A cardiac surgeon experienced a heart attack after dismissing symptoms as heartburn, highlighting a common and potentially dangerous tendency to ignore warning signs, even among medical professionals. This case underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing potential heart issues promptly.
Dr. Jeremy London was miles from home, hunting in a wooded area of Georgia with his teenage son, when he experienced a pressing chest pain. He had been feeling unwell that day, attributing what he told his wife – and himself – to simple indigestion.
That morning, while walking their dogs, he began to sweat profusely despite the cool December air. The symptoms came and went, easing when he rested and returning with activity.
These were classic signs of a cardiac blockage, something London knew intimately through his daily operate as a heart surgeon. “I said, ‘Oh boy.’ I knew what it was. Symptoms brought on by exertion, relieved by rest – that’s angina until proven otherwise. That’s what I do every day,” London told Business Insider.
Despite his medical expertise, he initially struggled to believe it was happening to him.
On the surface, London appeared to be doing everything “right”: eating a healthy diet – his wife is a nutritionist – and maintaining a high level of physical fitness, training for triathlons and practicing jiu-jitsu. However, that night in the woods, as darkness fell and he collapsed to his knees in pain, he could no longer dismiss his symptoms as heartburn. It became clear he was having a heart attack.
At the emergency room, doctors discovered a 99% blockage of blood flow in his right coronary artery.
The incident occurred in 2022. Now 59 years old, London says his personal experience demonstrates how easily people can delay seeking care or ignore warning signals, even when they are experts – and how simple changes can make a significant difference.
“The bottom line is that, very often, we know better, but we don’t do better. It’s a universal human trap, and no one is immune,” he said. “I mean, who should know better than me?”
Changes for a Healthier Heart
During his recovery from the heart attack, London was forced to be brutally honest with himself about his health. He was highly disciplined with exercise, but had neglected other healthy habits due to a demanding career and active lifestyle.
“The most important thing for you is exactly what you’re bad at,” London says. “For me, that’s sleep.” After decades of long work hours and on-call shifts, his ability to rest and recover was compromised.
His first step was to improve his sleep hygiene, manage his stress, and optimize his overall recovery.
Looking more closely at his health, he realized other habits weren’t as healthy as he thought. He was surprised to discover he was prediabetic after using a continuous glucose monitor out of curiosity. To control his blood sugar, he began taking short walks after meals, incorporating more movement breaks during the day, and including fiber and protein with every meal.
Hydration for Heart Health
He also now prioritizes consistent hydration, drinking water immediately upon waking and keeping a bottle nearby to sip throughout the day.
Dehydration can increase stress on the heart and affect mental and physical performance. “With my busy schedule and surgeries that can last for hours, it’s easy for hydration to fall by the wayside,” he said. “While not perfect, I try to hydrate proactively.”
Realizing he had neglected his health – and missed all the warning signs – was a humbling, but also empowering, experience.
“The key is to recognize it, learn from it, and become better at taking care of yourself, and, those around you, from these mistakes,” he said.
How to Know if Your Heart is Healthy
London notes that many people don’t realize cardiovascular disease, not cancer, is the leading cause of death among American adults.
While factors like age, genetics, and environment influence heart health, the best protection is understanding key indicators, such as:
- Blood pressure: hypertension is called the “silent killer” since symptoms are hard to notice.
- Blood sugar: a key indicator of metabolic health; a balanced level shows the body is managing energy efficiently.
- Cholesterol: we require cholesterol for health, but elevated LDL (“bad” cholesterol) can lead to buildup and blockage risk.
- Body weight: maintaining a healthy weight reduces strain on the heart and circulatory system.
Once you know your baseline values and compare them to normal ranges for your age group, it’s easier to adopt effective habits to improve your health.
“There are very simple, though not necessarily easy, ways to turn things around, to protect yourself from cardiac events, or to recover if they’ve already happened,” London concluded.
