These were the first symptoms I had.
Cardiovascular health is a topic that we often almost automatically associate with the heart, while ignoring other parts of the body, such as the arteries, that play an equally fundamental role in its proper functioning. These are conductors that transport oxygen-rich blood from the heart to tissues and organs, thereby ensuring the life and vitality of our entire body. When these arteries are healthy, their walls are strong enough to withstand the constant pressure that blood exerts with each heartbeat. But this balance can be upset when the arteries begin to accumulate plaque, a process that can cause serious health problems.
This plaque is made up of deposits of cholesterol, fat, calcium and other materials that stick to the walls of the arteries and, over time, narrow and harden. This process is known as atherosclerosis and is a hidden danger that often progresses without obvious symptoms until a crisis occurs. Not only do clogged arteries increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, they also restrict blood flow, which can cause conditions ranging from chronic fatigue to fatal heart attacks if not treated on time. In fact, one of the first warning signs is severe pain in the chest and right arm.
The Orlando, Florida man had a severe arterial blockage but attributed his symptoms to another illness from which he was recovering. This is the case of Mark Vallery, 69, of Orlando, who highlights how the initial symptoms they can be misleading. The man began experiencing severe pain in his chest and right arm in February 2024. He initially attributed it to a respiratory infection he had at the time, reflecting on how easy it is to underestimate these signs when you have other health problems. For this person, ignoring the first signs could have been fatal if he had not taken action in time.
“I thought I had lung problems when my chest started hurting because I was dealing with an upper respiratory infection,” he explained Parade. Valery’s risk factors were clear and numerous: high cholesterol, obesity, advanced age, and a family history of heart attacks, all of which accompanied his pacemaker dependence from age 14. However, like many people, the sum of these factors did not bother him until the symptoms became impossible to ignore. The pain in my chest became stronger and stronger until one day it became almost unbearable.
The man was still waiting until the next day to see if the pain had subsided, but when it didn’t, he began to think he might be facing a more serious problem. The trigger was a specific moment: while resting after a strenuous walk, he felt some kind of tightness and burning in the chest it extended to the right hand. That’s when a TV ad about heart attack symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored made him react. Without waiting any longer, he called his doctor and explained his recent respiratory illness to avoid misdiagnosis. The doctor’s answer was clear: I had to go to the emergency room immediately.
Tests were done at the hospital confirmed the seriousness of their situation. Tests showed that Valery’s arteries were 99% blocked. This type of blockage is usually so severe that in many cases it is classified as a heart attack. Fortunately, in this case the matter did not reach a critical point. Taking into account the medical history and ultrasound results, the doctors decided to install a stent without the need for additional stress tests.
Clogged arteries are more than just reduced blood flow. This can cause organs to receive less oxygen, causing everything from pain in the limbs to permanent damage to the heart and other vital organs. But what role does diet play in this? A diet high in saturated fat, sugar, and ultra-processed foods. may accelerate plaque formationcausing the arteries to become stiffer and less able to handle blood flow. This type of diet, combined with a sedentary lifestyle, is a dangerous cocktail that is often the norm in modern society.
After the procedure, Valery had a period of recovery and restructuring of his daily routine. Although the intervention was successful, The other artery still had 65% obstruction.which prompted his cardiologist to prescribe a strict diet and medications to lower his cholesterol and blood pressure. The results were amazing: in just six months, his cholesterol levels dropped from 264 to 94 mg/dL. The decline was so dramatic that his doctor took him off his cholesterol medications because his cholesterol levels had reached too low.
The American Heart Association guidelines emphasize that maintaining total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL and LDL cholesterol below 100 mg/dL is The key to preventing coronary heart disease. They also recommend that HDL cholesterol levels be above 60 mg/dL and triglyceride levels less than 150 mg/dL. These numbers, not just numbers, represent the fine line between a healthy life and a life marked by extreme interventions and restrictions.