Carly Pearce Says Doctors Dismissed Her ‘Debilitating’ Symptoms Before Her Heart Condition Was Diagnosed

• Carly Pearce was diagnosed with the heart condition pericarditis last year
• The country singer said she dealt with “debilitating” symptoms that were initially dismissed by doctors
• She’s encouraging others to listen to their bodies and advocate for their health

Carly Pearce said that she was initially dismissed by doctors before being diagnosed with a heart condition in 2024.

The 34-year-old country star recently spoke to Fox News and gave an update on her health since learning last year that she has pericarditis.

Pericarditis is swelling and irritation of the thin, sac-like tissue surrounding the heart, according to the Mayo Clinic. It causes sharp chest pain, which could spread to the shoulders and neck.

Other symptoms include fatigue, coughing, swelling of the legs or feet, low-grade fever, shortness of breath and heart palpitations.

“I’m doing a lot better,” Pearce told the outlet. “I’m still kinda just on a health journey in general, just to continue to hope that this recurrent pericarditis isn’t recurrent.”

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The singer encouraged others to be persistent about their health if they have concerns, saying she initially wasn’t taken seriously by medical professionals.

“My biggest piece of advice for anybody is: Listen to your body and be your own advocate because a lot of doctors dismissed me, and I was persistent until I got a diagnosis,” she said.

In January, Pearce told Today that her symptoms were “debilitating” at one point.

“I had a really debilitating chest pain that was only relieved if I bent over like this (leaning forward), and that’s a classic symptom of pericarditis,” she explained on Today. “And then when you lay back, it gets way worse, because that wall is kind of inflamed around your heart.”

“I just had a really intense shortness of breath,” she added.

The “Hummingbird” singer said she’s doing well now but trying to find her “new normal” while managing the condition and her flare-ups.

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Pearce first opened up about her health problems in May 2024 in a candid video on Instagram.

“I have always been transparent and honest about every part of my life so I feel like this deserves the same honesty,” she began. “You guys know that I’ve been dealing with some health issues and through that, I have developed something called pericarditis, which is a heart issue.”

“I’ve been working with doctors and talking to my cardiologist,” Pearce said. “I still want to be out on the road, it’s really important to me but we have all decided that it is in my best interest as I’m healing to alter my shows a little bit.”

At the time, the Grammy winner was on the road with Tim McGraw for his “Standing Room Only Tour.”

“So if my shows look a little different, just know it’s because I have to keep my heart rate under control right now,” she continued. “That doesn’t mean that I’m not gonna be completely fine, it just means that right now I’ve got to really take this seriously.”

“I’m a young healthy person that really watches what I eat and exercises and this happened to me,” Pearce said. “So I just want to use my platform to tell you to take care of your body and listen to it and just know that if it’s trying to tell you something it’s gonna tell you.”