I Had a Heart Attack at Age 39

As informed to Jacquelyne Froeber

February is American Heart Month.

It was Friday evening in Waikiki and I used to be late. I rushed backstage and apologized to the crew. “I went to the M.A.C. counter to get my make-up accomplished and it took longer than deliberate,” I stated.

That wasn’t precisely true. I didn’t plan to go to M.A.C. — I’d forgotten my make-up at house. And it wasn’t the primary time. Embarrassed, I prevented eye contact with the opposite singers.

The reality was I didn’t know what was happening with me. I used to be drained on a regular basis — drained — even strolling up a flight of stairs took my breath away. And the forgetfulness wasn’t like me. I chalked it as much as working a full-time job and singing a number of nights every week, however I knew one thing was off.

Simply earlier than I went on stage, I bent right down to put water in my cup and felt ache in my again. I gasped and stood up rapidly. I’d felt that ache earlier than.

A few 12 months earlier, I used to be visiting pals in Las Vegas after I began having heartburn and again ache and nausea that didn’t go away. I knew one thing wasn’t proper so I referred to as 911. On the hospital, I used to be recognized with myocarditis — irritation of the center muscle. However they couldn’t inform me why it was occurring. I hadn’t been sick and there was no recognized an infection. I attempted to ask questions — why was I in such extreme ache? — however they mainly blew me off, gave me morphine that actually made me sick and stated the signs would go away on their very own. I had a follow-up appointment again at house, and the physician stated the identical factor. I had myocarditis and I’d be fantastic, however I shouldn’t push myself or train for a couple of month.

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Now, that very same feeling was again however a thousand instances extra intense. I did what many ladies do when experiencing coronary heart issues — I attempted to work by way of it. I bartered with myself: If I may get by way of the set, I’d drive myself straight to pressing care.

However I couldn’t do it. By then, I may barely get up. One of many singers referred to as 911, and responders took me out on a stretcher by way of the packed venue of tourists and locals ready to see the present.

On the hospital, the physician got here into the room and went over my signs with me. He stated I used to be having a coronary heart assault they usually wished to do surgical procedure.

I chuckled. “That’s not occurring,” I stated.

I used to be solely 39. I exercised most days of the week. I knew I may in all probability eat higher, nevertheless it wasn’t like I used to be having a burger and fries each day. Additionally, it wasn’t even potential for somebody my age to have a coronary heart assault … was it?

I referred to as my household. They agreed that it appeared odd that somebody so younger may have a coronary heart assault however that I ought to have the process as a result of one thing was improper. I couldn’t disagree.

Once I wakened from surgical procedure, the physician confirmed that I did have a coronary heart assault they usually needed to do an angioplasty. He confirmed me on the X-ray the place the balloon had been implanted in my coronary heart. He additionally stated that I used to be anemic — apparently low iron ranges generally is a contributing issue to a coronary heart assault — and I wanted to take ldl cholesterol and blood pressure-lowering remedy.

I nodded alongside as he handed me prescriptions and I used to be cleared to go house. After he left, I sat there surprised and tried to wrap my mind round what had simply occurred. I used to be nonetheless in shock when a nurse commented on how lovely I regarded. I noticed I used to be nonetheless in full make-up — lashes and all — from the evening earlier than.

Within the weeks following the surgical procedure, I used to be amazed by how a lot better I felt bodily. I didn’t have the labored respiratory. I wasn’t drained. However mentally, I struggled. I used to be scared that I used to be going to have one other coronary heart assault. I tiptoed round my life in a state of hysteria ready for the opposite shoe to drop.

I used to be additionally depressed. I believed I used to be doing all the pieces proper earlier than the center assault and but it nonetheless occurred. I felt broken in a means — prefer it was my fault. It took a while, however I began to see a therapist and rapidly discovered that being aware of your psychological well being after a traumatic well being occasion is simply as vital as caring for your bodily well being.

Once I talked to household and pals about what occurred, everybody stated the identical factor: You’re too younger to have a coronary heart assault. Most individuals, like myself, thought you needed to be older and expertise chest ache — nevertheless it’s not like the flicks. Girls can have completely different signs than males, together with extreme heartburn, again ache and nausea similar to I did. And the forgetfulness was additionally an indication as a result of lowered blood circulate to my mind.

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I wished to unfold the phrase, so I contacted my native chapter of the American Coronary heart Affiliation. I began talking at occasions for coronary heart assault survivors and sharing my expertise with myocarditis, which was on the rise in younger individuals throughout Covid. In 2002, I used to be honored to be an envoy for the American Coronary heart Affiliation’s Go Purple for Girls motion to assist elevate consciousness about coronary heart well being.

I’ve discovered {that a} coronary heart assault can affect a girl’s life in methods you in all probability wouldn’t consider. For instance, I couldn’t proceed taking birth control pills and I’m not a candidate for hormone therapy as a result of hormones improve the chance for a cardiovascular occasion. Additionally, I used to be devastated to study that I couldn’t be a bone marrow donor regardless of being a match for somebody who actually wanted it.

Trying again, I want I’d advocated for myself extra throughout visits with healthcare suppliers. I might’ve requested extra questions when informed we’d “monitor” my levels of cholesterol however that didn’t embody a timeline or the truth that excessive ldl cholesterol may result in a coronary heart assault. I might’ve educated myself about blood work and the numbers and the indicators and symptoms of heart attacks in women.

Going by way of such a terrifying well being scare modified my perspective on life. Not lengthy after the center assault, I stop my company full-time job to concentrate on singing and entertaining — primarily on cruise ships around the globe.

To date, I’ve been to 37 nations and I get up excited to do what I really like each day as a result of I do know all of it may be gone instantly — so why not dwell the life you wish to dwell? Simply ensure you’re caring for your coronary heart alongside the way in which.

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Our Actual Girls, Actual Tales are the genuine experiences of real-life ladies. The views, opinions and experiences shared in these tales usually are not endorsed by HealthyWomen and don’t essentially mirror the official coverage or place of HealthyWomen.