"An Unbelievable Event... Truly a Miracle"
Regular Cardiac Checkups and Prevention Are Key
A story has emerged from the United States about a man who miraculously survived after suffering a heart attack while driving and crashing his car in front of a heart specialist hospital.
The appearance of the vehicle at the time of the accident caused by a man who suffered a heart attack while driving in the United States. Screenshot from X (formerly Twitter)
On October 1, the New York Post and other outlets reported that Jeff Geraci, 64, from Virginia, experienced a sudden heart attack last month while driving home after finishing an exercise class. He only came to a stop after veering across several lanes and crashing into a signpost.
What was fortunate amid the misfortune was that the accident occurred right in front of the clinic of cardiologist Dr. Deepak Talreja.
Dr. Talreja, who was in his clinic at the time, heard a loud noise and rushed outside. He explained, "I called 911 on my cell phone as I ran out. When I reached the car, I saw the front windshield was shattered and the airbags had deployed."
After checking on the unconscious Geraci, Dr. Talreja realized he was having a heart attack. He said, "He was not breathing and had no pulse. It was acute cardiac arrest. The heart had stopped functioning, which is essentially a form of death." He added, "Fortunately, I was able to provide emergency treatment. If the ambulance had not arrived within eight minutes, even with CPR, it would not have been possible to revive his brain and he would not have survived."
Thankfully, Dr. Talreja immediately performed CPR, and an ambulance arrived within the golden hour. Geraci was transported to a nearby hospital and underwent surgery. At the time, 95% of his main coronary artery and 90% of his lower blood vessels were blocked.
Geraci recalled, "I was confused when I woke up with something stuck in my arm and people moving around me. It felt like a blurry dream, as if I was in a fog. When I asked a nurse what had happened, she told me, 'You had a heart attack. You crashed your car.'"
He added, "My father had two heart attacks, my mother died of a heart attack, and one of my siblings also has heart disease. But I have been an athlete since I was 14. I always exercised and ran marathons, so I never thought something like this would happen to me." Geraci has since recovered his health and returned to work. He said he is now focused on adopting a healthier diet. "I couldn't believe it when I heard that I lost consciousness right in front of a heart specialist hospital. I am grateful to God and Dr. Talreja. This is truly a miracle," he added.
Meanwhile, to prevent heart attacks, it is important to maintain healthy lifestyle habits such as managing chronic conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, quitting smoking, exercising regularly, managing weight, and maintaining a healthy diet. In particular, those with a family history of heart disease are advised to undergo regular cardiac checkups, as this can help with early diagnosis and treatment.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
