Michael Bonnardi was training for his third marathon when his runs started to take a toll more than usual. Some days, he felt completely drained.
“Maybe I’m just feeling my age,” said Michael, who was 61 at the time.
In August 2024, one Tuesday evening, Michael prepared dinner for himself and his wife, Maureen, at their home in Naugatuck, Connecticut. Growing exhausted, he went to bed earlier than usual.
While lying down, Michael suddenly experienced pressure in his chest. “It felt like my life was slipping away,” he recalled.
He managed to rise and go to Maureen, who was reading in the living room. Seeing his pallid complexion, she hurried to get their blood pressure monitor.
One reading on his arm registered extremely high, prompting her to check the other arm. Still elevated, she also tested her own blood pressure to ensure the device was working correctly — it was.
Then Michael grabbed his left arm, his hand clenched into a fist. “It feels like it’s going to explode,” he told her.
He was having a heart attack.
Once at the hospital and as medical staff ran tests to confirm the heart attack, his heart stopped.
Doctors performed CPR and used an automated external defibrillator (AED) to shock his heart back into a normal rhythm. Within four minutes, Michael heard doctors shouting his name and Maureen reassuring him everything was okay.
“Welcome back,” a doctor said.
“What?” Michael replied. “Are you saying I died?”
“Yes,” they confirmed. “Your heart stopped. But you’re fine now.”
A cardiac catheterization revealed three blockages in two arteries, including the left anterior descending artery — responsible for supplying much of the blood to the heart. That blockage was what caused Michael’s cardiac arrest.
Doctors placed stents in each blocked artery, restoring blood flow. Maureen quickly noticed the improvement: “You look like you’ve been to the beach,” she remarked. “Your color is completely back.”
Michael could feel it too. His energy returned, and the chest pressure disappeared.
However, he was left wondering: as someone active and healthy, who didn’t smoke, drink, or have a family history of heart disease, why did he have three blocked arteries?
Doctors couldn’t find a definite answer. They prescribed medications to lower his risk of another event. Michael and Maureen also adopted a heart-healthy lifestyle, reducing red meat and processed foods. Maureen was motivated to pay closer attention to her own health as well.
About two months later, Michael began cardiac rehabilitation, which boosted his confidence to return to light weights at home, increasing repetitions over time.
Michael and Jeff, his son, had planned to run a marathon together, but after experiencing the heart attack, they didn’t. Instead, for New Year’s 2024, they camped and hiked along the Appalachian Trail.
“I’m shifting my focus,” Michael said. “I walk a lot, do a lot of tai chi and yoga, which have been grounding emotionally and spiritually. It’s pretty cool.”
Recognizing the signs of a heart attack and cardiac arrest is crucial. Fatigue and chest discomfort, like Michael’s, can signal a heart attack. However, cardiac arrest often occurs suddenly without warning. While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they are different conditions. Learning to identify warning signs and how to perform CPR can make a life-saving difference when seconds matter.
For those interested in heart health, exploring how eating eggs may help reduce heart disease risk and understanding potential risks of herbal supplements affecting heart rhythm is worthwhile.
Recent research suggests that olive oil might promote longer life, and vitamin D could lower the risk of autoimmune diseases.
— Written by Diane Daniel, American Heart Association.
