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Mark Sheppard Cardiac Arrest And Health Update
Mark Sheppard revealed he suffered six massive heart attacks after collapsing in his Los Angeles kitchen.
The 59-year-old actor credited his wife Sarah Louise Fudge for saving his life and said he felt ‘humbled’ by the near-death experience, which involved four resuscitations.
Sheppard said he suffered a ‘widowmaker’ – the deadliest kind of cardiac arrest which occurs when the largest coronary artery, the LAD, becomes blocked.
He posted a photograph of himself laying in a hospital bed at Providence St Joseph California looking bedraggled with several heart monitor devices attached to his chest.
He said he was on his way to an appointment when he collapsed in his kitchen.
He had six massive heart attacks later, and he was brought back from dead four times he apparently had a 100 percent blockage in his LAD known as widowmaker.
He said If not for his wife, the @losangelesfiredepartment at Mullholland, and the incredible staff @ providence California St Joseph’s, he would not be writing this.
His chances of survival were virtually nil. He felt great and humbled once more.
The LAD is the largest coronary artery, which carries almost 50 percent of the blood to the heart, according to the New York-Presbyterian/ Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Mark is best known for playing supervillain Crowley on Supernatural, and for his recurring roles as lawyer Romo Lampkin on the Battlestar Galactica reboot and Interpol investigator James Sterling on Leverage.
He got engaged to Australian mining heiress Fudge in August 2015, and they married at a Malibu, California ceremony in November 2016.
Their daughter, Isabella Rose, was born in March of that year. The couple document their relationship and their growing family on Instagram.
He also has two sons, Max and Will, with his ex-wife Jessica Sheppard. Their 10-year marriage ended in December 2014.
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What Is Widowmaker?
A widowmaker is an informal term for a heart attack that involves 100 percent blockage in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery.
The LAD is a very important blood vessel, It supplies a significant amount of blood flow to the heart muscle and there can be big consequences when it is jeopardized.
Widowmaker heart attacks are immediately life-threatening, and they’re so severe that recovery can take anywhere from eight weeks to three months, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Its symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid or irregular heartbeat, pain in the arms or shoulder, and feeling light-headed or weak.
It can be caused by lifestyle and genetic factors, and blockage typically builds over time.
The tipping point occurs when the underlying cholesterol and plaque in one vessel comes into contact with the bloodstream, the vigorous reaction creates blood clots, and one could go from 20 percent blockage to 100 percent instantaneously.”
The term “widowmaker” historically comes from the greater risk of a 100% blockage in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, which carries almost 50% of the blood to your heart muscle
Widowmaker Risk Factors And Prevention
The five major risk factors of widowmaker include smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, genetics and diabetes, and it can be prevented by having a nutritious diet, regular exercise and addressing other common heart attack hazards.
Still, widowmaker heart attacks can affect healthy people.
Anyone who experiences this should call 911.
Widowmaker Heart Attack Symptoms And Treatment
Its symptoms include arm and chest pain, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath.
It’s not different from any other heart attack; it’s just in a more critical condition.
Despite its patriarchal name, the widowmaker also affects women.
Women may have different heart attack symptoms than men. However, they’re more likely to experience fatigue, nausea and sweating — minor-seeming reactions that could deter them from getting care.
Immediate treatment is key, the quicker you come to the hospital, the better,” Chetcuti says. If you suspect you’re having a heart attack, it’s critically important to call 911 and not drive in yourself or have someone drive you to the hospital.
Because paramedics can administer CPR and apply an AED to shock or reset the heart en route to a hospital, where trained professionals can provide further lifesaving treatment.
