Heart Health Matters: Life-Saving Lessons From a Colleague & Heart Attack Survivor

By: Dr. Sue Paul, Sr. Dir. Well-being & Brain Health, Asbury Communities, Inc.

February is American Heart Month, and this year it carries special meaning for many of us.

In April 2025, our friend and colleague Andy Joseph experienced a major heart attack followed by cardiac arrest. It happened after a routine morning swim; something he had done countless times before. Andy is active, disciplined about his health, and deeply engaged in life. By all outward measures, he didn’t fit the stereotype many people associate with heart disease.

And yet, heart disease doesn’t rely on stereotypes.

Andy’s experience (and his willingness to share it) offers powerful lessons that align closely with what Heart Month is about: awareness, prevention, and listening to what our bodies are trying to tell us.

The reality: Heart disease is more common (and quieter) than we think

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for about 1 in every 5 deaths each year. Even more sobering, nearly half of American adults have some form of cardiovascular disease, often without obvious symptoms.

Many heart attacks begin with warning signs that are subtle, intermittent, or easy to dismiss…exactly what Andy experienced in the weeks leading up to April.

Key takeaway: Feeling “healthy” doesn’t make us immune. Paying attention makes us safer.

Lesson #1: Listen early; your body often warns you.

Andy noticed chest discomfort off and on for weeks. Like many of us, he stayed active and pushed forward. Only later did it become clear that those sensations were important signals.

Statistics show that nearly 50% of people who experience a heart attack had warning symptoms beforehand but didn’t recognize them as serious.

Takeaway: Chest discomfort, shortness of breath, unusual fatigue, dizziness–none of these should be ignored. If something doesn’t feel right, it deserves attention.

Lesson #2: CPR training can turn bystanders into lifesavers.

When Andy collapsed at home, his wife Susan immediately called 911 and began CPR. That quick action quite literally saved his life.

Here’s a statistic that stops me every time: Immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival after cardiac arrest. Yet fewer than 40% of people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital receive CPR from a bystander.

Takeaway: CPR is a skill we hope we never need–but when we do, it can mean everything.

Lesson #3: Heart health is about more than exercise and diet.

Andy exercised regularly, ate well, and challenged himself physically. His story reminds us that while lifestyle choices matter, heart health is multifaceted—involving genetics, stress, sleep, inflammation, and how quickly we respond to symptoms.

Takeaway: Wellness is not a checklist. It’s an ongoing conversation with your body.

Lesson #4: Recovery is an active choice.

Andy is now focused on recovery; working a reduced schedule, staying engaged in life, and allowing his heart the time it needs to heal. That, too, is a form of strength.

Research shows that patients who follow structured recovery plans and honor physical and emotional healing have significantly better long-term outcomes.

Takeaway: Rest, adjustment, and asking for support are not signs of weakness. They are part of healing well.

A Heart Month reminder for all of us

Andy’s April 2025 heart attack is not just a story: it’s a reminder.

A reminder to listen sooner. A reminder to learn lifesaving skills like CPR. A reminder that self-care is not optional. It’s essential.

As we recognize Heart Month, let’s take this opportunity to check in with ourselves and with one another. Our hearts (both physical and emotional) carry us through every part of our lives. They deserve our attention.