Rosie O’Donnell considers herself fortunate to be alive after neglecting the symptoms of a severe heart attack, commonly known as a “widowmaker,” over ten years ago.
The former talk show host has been dedicated to raising awareness about heart health in women ever since she experienced a major cardiac event in 2012 at the age of 50.
During her appearance on “The Best Podcast Ever” with hosts Raven-Symoné and Miranda Pearman-Maday, O’Donnell shared her initial dismissal of the pain and stressed the importance of knowing the differences in heart attack symptoms between men and women.
“I should’ve died,” confessed O’Donnell.
The comedian revealed that she didn’t think anything was out of the ordinary when her arm started hurting after assisting a stranger into their car while visiting a friend in the hospital years ago.
It wasn’t until her son pointed out her pale complexion that she realized something was wrong.
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Fatigued, O’Donnell decided to search online for heart attack symptoms in women. Despite experiencing “a few of them,” she didn’t believe she needed to be overly concerned.
“The truth is, I had this heart attack on a Monday at 10 a.m.,” she confessed. “I struggled to climb upstairs when I got home. I took two baby aspirin, went to sleep, and woke up to my family saying, ‘You need to see a doctor.’ I waited until the next day. So, I had the heart attack on Monday, and saw a doctor on Wednesday.”
Upon seeking medical attention, O’Donnell was immediately sent to the emergency room. It was there that she discovered she had a 100% blockage in her left anterior descending artery, which is commonly referred to as a “widowmaker” heart attack.
“I was like, ‘Wait, wait, what?!’ I couldn’t believe it,” O’Donnell exclaimed. “And then I learned that the symptoms for women experiencing a heart attack are significantly different from those of men. However, on TV, we always see men having heart attacks.”
O’Donnell expressed her gratitude for still being alive after the heart attack, which she said compelled her to become more attuned with her body than ever before.
The American Heart Association emphasizes the importance of women being vigilant about heart disease, the leading cause of death among women in the United States.
According to the AHA, women should immediately seek medical help if they experience intense chest pressure, pain in the chest, arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach, shortness of breath, cold sweats, nausea, or lightheadedness – all of which are indicative of a heart attack.
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