A life saved by divine intervention and immediate medical treatment.
Jim Farr of Sykesville, Maryland, what started as an ordinary Wednesday ended up being one of the most momentous days of his 54 years. That day, Jim experienced a STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction)—the deadliest type of heart attack. A STEMI occurs when a coronary artery is completely blocked, stopping blood flow to the heart muscle. If not treated immediately, it can cause permanent damage or death. But even in the midst of this life-threatening event, Jim still didn’t think he was having a heart attack. “I imagined a heart attack was like what you see on TV,” says Jim. “Someone clutching their chest as they fall to the ground. But it wasn’t like that.”
Jim had gone to his workplace near Camp Springs, and after walking up the stairs to his office, he remembered something he’d left in his car. Crossing the parking lot, Jim felt pressure in the center of his chest. “It was mild at first, but every time my heart beat it felt strange.” The pain subsided as Jim returned to the building, but at the security turnstile, it returned—at first mild, but gradually, the pain intensified.
When the security guard asked if he was okay, Jim replied, “I think so. I’m going to grab my things and drive myself home.”
Fortunately, a passerby who happened to be a former nurse dismissed that plan, telling Jim, “Oh, no. You sit right here and let’s call an ambulance.” Jim now realizes how lucky he was that she intervened. “Had I tried to drive home, I probably would have died.”
“Time is muscle”
Most irreversible heart damage occurs within the first 60 to 120 minutes after a heart attack begins. That’s why cardiologists say “time is muscle”—the longer the heart is deprived of blood, the more heart muscle is permanently damaged. The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association established a “door-to-balloon” guideline recommending that no more than 90 minutes elapse between a patient’s arrival at the emergency department and the reopening of the blocked artery. At MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center, 100% of cardiac patients are seen far faster, with a median door-to-balloon time of 50 minutes—40 minutes faster than the benchmark.
Rimmy Farrakhan, MD, an interventional cardiologist at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center, treated Jim. First, she performed a coronary angiogram, in which a thin tube was inserted through Jim’s wrist up to his heart, so dye could be injected. Through imaging, the dye’s path indicated that Jim’s artery was 99% blocked. Dr. Farrakhan then inserted wires into the artery, ballooned it out, and installed a stent.
Remarkably, this lifesaving procedure is minimally invasive, performed with only mild sedation. “I didn’t feel much at all,” recalls Jim. He was released the next day. Today, with medication and lifestyle changes, Jim feels great.
Heart attacks: manageable— and preventable
Classic heart attack symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, radiating left-arm pain, nausea or vomiting, cold sweat, heartburn, and upper back or jaw pain. Symptoms may occur gradually, suddenly—or not at all. That’s why it’s important not to wait until symptoms appear to seek medical help. Though Jim had not experienced any noticeable symptoms, he did have two of the major risk factors: high blood pressure and high cholesterol. You’re also at risk if you have diabetes, are a smoker, or are obese. Risks increase with age and family history.
Dr. Farrakhan notes that the key to prevention is early screening. “It used to be recommended to start checking cholesterol in adults in their 40s. But now it is age 19 regardless of gender. Earlier detection can reduce lifetime cardiovascular risk.” Conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol can be modified with medication and with diet, exercise, and smoking cessation. Dr. Farrakhan also underscores the importance of mental wellbeing. “A heart attack is a shock to your system. People can develop depression and anxiety, so through cardiac rehab we have mental health counselors to help.”
In fact, fearful anxiety is a subtle symptom some patients report. Prior to his STEMI, Jim had persistent worries about leaving his family unprepared if something bad happened to him—thoughts that never worried him before, even after 22 years in the military with tours in Iraq. Jim now says, “Since treatment, I haven’t had those thoughts whatsoever.”
He also has newfound confidence in his care. Jim says that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the abundance of conflicting information left him feeling uncertain about health care. “Now, my faith in medicine has been restored by Dr. Farrakhan and my MedStar Health care team.” A father of five, Jim recently became a grandfather. “I’m here for a while. I have a lot to stick around for.”
If you think you are experiencing heart attack symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Visit MedStarHealth.org/Farrakhan to learn more about Dr. Farrakhan or call 301-877-5677 to schedule an appointment.
Visit MedStarHealth.org/STEMI to learn more about heart attack symptoms.