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Not Doing 'Guy Thing' Saved His Life

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By IRENE MAHER

Published: October 4, 2007

Eric Sause of Lutz never goes anywhere without nitroglycerin in his pocket. "It reminds me to take care of myself or I'm going to have to use it," the 48-year-old says.

Four years ago, when Sause was living in Seattle, he noticed his arm tingling as he mowed the lawn. It happened again as he mowed the lawn the following week. He thought it was strange, but it didn't hurt, so he wasn't alarmed.

In the days that followed, he also began to wonder if he needed to get back into shape. Walking the steep street to his office left him winded. Then, on the third weekend in a row, when his left arm again tingled like it had fallen asleep as he mowed the lawn, Sause thought something might be wrong. He went to the American Heart Association Web site and looked up angina.

"They had a checklist. When I checked on the sixth one, I realized I might have a little issue here."

But there's nothing little about angina. It's a type of chest pain that occurs when the heart muscle isn't getting enough oxygen-rich blood, and it's a major warning sign of heart disease. Some people describe the feeling as a tightness, squeezing or heaviness in the chest. Others say it's a pain that radiates down the left arm or to both arms; over the left shoulder; and to the back, neck or jaw. There may also be shortness of breath, nausea and a cold sweat.

Activities and physical exertion make the discomfort worse. Rest brings relief. So do medications such as nitroglycerin, which opens blood vessels and improves blood flow.

Weeks later, at the urging of his wife, Sause left a business meeting in California, flew home to Seattle and went to the doctor. Tests revealed that a major artery in his heart was 90 percent blocked. "There was no pain, just a little discomfort, and I was a little winded. And here I was 90 percent blocked. The doctor told my wife I was a ticking time bomb," he said.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of Americans. Chest or upper body discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back may be a sign of a heart attack. Shortness of breath is a common sign of heart disease, with or without chest pain. Women may have only shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

Call 911 and let the experts determine what's causing your symptoms. Let them transport you to the hospital, too, rather than having a friend or family member drive you. Emergency medical personnel can start treatment as soon as they arrive, almost an hour sooner than if you arrive by car, studies show.

Sause says the whole experience four years ago was life changing. He swore off his favorite food, hot dogs, and can't remember the last time he had a burger and fries. He makes it a point to be active. He eats a lot of salads and chicken and closely monitors his cholesterol and blood pressure — things he never did before.

He has joined a team at work that will be walking in next month's Tampa Bay Start! Heart Walk, sponsored by the American Heart Association. About 15,000 participants are expected Nov. 10 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Groups from Baycare Health Systems, Regions Bank, Sykes, Florida Communications Group (which includes News Channel 8 and The Tampa Tribune) and Sause's employer, WellCare, are among 100 corporate teams registered. To register a team, visit www.americanheart.org/tampabayheartwalk. The event is expected to raise about $1.6 million for heart disease research and education.

Sause says that two years ago, he couldn't have shared his story. But he has since come to grips with what happened and no longer sees it as a weakness. He believes he is a heart disease survivor because he stopped "doing the guy thing" and admitted he was having symptoms. The unused, worn out bottle of nitroglycerin pills reminds him of how bad his health was and how much better it is now.

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