The gifted 75-year-old actress Susan Lucci recently talked about her personal experience with heart illness. She disclosed that her health required her to have a second emergency surgery in a recent interview with Good Morning America. Three years have passed since her initial heart issues.
Lucci described how she began to feel dyspnea and a piercing pain in her jaw, which brought back memories of similar symptoms she had previously had. Concerned about her well-being, she heeded her physician’s advice and promptly sought medical assistance.
An 80% blockage of one of her arteries was found during the assessment. Lucci required the implantation of a second stent in order to remove the obstruction. Her physician, Dr. Richard Shlofmitz, the St. Francis Hospital chairman of cardiology, stressed that although she wasn’t experiencing a heart attack at the time, the operation was necessary because of her alarming symptoms.
It’s admirable that Lucci identified her symptoms and acted quickly. Compared to men, women may have weaker or less noticeable signs of heart disease, and it can frequently be more difficult to diagnose them. Susan might have suffered a serious cardiac emergency if she had put off getting care.
Given that heart disease is still the top cause of mortality for women in the US, it is critical to recognize the warning signs and symptoms. Diagnoses of cardiac disorders might be difficult because they don’t often manifest with the typical signs of chest pain.
The head of Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Institute’s Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Dr. Charles Chambers, cautions everyone to exercise caution and, if in doubt, seek medical advice. This is particularly true for people 60 years of age and older, as well as those who are diabetic, overweight, have high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.
The following are some crucial symptoms to be aware of:
Chest Pain
The most typical indicator of cardiac peril is chest tightness. If you feel pressure, tightness, or pain in your chest, it can be a sign of a heart attack or blocked artery. These feelings can happen when at rest or when engaging in physical activity, and they usually persist for more than a few minutes.
Heartburn, nausea, dyspepsia, or stomach pain
These are the symptoms that some people may encounter during a heart attack. It is more common for women than for males to report this kind of symptom. It is important to see a doctor if you have any of these symptoms together with others on this list and you are at risk for cardiac issues.
Jaw or Throat Aches
It is noteworthy even if a cardiac issue is not likely to be the cause of throat or jaw pain. More frequent causes include sinus troubles, muscular problems, and colds. But if you feel pressure or discomfort in the middle of your chest and it travels to your jaw or throat, it might be a heart attack.
Recall that there are more symptoms to be mindful of, including pain radiating to the arm, lightheadedness, heavy snoring, perspiration, ankle, foot, and leg swelling, and erratic heartbeats. If you observe any of these symptoms, it is imperative that you remain watchful and get the necessary medical attention.
By being aware of the signs and acting quickly, we may better safeguard our loved ones and ourselves against the risks associated with heart disease. Let Susan Lucci’s tale serve as a prompt to put our heart health first and get assistance when required.
