Don’t Learn This Too Late: 5 Things Top Heart Surgeon Says You Must Avoid to Live Longer

Jeremy London, a cardiac surgeon, had a brush with heart disease that changed his perspective on life and his approach to patient care.

Dr. London Ignoring Heart Attack Symptoms and Emergency Stent

Cardiac Surgeon Dr. London Ignored His Own Chest Pain Due to Denial

While in a cabin an hour from town, Dr. Jeremy London experienced what he initially thought was reflux. His wife was concerned by his appearance, but London dismissed it, attributing his symptoms to exertion and the cold temperature. The relief he felt when sitting down led him to realize the potential for coronary disease.

He admits being embarrassed by his behavior, as he ignored the signs of a heart issue despite being a heart surgeon and knowing the symptoms. Dr. London highlights his feeling of denial and how that played a role in his delay to seek medical attention.

Emergency Stent Placement

Dr. London experienced crushing chest pain while hunting with his son, decided it was reflux, and did not seek medical help at the time. It wasn't until the following morning when he felt chest pain after climbing stairs that he informed his wife and went to the hospital. This decision led to an emergency situation where he required a stent to open a blocked artery. Dr. London revealed how his wife called him out for his selfishness in not telling her about the chest pain the night before, emphasizing the critical nature of family and health.

Dr. London's Changed Perspective After His Heart Scare

Prioritized Relationships, Family, and Health Over Other Matters

After waking up from the stent procedure, Dr. London felt a complete shift in his perspective. He rea ...

Mel Robbins and Dr. Jeremy London discuss the various signs and symptoms that can indicate heart problems, emphasizing the significance of recognizing these early indicators for prompt medical attention.

Symptoms on Exertion Relieved by Rest Are a Red Flag

Dr. London shares personal experiences and professional knowledge on the subject, stressing that predictable symptoms during physical activity warrant medical investigation.

Unrelated Symptoms Like Elbow Pain or Reflux

Symptoms of heart problems are often thought of as pain in the heart or arm, but Dr. London, having personally experienced heart issues, identifies that heart problems can manifest as different types of discomfort. He had a burning sensation in his chest that felt wrong in his stomach while walking his dogs in cold weather, experiencing relief upon resting. These exertion-related symptoms that are alleviated by rest are important warning signs to heed.

Signs: Leg Swelling, Resting Shortness of Breath

Indications the Heart May Not Pump Effectively

Dr. London also talks about his experience of chest pain upon exertion, like when hunting and loading game, and while climbing stairs, noting that the pain dissipated with rest. He warns that these exertional symptoms, relieved by rest, can point to heart blockage. More serious symptoms include persistent rest-related discomfort or escalating pain, which necessitates an immediate call to emergency services as they indicate the heart muscle is not getting adequate blood flow even at rest.

Initially mistaking his chest pain for reflux, Dr. London asserts that cardiac angina can present in non-traditional ways, including upset stomach, jaw pain, elbow pain, shortness of breath, or easy fatigability. One case, for example, involved a woman who experienced elbow pain with repeated activity, which was later diagnosed as coronary angina.

Shortness of ...

In the realm of heart health, lifestyle choices play a crucial role. Dr. Jeremy London and Jeremy London underscore the importance of diet, exercise, sleep, and the avoidance of harmful substances in maintaining a healthy heart.

Importance of a Whole Foods, Minimally Processed Diet

Jeremy London starts his day focused on a balanced diet—he consumes a protein-heavy breakfast, usually consisting of eggs and fruit, and incorporates a colorful variety of greens and proteins for lunch. His dinner is light, with an emphasis on protein and vegetables. Dr. London believes a grocery cart should reflect a balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates and that a grocery list is essential to avoid impulse buys and ensure dietary balance.

Dr. London recommends shopping primarily on the perimeter of the store where whole and single-ingredient foods are located, such as in the produce and meat departments. He advocates for a diet comprising 80% whole foods, recommending label reading to avoid processed foods with hidden preservatives, colorings, and sugars.

Avoiding Excess Sugar, Alcohol, and Nicotine Are Crucial

Dr. London lists smoking as one of the top habits to avoid due to its damage to every organ and its association with heart disease and lung cancer. Excess sugar intake is another concern, as it is fundamental to glucose metabolism and should be limited. Further, the aim should be to avoid processed or ultra-processed foods that are designed to be overconsumed, leading to inflammation and damage to blood vessel walls.

Jeremy London also warns against the toxic effects of alcohol—even antioxidant-containing red wine—stating that the risks of alcohol outweigh its benefits. He endorses using a food journal to monitor consumption, pointing out that it can reveal areas for improvement such as the intake of empty calories or soft drinks. Even non-food substances like alcohol-containing mouthwash can impact the gut microbiome and heart health, showing how what we ...

Jeremy London sheds light on the unique aspects of heart disease in women, highlighting the significant physiological differences from men and the implications for diagnosis and treatment.

Women Experience "Atypical" Symptoms That Are Less Recognized

London stresses that women's heart disease symptoms are not always the same as those typically seen in men. He cautions that symptoms in women sometimes masquerade as other conditions, which may not be taken as seriously, leading to misdiagnoses or delays in identifying heart issues. He specifically points out that blockages can occur not only in women's larger blood vessels, as is common in men, but in smaller ones as well—further complicating diagnosis and treatment.

Hormonal Changes Around Menopause Increase Heart Disease Risk

Addressing hormonal influences, London states that estrogen's anti-inflammatory effects are protective against heart disease prior to menopause, helping to maintain favorable ch ...

When dealing with heart blockages, various medical interventions and procedures are crucial to restoring proper blood flow to the heart and preventing potentially fatal events such as heart attacks.

Stents Open Blocked Arteries to Restore Blood Flow

The placement of stents is a common procedure to address blocked arteries. A stent acts like a small scaffolding that is placed over a balloon and expands within the artery to hold it open in a specific spot to reinforce it. For instance, a woman with elbow pain underwent such a procedure which revealed a significant blockage in the artery at the front of her heart. The cardiologist moved to place a stent in this artery, which treated her coronary angina successfully.

Dr. London describes a life-threatening scenario known as the "Widowmaker" blockage, located in the left anterior descending artery. This artery plays a critical role as it controls the large pumping chamber of the heart. Blockages can begin with soft plaque that may rupture, causing an immediate and dire interruption of blood flow. Stenting here can relieve symptoms and prevent severe heart conditions.

Relief and Heart Attack Prevention

Stenting procedures like the one Dr. London described are valuable for immediate relief from symptoms and the prevention of heart attacks. During his own diagnostic study, a 99% blockage was discovered in the artery on the back of his heart. A wire was used to cross this affected artery and place a stent, successfully re-opening the artery and restoring blood flow.

Bypass Surgery Reroutes Blood Flow Around Blocked Arteries

Addresses Immediate Issues but Doesn't Treat Underlying Disease

Bypass surgery is another intervention that is used to treat or prevent significant heart attacks by creating an alternative pathway for blood flow around blockages in heart arteries. The surgery changes the patient's quality of life by alleviating exertional symptoms. However, the procedure does not address the underlying disease—hardening and narrowing of the arteries—indicating that further action is necessary for long-term health.

Importance ...