Supermodel Anok Yai reveals one common symptom she ignored before congenital defect diagnosis

Anok Yai, is a 28-year-old supermodel who has made an unforgettable name for herself in the modelling industry. The recently named 2025 Model of the Year, is the second Black model to have opened a Prada show, after Naomi Campbell.

On Friday, December 19, the model revealed that she has been diagnosed with a congenital defect that is "overworking" her heart and "destroying" her lungs. She also shared a common symptom that she had been missing, which later helped in the diagnosis of the condition.

Anok Yai announces heartbreaking health condition

Yai is a popular supermodel known for gracing Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Perfect and Allure over the years. She had walked the runway for luxury brands like Versace and Burberry and starred in campaigns for Nike and Tiffany & Co. The model who has 3.3 million followers on Instagram, took to the social media app to inform her followers that she had been forced to take a break from work as she was "dealing with (a) silent battle."Sharing some photos and videos of her in a hospital bed, she wrote: “I incidentally found out I had a congenital defect overworking my heart and slowly destroying my lungs.”

Common symptom she had been missing

Congenital refers to traits or conditions that exist at birth. According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, these can be hereditary or can occur from exposure during pregnancy or at birth.

As per the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), a congenital defect can cause physical, intellectual and developmental disability. While some defects are 'more disruptive' others are not, but if not detected and treated quickly they can cause lifelong health problems. Despite being "asymptomatic for the majority of her life," Yai realised that something was seriously wrong when a persistent cough led to other problems. “[The cough] turned to chest pains, bouts of coughing up blood, then at times struggling to breathe,” she recalled.While she believed she could "outwork or outrun anything," the model added that the universe had a "way of slowing you down and waking you up."The Egyptian-born beauty shared that she had a successful robotic lung surgery, a minimally invasive technique that involved removing lung tissue or lymph nodes through tiny incisions. “I’ll be back. See ya,” she concluded.

What do you need to know about congenital defects?

As per the NICHD, one in every thirty-three US infants is born with a major congenital anomaly. According to the Mayo Clinic, common symptoms of irregular heartbeats, blue or grey skin, lips and fingernails, short breath, tiredness and swelling. Certain medications such as thalidomide and infections such as cytomegalovirus and toxoplasmosis can also increase the risk of development of these defects. So can habits like drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes and a lack of folic acid. It is vital to understand the small physical signs that your body uses to signal bigger problems in your health. Note: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new medication or treatment and before changing your diet or supplement regimen.