Health Journal Online

Tag: attack

  • Here’s What A ‘Widow-Maker’ Heart Attack Really Looks Like

    Here’s What A ‘Widow-Maker’ Heart Attack Really Looks Like

    Recognizing the signs of a heart attack and acting quickly can save a life, but how a person responds in an actual emergency is often unpredictable. Even for those who know the signs, the reality of witnessing it firsthand can be overwhelming.

    For those wondering how a heart attack might look, a couple in Arizona captured a chilling moment on their home security camera when the husband suffered a deadly “widow maker” heart attack. They shared the video to raise awareness, emphasizing how crucial it is to recognize the signs and act swiftly in life-threatening situations.

    Michelle Goss posted the chilling video on TikTok, capturing the exact moments her husband, 53-year-old Jeff Goss, began feeling unwell as they were leaving for an Arizona Cardinals game last September.

    “Does it feel like food stuck, or does it feel like…” Michelle asked her husband as she noticed him stumbling. She quickly instructed him to sit down on their living room couch.



    “He just kept saying, ‘I feel really nauseous. I feel really nauseous,’” Michelle recollected in a recent interview with Good Morning America before Jeff began complaining of chest pain.

    At first, Michelle did not think much of the symptoms and it never occurred to her as a serious medical emergency that could put Jeff’s life at risk. However, looking back, she now believes that her decision to call for emergency help and act quickly was what ultimately saved his life.

    “I didn’t think it was anything serious at all. I really didn’t. And then, even after the fire department got there, I really didn’t think it was that serious. I thought this was a mistake that we called you, until right when I got to the ambulance, that’s when it really, really got bad,” Michelle said.

    Then came an alarming sign Michelle had never witnessed in anyone—Jeff’s complexion turned gray. As she noticed her husband’s fear, she too began to feel a growing sense of fear.

    Jeff was rushed to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with a “widow maker” heart attack, a deadly condition that occurs when a major artery supplying blood to the heart becomes completely blocked. He underwent a procedure to open the blocked artery. The couple later learned from doctors that if they had waited just 10 more minutes, Jeff may not have survived.

    A “widow maker” heart attack occurs when the blood supply to the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, which provides 50% of the heart muscle’s blood, becomes completely blocked. Despite its name, this severe form of heart attack does not only affect men; women can experience it too.

    Risk factors include being over 45 and male, over 50 and female, having a family history of heart disease, poor nutrition, tobacco use, lack of exercise, and other health conditions like obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

    Common symptoms to watch for are chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, upset stomach, tiredness, lightheadedness, and pain in the upper body (arms, shoulders, neck, jaw, or back).

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  • Scheduling Surgery After A Heart Attack? Here’s How Long You Might Have To Wait

    Scheduling Surgery After A Heart Attack? Here’s How Long You Might Have To Wait

    Individuals are at a greater risk of complications from routine surgeries soon after a heart attack. Researchers have now identified a “sweet spot” for safely scheduling surgeries in those who had a heart attack.

    Identifying the optimal timing for scheduling elective surgeries after a heart attack is also crucial because delaying these procedures can often result in individuals enduring prolonged pain and other difficulties.

    “Perioperative teams analyze a variety of health and lifestyle factors when we assess a patient’s risk and work to optimize their outcomes. It can be frustrating for individuals who suffer from joint pain to postpone a long-awaited knee or hip replacement after surviving a heart attack,” said Dr. Marjorie Gloff, a co-author of the latest study in a news release.

    The study published in Jama Surgery revealed that elderly cardiac patients who had a non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction should wait for three to six months for routine surgeries. The researchers noted that the risk of life-threatening complications, such as another heart attack or stroke, is around two to three times higher if such patients get elective surgeries too soon.

    The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association’s 2014 recommendations advise heart attack patients to wait two months before undergoing elective surgeries. This guidance was established based on a study involving 500,000 patients from 1999 to 2004.

    However, researchers from the recent study propose that these recommendations should be revised based on new findings. “The data physicians are using for patient care decisions today is outdated. Given the advances in care and the ever-changing mix of patients, clinicians need the latest information,” said Dr. Laurent Glance, lead author of the study, in a news release.

    The current study used insurance data covering 5.2 million major non-cardiac surgeries performed between 2017 and 2020 on patients aged 67 and older. Among the patients analyzed in the study, over 42,000 had experienced a heart attack before their surgery.

    The researchers observed that the majority of deaths and significant complications typically occur within the first 30 days following surgery. Interestingly, they also found that the risk of such adverse events decreases during the first 90 days of recovery. After this initial period, the risk tends to stabilize and remain consistent for the subsequent 180 days.

    “Delaying elective noncardiac surgery to occur between 90 and 180 days after an NSTEMI may be reasonable for patients who have had revascularization,” the researchers concluded.

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