The Importance of Heart Health This Holiday Season
As families gather to celebrate the holidays, retired Arlington teacher Rynthia Clements is using her own heart-wrenching experience to urge everyone to take their heart health seriously.”The best gift you can give is to pay attention to your body,” says Clements, who nearly lost her life to a heart attack just a few months ago.
Clements, 64, had initially mistaken her heart attack symptoms for indigestion. “I thought I was just having bad indigestion,” she recalled. However, after feeling unbearable pain less than an hour after her symptoms started, her husband rushed her to the emergency room, where doctors quickly diagnosed her as having experienced a “widowmaker” heart attack—a blockage in the heart’s main artery that could have been fatal if not treated expediently.
Recovery and Rehabilitation
“At first, I felt hopeless. I wasn’t sure what the days ahead would look like,” Clements shared. With encouragement from her medical team and a strong support system, she participated in a 12-week cardiac rehabilitation program at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital. “Through personalized programs, they helped me regain my strength and teach me about appropriate exercise post-event,” she said.
Dr. Daniel Naberhaus, her primary care physician, noted, “Sometimes we do everything right, and yet bad outcomes are thrown at us.” He emphasized the importance of understanding one’s family medical history, which can play a significant role in heart health. In Clements’ case, both her father and brother had previously succumbed to heart issues.
Message of Hope
Despite the emotional and physical toll, Clements remains grateful for her recovery and determined to use her story to educate others on the importance of heart health. “Pay attention to your body. If something feels off, it probably is. Don’t wait—go and get checked.” Now, she enjoys quality time with her six grandchildren, celebrating life and spreading awareness about the risks of heart disease.
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