‘I’m playing with my life’: Ellie Goulding has a serious heart defect

Singer Ellie Goulding has revealed she's been taking a huge risk over the last year by not getting a serious heart issue dealt with.

The 28-year-old relies on an intense fitness regime and a strict vegan diet to stay in shape, but has been warned to cut down on gym sessions of late.

"I found out I have this heart thing and I need to get it checked out," she admitted to Mail Online. 

 

So excited to announce that I am the next James Bond x

A photo posted by elliegoulding (@elliegoulding) on Sep 8, 2015 at 8:52am PDT

Having ignored the issue for a year, it took a serious sit-down with doctors for Ellie to take notice.

"I’m fine, it’s actually something someone discovered last year but I never got it checked out.

"Which is terrible, I have been playing with my life."

 

Run with @fizzle_28 and core before I fly to Canada.

A photo posted by elliegoulding (@elliegoulding) on Sep 4, 2015 at 4:49am PDT

Despite having a hardcore attitude to fitness, the singer says it was something of a relief to have a reason not to train for a while.

"It’s nice to know you actually can’t go to the gym, you’re not allowed," she said. 

"So I have been very relaxed, I have been chilling and not being as militant about what I eat."

 

Dunnit I'm sure you'll all notice the knife and fork the wrong way round lentil loaf and veggies and veggie gravy. Brap

A photo posted by elliegoulding (@elliegoulding) on Sep 27, 2015 at 11:50am PDT

Ellie opened up about her heart condition while defending herself against accusations she had lip-synched during her performance at the AFL final in Melbourne last week.

"Truth be told I've been unwell the past week and I could do with a long spell chill but I was determined to give everything for Oz today," she wrote on Twitter.

Truth be told I've been unwell the past week and I could do with a long spell chill but I was determined to give everything for Oz today

— Ellie Goulding (@elliegoulding) October 3, 2015

Considering I had no voice yesterday and a sleepless night because of the meds I would say it's been a good day 🙂 thanks for the love x

— Ellie Goulding (@elliegoulding) October 3, 2015

"Considering I had no voice yesterday and a sleepless night because of the meds I would say it's been a good day."

Ellie has long lived by the 'strong not skinny' mantra, and says she loves being a role model to other young women out there.

"I feel quite proud to be an ambassador for women who realise that being fit is better than being skinny."