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However, she never thought it was much more than that. The 57-year-old resident of East Sussex was grieving for situations one after the other when her Apple Watch started showing some signs of low blood pressure. One day, she also hit her head after banging into a pole, the aftermath of which, apart from a bruise on the head, included chronic headaches and low energy. "My Apple Watch kept saying my heart rate was low," she told The Sun. Sam says she didn't pay much attention at first, but when she got her blood pressure levels checked, the doctors got her investigated for more. "The next day I had an ECG, and it was discovered that my heart was throwing out ectopic beats," she added. Sam was then diagnosed with cardiac ectopy - the condition which happens when your heart's electrical system misfires, causing the heart to contract too early or miss a beat. While often harmless, they can sometimes indicate an underlying heart condition or cause concerning symptoms. According to experts, stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, too much alcohol, and caffeine are triggers for this common issue. Sam was sent for further investigations However, her ordeal just did not end there. Sam was then sent for further investigations, which included blood tests and a CT scan, which revealed earth-shattering news for her - a brain tumour. While she was already prescribed a heart monitor to wear for 24 hours along with beta blockers - used to slow down the heart - the tumour was causing many more headaches than before. "My head was spinning; I was spiralling. I sat alone on the sofa and phoned my sister. "I was completely forced to face my mortality - mentally it was huge," she said. Due to the location of Sam's tumour, doctors have told her that while it is likely to be benign, it cannot be operated on, and she has to take aspirin daily for the rest of her life and get brain scans every month. Early warning signs Sam ignored Sam now feels that she ignored her unprocessed stress and trauma, causing chronic headaches, which may have led to her diagnosis. While her heart issue has been successfully treated, medics regularly monitor her brain tumour so that she does not get seizures because of it. "I still live with the tumour, but I'm well, managing it, and grateful that technology gave me the early warning I didn't know I needed." What is cardiac ectopy? According to experts, cardiac ectopy is a type of arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat that happens when your heart contracts too soon. Your heart also skips a beat or feels like it is racing or fluttering. Most of the time, an ectopic heartbeat is harmless and doesn't result from an underlying heart problem or health condition. Your heart usually works properly, even though it beats out of rhythm. Many people don't need treatment for an ectopic heartbeat. However, your doctors may worry if you have:

• Difficulty breathing or breathlessness
• Persistent palpitations
• Discomfort, tightness in your chest, or chest pain
• Dizziness or confusion
• Episodes of fainting or loss of consciousness
• Sudden fatigue or tiredness
• Swelling in your limbs, especially your legs, ankles, and feet