For months, health advocacy speaker Gerry Langan was told that her persistent symptoms—shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain—were simply the result of anxiety.  Despite multiple visits to healthcare providers and treatment attempts for what was presumed to be stress-related issues, Langan knew something was wrong.

“I have pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)—a rare and progressive disease that affects the arteries in my lungs,” Langan shared in a recent Instagram post. “My body wasn’t overreacting; it was whispering long before it shouted.”

Langan’s journey to diagnosis was anything but straightforward. While doctors dismissed her symptoms as anxiety-related, she insisted on further testing. Despite being repeatedly told it was “just in her head,” Langan’s persistence paid off when she was eventually diagnosed with PAH, a condition that often goes undetected until it becomes life-threatening.

What exactly is PAH?

Pulmonary arterial hypertension causes increased pressure in the arteries of the lungs and can lead to severe complications, including heart failure.

“I had to become my own advocate,” Langan explained, emphasising the frustration of being “gaslighted” by medical professionals. “My persistence saved my life.”

Don't rush to diagnose

For physicians, Langan's story carries a vital lesson. In the face of recurring symptoms that don't quite fit the expected pattern, it's crucial to resist jumping to conclusions, especially when the initial diagnosis feels too simple or too common.

While anxiety is undoubtedly a major factor in many patients' health, symptoms like fatigue, chest pain, and shortness of breath should never be dismissed solely as anxiety. A broader differential diagnosis is necessary, and rare conditions like PAH must remain on the radar, particularly when typical treatments fail to make a difference.

My body wasn’t overreacting; it was whispering long before it shouted.

Moreover, Langan’s experience also highlights the importance of listening to patients and respecting their concerns. Medical gaslighting, where patients' symptoms are brushed off as “in their head,” can be damaging and dangerous. Patient advocacy is key—encouraging patients to push for further testing and working together to get to the root cause can save lives.

As Langan put it herself, “Rare diseases are real. Invisible illnesses are real. AND WE ARE REAL.”