Susan Lucci, 75, Admits She Underwent A Second Procedure For Her Heart Disease

Susan Lucci finally opens up about her heart problems. The actress first suffered heart problems three years ago, but she just revealed that she had another emergency cardiac surgery.

In an interview with Good Morning America, the 75-year-old actress talked about what led to the procedure. She said, “I was having a kind of shortness of breath. I thought, ‘This is crazy. These are the same kind of symptoms that I had three years ago but it can’t be.’ But when I lay down, I started to feel a sharp coming-and-going pain in my jaw.”

Susan went to the Emergency on her doctor’s recommendation. There, she was tested and found to have an 80% blockage in one of her arteries. To clear the obstruction, she needed another stent implanted.

Talking to GMA, Susan’s doctor, Dr. Richard Shlofmitz, chairman of cardiology at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, New York, spoke about her condition, saying, “She wasn’t having a heart attack this time and she wasn’t unstable. But she had symptoms that were certainly concerning to me that something might be wrong.”

Susan was smart to recognize her symptoms, as they can be milder and harder to detect in women than in men. Her doctor said she could have had a major heart emergency if she had waited much longer.

Heart disease is the biggest cause of death for women in the US, despite being harder to detect in women. Knowing the signs and symptoms is critical.

Not all heart problems have obvious symptoms. There isn’t always a terrifying chest clutch followed by a crash to the floor. Some cardiac symptoms aren’t even felt in the chest, making diagnosis difficult.

Charles Chambers, MD, director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Institute says that “If you’re not sure, get it checked out.” That’s especially true if you are 60 or older, you are overweight, have diabetes, high cholesterol, or have high blood pressure.

There are certain symptoms that you should watch out for…

Chest Discomfort. It’s the most common sign of heart danger. Remember that if you have a blocked artery or are having a heart attack, you may feel pain, tightness, or pressure in your chest. The feeling will usually last longer than a few minutes. Take note that it may happen when you’re at rest or when you’re doing something physical.

Nausea/Indigestion/Heartburn/Stomach Pain. Some people have these symptoms during a heart attack. Some would even vomit. Women are more likely to report this type of symptom than men. So if you feel this way and you’re at risk for heart problems, see a doctor and find out what’s going on, especially if you also have any of the other symptoms on this list.

Throat or Jaw Pain. The pain in your throat or jaw is not likely to be caused by a heart problem. Muscular problems, a cold, or sinus issues are more likely to be to blame. However, you may have a heart attack if you feel pain or pressure in the center of your chest that spreads to your throat or jaw.

Pain that spreads to the arm, you feel dizzy or lightheaded, you get exhausted easily, excessive snoring, sweating, your legs, feet, and ankles are swollen, and irregular heart beat are just some of the many symptoms of heart conditions that you should watch out for.