You would naturally think of John Spangler as an unlikely candidate for a heart attack.
The 48-year-old has been a devoted runner for more than three decades. For more than 20 years, Spangler has led a healthy, vegetarian lifestyle.
He exercises regularly for both fitness and pleasure by combining strength training, Pilates and running. Over the last few years, Spangler has completed two marathons and countless other running events that dot major cities across the U.S.
Last year, he ran in the San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon, beating his own personal best by finishing in less than four hours. He ranked in the top 28 percent of his age group and in the top 16 percent overall.
But little did Spangler know the tightness in his chest and overall ill feeling that he began to feel toward the end of the run was not him hitting the wall as most competitive runners do at some point in a race. It actually was a signal that he was having a heart attack.
Pushing through to the finish line and characterizing the post-race pain as fatigue, Spangler and his wife, Stacey, remained at the race site and perused the finish line area festivities before walking a mile back to their car to head home.
As the pain intensified, Stacey insisted that they stop at the hospital on their way home just to check it out. All Spangler wanted was to enjoy a shower and eat the meal of his choice, but he gave in to his wife's pressure and they stopped at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas.
Within seconds after walking through the doors of the Emergency Department, Dr. James Garvey hooked Spangler up for an electrocardiogram, or EKG. The emergency room physician did so because of Spangler's symptoms, which included pains spanning the width of his chest and a peculiar pain in his biceps.
Given his superior level of fitness and longtime healthy lifestyle, Spangler and his wife were stunned when Garvey told them he was having a heart attack. Following the results of the EKG, Spangler was prepped for surgery.
Dr. Roy Avalos, a Scripps Encinitas cardiologist, performed a cardiac catheterization procedure known as a coronary angiogram, further diagnosing a blockage. To open the obstruction, Avalos inserted a stent into Spangler's right coronary artery.
Within a two-hour time frame, Spangler had successfully finished the marathon and was recovering from heart surgery performed in the hospital's cardiac catheterization lab. He was back to running within one month.
“My heart attack really opened my eyes. I was completely shocked to have been diagnosed with a heart ailment, given the type of healthy lifestyle that I led, but I am happy now for the information and knowledge that I have received about my own body, making me more aware of my overall health. For that, and the quick attention I received at Scripps Encinitas, I am grateful,” Spangler said.
The care that Spangler received imparts the type of patient care that is available at Scripps Encinitas, which is a STEMI receiving center. Such a designation brings together a team approach to diagnosing and treating life threatening heart attacks. Physicians, nurses and highly-skilled technicians are prepared to handle major heart health issues at a moment's notice.
In June, Spangler completed the Rock & Roll Marathon again in a little more than four hours. He ran it in the top 39 percent of his age group and placed in the top 28 percent overall.
“My goal was simply to finish and enjoy the race this year without pain, or at least without the odd sensations that I had last year,” Spangler said.
Last month, Spangler and a team of his coworkers competed in the Carlsbad Triathlon. They finished 22nd out of 42 total relay teams. Spangler plans to participate in the New York City Marathon in November as one of more than 100,000 runners.
If you experience signs and symptoms that are abnormal or out of context with your current exertion level, act quickly by seeing a physician. When it comes to the treatment of heart attacks, every minute matters.
The 48-year-old has been a devoted runner for more than three decades. For more than 20 years, Spangler has led a healthy, vegetarian lifestyle.
He exercises regularly for both fitness and pleasure by combining strength training, Pilates and running. Over the last few years, Spangler has completed two marathons and countless other running events that dot major cities across the U.S.
Last year, he ran in the San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon, beating his own personal best by finishing in less than four hours. He ranked in the top 28 percent of his age group and in the top 16 percent overall.
But little did Spangler know the tightness in his chest and overall ill feeling that he began to feel toward the end of the run was not him hitting the wall as most competitive runners do at some point in a race. It actually was a signal that he was having a heart attack.
Pushing through to the finish line and characterizing the post-race pain as fatigue, Spangler and his wife, Stacey, remained at the race site and perused the finish line area festivities before walking a mile back to their car to head home.
As the pain intensified, Stacey insisted that they stop at the hospital on their way home just to check it out. All Spangler wanted was to enjoy a shower and eat the meal of his choice, but he gave in to his wife's pressure and they stopped at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas.
Within seconds after walking through the doors of the Emergency Department, Dr. James Garvey hooked Spangler up for an electrocardiogram, or EKG. The emergency room physician did so because of Spangler's symptoms, which included pains spanning the width of his chest and a peculiar pain in his biceps.
Given his superior level of fitness and longtime healthy lifestyle, Spangler and his wife were stunned when Garvey told them he was having a heart attack. Following the results of the EKG, Spangler was prepped for surgery.
Dr. Roy Avalos, a Scripps Encinitas cardiologist, performed a cardiac catheterization procedure known as a coronary angiogram, further diagnosing a blockage. To open the obstruction, Avalos inserted a stent into Spangler's right coronary artery.
Within a two-hour time frame, Spangler had successfully finished the marathon and was recovering from heart surgery performed in the hospital's cardiac catheterization lab. He was back to running within one month.
“My heart attack really opened my eyes. I was completely shocked to have been diagnosed with a heart ailment, given the type of healthy lifestyle that I led, but I am happy now for the information and knowledge that I have received about my own body, making me more aware of my overall health. For that, and the quick attention I received at Scripps Encinitas, I am grateful,” Spangler said.
The care that Spangler received imparts the type of patient care that is available at Scripps Encinitas, which is a STEMI receiving center. Such a designation brings together a team approach to diagnosing and treating life threatening heart attacks. Physicians, nurses and highly-skilled technicians are prepared to handle major heart health issues at a moment's notice.
In June, Spangler completed the Rock & Roll Marathon again in a little more than four hours. He ran it in the top 39 percent of his age group and placed in the top 28 percent overall.
“My goal was simply to finish and enjoy the race this year without pain, or at least without the odd sensations that I had last year,” Spangler said.
Last month, Spangler and a team of his coworkers competed in the Carlsbad Triathlon. They finished 22nd out of 42 total relay teams. Spangler plans to participate in the New York City Marathon in November as one of more than 100,000 runners.
If you experience signs and symptoms that are abnormal or out of context with your current exertion level, act quickly by seeing a physician. When it comes to the treatment of heart attacks, every minute matters.