I Didn't Think I Was at Risk - Until I Had a Heart Attack
By Karen Feldman
It was New Year’s Eve when I started feeling intense shoulder pressure and a strange tightness in my jaw. It didn’t feel like the dramatic heart attack symptoms I’d seen on TV but I knew something wasn’t right. I called my neighbor and said, “I think I’m having a heart attack or stroke, “so she could watch after my dog. Then I called 911.
At the hospital, they first thought it was anxiety. But it turned out I had a heart attack caused by 100% blockage in my right coronary artery. I later learned that high LDL—often called “bad” cholesterol—was the main factor behind that blockage. They inserted two stents to restore blood flow. I’ve always considered myself healthy—I exercised regularly, avoided fast food and managed stress well. I never thought high LDL cholesterol would be an issue for me. I later learned that genetics played a role in my heart disease, even though I didn’t have common risk factors like high blood pressure, obesity or smoking.
The hardest part wasn’t just the physical recovery; it was feeling alone. I don’t have close family, but I found support through the American Heart Association’s Support Network where I read many of the survivor stories. They helped me understand I wasn’t the only one, and that healing—emotionally and physically—takes time.
If you’re newly diagnosed with high LDL, ask questions. Learn everything you can about your risk factors. And know this: you are not alone. There is help, there is hope, and there is healing ahead.
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For more information on this health topic, visit stroke.org.
Would you like help dealing with heart or stroke conditions -- either yours or someone else’s? Join us in the AHA’s Support Network! We are an online community of patients, survivors and caregivers where you can share your experience while getting encouragement, hope and informational resources from others who have been there. Membership is free and the benefits can be priceless. Register today.