Man miraculously survives after suffering from eight ‘widow-maker’ heart attacks
Los Angeles resident, Evan Wasserstrom, had a brush with death after experiencing a series of deadly ‘widow-maker’ heart attacks. Typically, nine in 10 victims do not survive these attacks, making Wasserstrom’s survival even more remarkable.
Wasserstrom, who was 40 years old at the time, was rushed to the hospital with a complete blockage in his left main coronary artery (LMCA). This blockage was causing his heart muscle to deteriorate. The LMCA is responsible for supplying blood to the left side of the heart muscle, and blockages in this artery can trigger the particularly deadly widow-maker heart attack.
During his journey to the hospital, Wasserstrom’s heart stopped beating six times in the ambulance. When he arrived at the hospital, his heart stopped twice more before doctors decided to induce a coma in order to protect his brain and reduce demands on his heart. There were concerns that Wasserstrom would not wake up or, if he did, would suffer from severe disabilities.
However, when the life support machine was unplugged, Wasserstrom miraculously sprang back to life. Now 48 years old, he has made a remarkable recovery.
Heart attacks affect around 800,000 Americans every year, with the majority occurring in adults over the age of 65. Widow-maker heart attacks are a rare form of heart attack that typically do not occur in men under 45. According to the American Heart Association, only 12 percent of those who suffer this type of attack outside of the hospital survive. For those who are admitted to the hospital, the survival rate is slightly higher at 25 percent.
Rosie O’Donnell, who also survived a widow-maker heart attack, has expressed her gratitude for being alive after experiencing such a life-threatening event.
During a widow-maker heart attack, the LMCA is either partially or completely blocked, cutting off blood supply to the muscle at the front of the heart. This lack of oxygen can cause the heart to stop beating entirely, as well as cut off oxygen supply to the rest of the body. Unlike a regular heart attack, where the heart continues to beat despite limited oxygen flow, a widow-maker heart attack can be fatal.
Wasserstrom’s heart attack was triggered by a complete blockage in his LMCA and a 70 percent blockage in a second artery. The exact cause of his heart attack was not revealed, but factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, stress, inactivity, and genetics can increase the risk of blockages in the artery.
Doctors were concerned about potential complications from the heart attack due to other areas of Wasserstrom’s body being deprived of oxygen for periods of time. The brain is particularly vulnerable to oxygen deprivation, as even one minute without oxygen can cause brain cells to die.
Wasserstrom’s survival and remarkable recovery serve as a testament to the advancements in medical care and treatment options for heart attack patients. Despite the high mortality rate associated with widow-maker heart attacks, stories like Wasserstrom’s provide hope and inspiration to others who may face similar life-threatening situations.