Kevin Smith survived a “massive heart attack” after a stand-up show in Los Angeles on Sunday night, but the outcome could have been very different if the acclaimed comedian and filmmaker had not gone to hospital when he did.
“If I hadn’t canceled show 2 to go to the hospital, I would’ve died tonight,” Smith wrote on Twitter, with an accompanying picture of him in a hospital bed.
Smith, 47, built up a cult-like following in the '90s after producing the low-budget comedy “Clerks,” which paved the way for him to become a successful writer, director and comic.
Little else is known about his current condition, but Smith said he is “still above ground!”
A heart attack occurs when there is a blockage in one or more of the three arteries running over the surface of the heart, according to Sharp.com.
A “widow-maker” heart attack arises when there is a critical blockage in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery and, while thousands of Americans suffer heart attacks each year, about 25 percent of all cases present only mild and vague symptoms that could easily be overlooked.
In light of this, here are four warning signs of a “widow-maker” heart attack:
1. Chest pain, pressure, or tightness in the chest — According to Dr. Martha Gulati, editor-in-chief of the American College of Cardiology's CardioSmart.org, a “widow-maker” heart attack may presents similar signs and symptoms of angina, according to U.S. News and World Report.
2. Shortness of breath — Gulati noted that a person may also experience loss of breath or dizziness, and/or they may break out in a sweat after just minimal exertion.
3. Upper body discomfort — According to the Williamson Medical Center, a person experiencing a heart attack may feel discomfort in one or both their arms, chest, neck, jaw, back, or stomach.
4. Nausea — A person suffering a massive heart attack may also experience chest pain accompanied with nausea and vomiting, Quora noted.
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