breaking his sternum, replaced Mr Cox’s leaky valve with a new one, giving him a new lease of life.

Medics explained the condition was most likely a defect since birth and that he had been ‘very lucky’ to have it finally diagnosed.

Mr Cox is now recovering at home and his heart rate and rhythm have returned to normal.

‘I feel so blessed. Thank goodness I got an Apple watch, I’d be a walking death trap if I hadn’t,’ he said.

‘It just doesn’t bare thinking about.

‘I have so much respect for that technology.

‘I’ve always loved Apple products and now even more so!

‘I’m so grateful to the nurse who made the time to get me properly checked out, I owe my life to her too.’

Mr Cox’s heart rate is now back to normal and he’s being supported through his recovery by his loving parents, Donna, 55, and Paul, 58.

His boyfriend Shane, 23, a teacher, has also been ‘a rock’ throughout the ordeal.

Without the device, Mr Cox believes he might not be alive to 'tell the tale' as doctors warned he could have 'dropped down dead' at any time. The singer now believes that he had ignored other symptoms after mistaking them for normal teen behaviours and school stress

Without the device, Mr Cox believes he might not be alive to ‘tell the tale’ as doctors warned he could have ‘dropped down dead’ at any time. The singer now believes that he had ignored other symptoms after mistaking them for normal teen behaviours and school stress

‘My friends and family were almost more worried than me about it, it was really rubbish for them to have to watch me get wheeled away into a serious operation and they’ve admitted to me since they thought they might not see me alive again,’ he said.

‘I’m over the shock of it all now and just happy to be alive!

‘The first few weeks recovery were the worse as I was in a huge amount of pain but it’s getting better everyday.

‘I’m just so excited to get on with my career now – which I’ve had to put on hold while I get better – but I can’t wait to get back on stage with a renewed energy.’

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