Photo courtesy of AHA press release
During the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in Anaheim, CA, AHA President John Turner suffered a minor heart attack. Warner, who is also CEO of UT Southwestern University Hospitals in Dallas, was recipient of a stent to open a clogged artery at a local hospital. Thankfully, the AHA reports that Warner is recovering well with his family.
Warner, 52, is a cardiologist and just Sunday delivered a speech where he discussed a pattern of heart disease in his family. In the speech Warner informed the audience that his father and paternal grandfather both had heart bypass surgeries in their 60’s, and he lost his maternal grandfather and great grandfather to heart disease as well.
According to the AHA, he finished his speech with the following lines:
“Earlier in my talk, I told you there were no old men in my family. I know this is also true in far too many other families, not just in the U.S., but around the world. I believe the people in this room have the power – and even the duty – to change that. Together, we can make sure old men and old women are regulars at family reunions. … In other words, I look forward to a future where people have the exact opposite experience of my family, that children grow up surrounded by so many healthy, beloved, elderly relatives that they couldn’t imagine life any other way.”
It is our wish that something good can come out of Warner’s harrowing experience. Heart disease can affect even those who are most educated on the topic. Especially if there is a history of heart disease in your family, it is so important to take every preventative step possible to preserve your heart health. Please visit our recent blog post to clarify some myths about heart health.