A 23-YEAR-old has been diagnosed with a heart condition after being told there was nothing wrong with him.

Matt Charnock, a young professional rugby referee from Orford, hit his head after passing out during a busy shift for Merseyside Police.

A few days later while back at work, he started to feel very tired and dizzy so went back to the hospital for more checks, including a brain scan.

But despite having 15 scans and 23 tests over a year, he was told nothing was wrong with him.

He said: “As a rugby referee I’ve always kept myself fit and healthy so when I blacked out at work and didn’t feel right afterwards, I was worried there was something wrong with my heart, even though there’s no history of heart disease in my family.

“Over a number of months, I had all sorts of tests including a 24-hour ECG, a blood pressure monitor and an echocardiogram. All the tests kept coming back normal but I felt so unwell that at one stage I was completely bedbound which had a massive impact on my physical and mental wellbeing.

“What concerned me the most was that everyone kept telling me I was fine, but I knew this couldn’t be true.”

Last October, Matt heard about a ‘state-of-the-art’ cardiology diagnostics clinic in Birchwood, Venturi Cardiology.

Since it was founded, the private clinic has carried out heart tests on patients across the country – including a number of sports players such as professional rugby players and footballers.

“I wanted a second opinion so I booked an appointment with Dr Scott Murray of Venturi Cardiology,” Matt added.

“Within the first minute of the consultation, he told me what was wrong

Venturi Cardiology in Birchwood

Venturi Cardiology in Birchwood

“I’ve got a condition called Neurocardiogenic Syncope, which makes it hard for me to regulate my blood pressure and heart rate.

“It’s more common than you think, and it makes you feel very dizzy, light-headed and sick particularly when you stand up for long periods of time or when it is hot, like it was at work the day I passed out.

“Dr Murray told me that people most commonly develop it if they were a fainter as a child or teenager and it can also be triggered by the sight of blood and intense emotion as well as extreme heat, dehydration and long periods of standing.”

Dr Murray sent Matt for a tilt table test to confirm his diagnosis which reproduced Matt’s symptoms under controlled conditions and his heart rate and blood pressure were assessed.

The results confirmed the diagnosis and Dr Murray prescribed two drugs which in combination will help Matt maintain his heart rate and blood pressure within normal limits and allow him to lead a more active life and get back to work.

Matt said: “I’d had fifteen different scans and twenty tests in total over a 12-month period and everyone had said there was nothing wrong with me.

“Dr Murray gave me an answer within one minute. A week later I had the drugs that should help me get back to full health. It was such a relief to get a diagnosis.

“I’m still not completely better yet – and work and my family have been very supportive - but I’ve not had any more episodes and I’m starting to recover.”

Dr Murray said: “Matt’s condition is one that needs to be managed. In time, he may have to move to a desk-based job as standing up for long periods is always going to be a struggle for him, but there is no reason that he cannot lead a normal life.

“He had to wait a while for a diagnosis, but we were delighted to be able to help him.”