After suffering from heart problems for three years, Susan Lucci finally opens up about her experience. The actress had to undergo emergency cardiac surgery recently.
The actress, aged 75, talked to Good Morning America about what caused her to make the decision to get the procedure. She stated, “I was having a kind of shortness of breath. I thought, ‘This is crazy. These are the same kind of symptoms that I had three years ago but it can’t be.’ But when I lay down, I started to feel a sharp coming-and-going pain in my jaw.”
According to her doctor’s recommendation, Susan went to the Emergency Department. There, she underwent testing and was found to have an 80% blockage in one of her arteries. To clear the obstruction, she needed another stent implanted.
Dr. Richard Shlofmitz, chairman of cardiology at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, New York and Susan’s doctor, recently spoke to GMA about her condition “She wasn’t having a heart attack this time and she wasn’t unstable. But she had symptoms that were certainly concerning to me that something might be wrong.”
Susan was quick to notice her symptoms, which can often be harder for women to detect than men. If she had waited any longer, her doctor said she could have experienced a major heart attack.
In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. However, it can be more difficult to detect in women than in men. Therefore, it is critical that women know the signs and symptoms of this disease.
While many associate a heart attack with sudden and intense chest pain, not all cardiac issues have such dramatic symptoms. In fact, some warning signs are barely perceptible or felt in other parts of the body, making them tricky to diagnose.
Dr. Charles Chambers, Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Institute advises that “If you’re not sure, get it checked out.” This is especially important for those who are 60 years or older, obese, have diabetes, have high cholesterol levels, or have hypertension.
Be on the lookout for these symptoms…
One of the most common signs of heart trouble is chest discomfort. This can manifest as pain, tightness, or pressure in your chest and usually lasts for more than a few minutes. It’s important to remember that this may occur even when you’re resting or engaging in physical activity.
Some people experience nausea, indigestion, heartburn, or stomach pain during a heart attack. Some may even vomit. Women are more likely to experience this symptom than men, so if you have this feeling and also happen to be at risk for heart problems, please see a doctor and get checked out. This is especially important if you’re displaying any of the other symptoms on this list.
Jaw or Throat Pain. It’s unlikely that the pain in your throat or jaw is coming from a heart issue. Most likely, it’s caused by muscular problems, a cold, or sinus issues. But if you’re feeling pain or pressure in the center of your chest that spreads to your throat or jaw, you may be having a heart attack.
Some warning signs that you may have a heart condition include pain that extends to your arm, dizziness or lightheadedness, easy exhaustion, excessive sweating, and swollen legs, feet, and ankles. You should also be on the lookout for an irregular heartbeat.
