Steve Guzzi

Treating heart attacks fast

Casting a line into a lake in hopes of hooking an elusive walleye used to be Steve Guzzi’s biggest passion. Now his heart health takes priority.

“I have a strong family history of heart disease, so I’m not surprised I had a heart attack – I’m just surprised I was only 56,” Guzzi says. That surprise attack came Feb. 26, 2006. Guzzi was at his Shorewood home when he noticed subtle symptoms.
 
“It wasn’t like in the movies,” he says. “I felt strange, and had some minor chest pain. I had a feeling something wasn’t right. A neighbor took me to Methodist Hospital. Within minutes, I was in the cath lab with a stent in my heart.”

Fifty percent of normal

“His artery was 95 percent blocked, and his heart strength was about 50 percent of normal,” says Park Nicollet Heart and Vascular Center cardiologist Marek Kokoszka, MD.

“Our emergency angioplasty program is nationally recognized for opening arteries fast,” he continues. “Every minute the heart goes without oxygen, more heart muscle is damaged. In Mr. Guzzi’s case, we opened his artery 65 minutes after arriving at the hospital; the national average is 120 minutes.”

“I never thought about having a good hospital nearby before this,” Guzzi says. “But once something like this happens, it’s reassuring to know there’s a world-class facility nearby with doctors that can really increase your odds of surviving a heart attack.” 

“Life only comes around once,” Guzzi adds. “I knew I had two choices; do something about my heart health or face the alternative. I took action. I need to be around to see my teenage daughter grow up, get married and start her own family.”

Powerful lifestyle changes

Guzzi really took his doctor’s advice to heart. He watches his cholesterol, has lost more than 25 pounds and exercises almost every day.

Dr. Kokoszka says Guzzi is an example of the tremendous healing power of lifestyle changes. “It is not diet, exercise, weight reduction alone, but a combination of all the above, which have a big impact on health. Patients really have a lot of control over their future,” he adds.

“I’ve exercised more in the past two years than the previous 15 years. I feel great,” Guzzi says. “Life is too important to not take care of myself. Fishing, hunting and spending time with my wife and children are my life.  I couldn’t do any of that without my heart.”