LIZ JOHNSON, National Wear Red Day is Friday, and the American Heart Association is using the annual observance to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death among women in the United States.
Liz Johnson of North Lima, Ohio, is a mother of three and a two-time heart attack survivor who is sharing her story to encourage others to take heart health seriously. Johnson, a seventh-grade math teacher, suffered her first heart attack while teaching in her classroom.
“They told me I had a SCAD heart attack, which is spontaneous coronary artery dissection,” Johnson said. “It’s basically a tear in my arteries that created a blockage.”
Over the past seven years, Johnson has undergone multiple medical procedures to keep her heart functioning, including the placement of a stent, balloon pump, pacemaker, and defibrillator. Despite her young age and active lifestyle, her experience challenged common assumptions about who is at risk for heart disease.
Johnson said she initially ignored early warning signs because she believed she was healthy.
“A heart attack was not in my realm of thinking because I have low blood pressure, low cholesterol, I exercise, and I eat healthy,” she said. “I did not think healthy people had heart attacks.”
Now, Johnson hopes her experience will help other women recognize the importance of monitoring their cardiovascular health. She encourages routine blood work and paying close attention to symptoms, even if they seem minor.
“The American Heart Association helps me get my word out that healthy people can have heart attacks,” Johnson said. “It’s so important to exercise and eat healthy because if I wasn’t living that lifestyle, I wouldn’t have survived these heart attacks. If there’s that little voice on your shoulder whispering that something is wrong, go get checked out.”
The American Heart Association says Johnson’s story is a powerful reminder that heart disease can affect anyone. The organization encourages women to know their health numbers, regularly monitor blood pressure, and learn CPR.
“If CPR is performed immediately, often by a bystander, it can really double or triple a person’s chance for survival,” said Chelsea Caldwell with the American Heart Association.
Health officials emphasize that anyone experiencing potential heart attack symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately. Acting quickly can be life-saving.
