She believed it was merely a panic attack. However, recalling a 15-year-old PSA by Elizabeth Banks ultimately saved her life.

A woman was sitting on her couch watching a show called Lanterns when she felt pain in her chest. At first, she thought it might be indigestion. She tried moving around, walked in her home, and even used an ice pack as she started to sweat. Eventually, she found herself on the floor, questioning if she was experiencing a panic attack. She later shared her story on Threads under the name @grrr_em_lin.

She took a puff from her asthma inhaler, but it didn’t help. Suddenly, she recalled something from years ago. In 2011, the American Heart Association created a short video for their Go Red For Women campaign called Just a Little Heart Attack. Directed by and featuring Elizabeth Banks, the film shows a mother who, while getting her children ready, is having a heart attack but keeps dismissing it as gas. The message was that women often have different heart symptoms than expected and might hesitate to seek help.

Realizing the seriousness of her situation, she called 911 and also reached out to her ex-partner to watch her kids. She thought she might be having a heart attack. When the paramedics arrived, they placed her on an EKG, started two IV lines, and applied defibrillator pads to her back. She mentioned that they asked many questions while she was in pain and struggling to stay conscious.

In the ambulance, she felt embarrassed about the sirens and kept telling the responders it was probably nothing. An EMT held her hand and informed her that the readings indicated a massive heart attack. He told her that if she hadn’t called for help, she might not have survived.

At the hospital, doctors discovered a clot in her left anterior descending artery (LAD), which was 70% blocked in one area and 90% in another. This artery is often referred to as the widow-maker. Surgeons placed two stents in her artery while she was awake, as is common for cardiac catheterization, although her pain management was not very effective due to her Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a condition known to affect how local anesthetics work. She shared that she struggled through the whole procedure while in the cardiac ICU.

What do you think about her experience?

More stories you may like

• Lemon and cinnamon ‘tastes like Coca-Cola’ plus 6 other unusual combinations that resemble different foods
• Swedes utilize ‘fika’ to achieve an ideal work-life balance. Here’s how it can help prevent burnout.
• Therapists offer advice for preparing for potentially awkward family holiday gatherings.