The Day I Had A Heart Attack

Two weeks ago today was a normal Tuesday until I had a weird pain in my chest while I was on the treadmill.

I thought I pulled a muscle. 20 minutes later, I was surrounded by a team of emergency room workers, who were trying to save my life. I didn't pull a muscle. I was having a heart attack.

Heart attack? I knew that both of my grandfathers had heart attacks very young, and that's what I always considered myself...very young. Plus, this was 2013. With all the advances in healthy eating and all the things we know now as compared to 30 years ago, this couldn't be happening, could it?

They prepped me for an emergency catheterization and wheeled me in at a speed that really made me nervous. How bad was it? Pretty bad. Turns out I had a great team working on me at Ocean Medical Center, and they saved me. Their quick thinking sidetracked over 40 years of genetics in a few short minutes.

I will never forget the look on my wife's face in the emergency room. I will never forget the team of amazing professionals who saved me. I will never forget how close I came and how every day is a gift.

So, now, I exercise a little more, eat a little better and take nothing for granted. I'm not preaching, but please make sure the people in your life stay on top of their health while it's still somewhat in their control. No excuses. Just get them to the doctor when they are supposed to. Remind them that no matter how scared they are to go to the doctor. it could be a lot more frightening if you don't. Believe me.

Now I'll go have my low salt breakfast.