What Your Heart is Telling You
Your heart doesn’t always shout. Sometimes it whispers. That was the case for Dale Webb last July. Webb, the owner of Extreme Heating and Air and Electrical Services in Ashland, Ky., had spent a long, hot day doing AC and electrical work. When he got home, he sat down to watch a baseball game, feeling “lazy,” definitely not himself. Soon he started having chest pain and numbness in his left arm.
“My wife knew something was wrong and wanted me to go to the ER, but I had an appointment scheduled with my family doctor (Angela Lewis, D.O.) a couple of days later, so I told her I’d wait,” Webb said. “It’s a good thing I didn’t wait any longer.”
Once Webb told Dr. Lewis how he was feeling, she quickly ordered a series of tests to troubleshoot what was happening. She then referred him to UK King’s Daughters cardiologist Michele Friday, M.D..
“All I could think was, I don’t need this right now. The end of July is really busy for us,” Webb said. “I was expecting the doctor to say everything was OK and send me on my way.”
That wasn’t the case. Dr. Friday suspected a blockage and immediately scheduled a cardiac catheterization. It was done that day. Webb’s blockage was opened and he was given a stent, a device that keeps the artery open following angioplasty.
Webb had his procedure on a Thursday, was released Friday, and back to work Monday, with no complications, and renewed energy. Beforehand, he admits, he was tired, not sleeping well, and in his words, “dragging.”
“People say I’m lucky…” Webb noted. “But I say I’m blessed that all the testing and the procedures I needed were available right here. I constantly brag about my doctors and all the team – I have since day one.”
Every minute matters. If you’re experiencing chest pains, call 9-1-1 and get to the nearest emergency department immediately. We also offer same-day, next-day appointments at many of our cardiology offices. These are perfect for people who have been experiencing minor signs and symptoms of heart disease, and want to get answers quickly.
Call UK King’s Daughters Cardiology at (606) 324-4745 to be seen.