First Published July 2021

Nicole Lazowski had always believed she could outrun her genetics. Growing up watching her father endure five heart attacks, starting when she was just seven years old, she made herself a promise: she would never put her body through what he had. No smoking. Always exercise. Stay strong.

And she kept that promise. The former cheerleader transformed into a fitness enthusiast, throwing herself into high-intensity workouts and spinning classes with the kind of dedication that earned her the nickname “beast” among her friends. At 41, she was in the best shape of her life.

But family history, as she would learn, doesn’t negotiate.

The Perfect Storm

The spring of 2020 brought chaos to everyone’s lives, but for Nicole and her husband Mike, it was particularly turbulent. They had relocated from their longtime home in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to North Carolina, only to decide two years later that they wanted to return to be closer to family and friends. The timing couldn’t have been worse—right as the world was shutting down due to the pandemic.

The constant travel between states, the stress of packing and unpacking, renovating their house, and navigating the early days of COVID-19 created what felt like a perfect storm of exhaustion. When Nicole began experiencing waves of extreme fatigue, she did what many of us do—she explained it away.

“There’s so much going on,” she told herself. “Of course I’m tired.”

Even when a COVID test came back negative, she continued to rationalize her symptoms. The heart racing? Pandemic anxiety. The arguments breaking out on social media among family and friends? That was enough to make anyone feel on edge.

The Body’s Warning Signs

But our bodies have a way of speaking louder when we refuse to listen to whispers.

In mid-April, the exhaustion deepened. Nicole’s left arm began aching for no reason she could identify. By 8:30 PM, she was collapsing into bed, something that would have been unthinkable for someone who thrived on high-energy workouts.

The next morning brought a symphony of symptoms that her mind still tried to dismiss. She woke drenched in sweat, struggling to catch her breath. Her back throbbed. Her jaw felt locked and painful.

Having experienced panic attacks before, Nicole’s first instinct was to categorize this as another episode of anxiety. But as she lay there, cataloging each sensation, a different kind of recognition began to dawn.

“Something’s wrong,” she told Mike, who was preparing to head out for what seemed like a routine errand.

The internal debate that followed—should he stay or go?—lasted only moments before Nicole’s intuition overruled her rationalization. “I really need to go to the emergency room now.”

The Moment of Truth

During the drive to the hospital, Nicole’s medical knowledge began connecting dots her mind had been reluctant to acknowledge. Arm pain. Back pain. Jaw discomfort. Difficulty breathing. The symptoms formed a pattern she knew well from her work as a nurse’s aide, but one she never imagined would apply to her.

“These are the symptoms of a heart attack,” she thought, “but I’m only 41.”

That single word—”but”—represented everything she had believed about her health, her fitness, her ability to control her destiny through good choices and hard work.

When she finally voiced her suspicion to the medical staff, the response was immediate. An electrocardiogram confirmed what her body had been trying to tell her: she was indeed having a heart attack.

The doctor’s face said everything before his words did. A code was called—ironically, something Nicole understood from her hospital experience, though she never expected to be the subject of one.

Racing Against Time

As medical professionals rushed her to the catheterization lab, Nicole’s disbelief echoed through the corridors: “I’m too young. This cannot be happening.”

But it was. Doctors discovered a 90% blockage in her left anterior descending artery—often called the “widow maker” because of its critical location. The blockage was restricting blood flow to a large portion of her heart.

The emergency cardiac catheterization procedure that followed was both terrifying and miraculous. Nicole remained conscious throughout, feeling the pressure in her arm disappear the moment the stent opened her blocked artery. It was as if her body exhaled in relief.

Meanwhile, Mike sat alone in the hospital parking lot, prevented by pandemic restrictions from being by his wife’s side during one of the most frightening moments of their lives together. When the doctor finally called with news that Nicole should make a complete recovery, the relief was overwhelming.

The Hardest Truth

The conversation that followed the next day would reshape Nicole’s understanding of health and genetics. Her cardiologist delivered news that was both devastating and liberating: no amount of healthy eating or exercise could have prevented the plaque buildup in her arteries. Her family history had written a script that her lifestyle choices, admirable as they were, couldn’t entirely rewrite.

However, there was a silver lining that validated every workout, every healthy choice she had made. Her exceptional level of fitness had likely saved her life, giving her body the strength to survive what could have been fatal.

Recovery and Reflection

The pandemic that had contributed to her stress also complicated her recovery, preventing immediate access to cardiac rehabilitation programs. But Nicole’s determination—the same quality that had made her a fitness “beast”—served her well in recovery. She started slowly, with walking and gentle spinning, gradually rebuilding her strength.

A year later, back to working as a nurse’s aide, Nicole carries both fear and strength from her experience. The fear is honest—a recognition of her vulnerability that coexists with a deeper appreciation for her resilience.

When you understand this type of message, it’s easier to see why obtaining lifesaving training like CPR and distinguishing between various heart conditions and symptoms is necessary if you are focused on the wellness of you and your employees or family.

A Message for Others

Nicole’s story carries a powerful message, particularly for women who often put everyone else’s needs before their own health concerns. Her advice is simple but profound: listen to your body, and don’t dismiss symptoms because they don’t fit your self-image or expectations.

“We women are so busy with children and work and husbands, we don’t ever stop,” she reflects. “Definitely get checked out if you think something is wrong. Nothing is too little, because it could lead to something big.”

For those with family histories of heart disease, her message is even more direct: fitness and healthy living are essential, but they’re not foolproof armor against genetics. Regular check-ups and attention to symptoms aren’t signs of weakness—they’re acts of wisdom.

It’s also important to understand the importance of getting CPR training. Heart attacks, after all, can lead to heart stoppage or a cardiac arrest. Whether you’re on the receiving end of care or you are giving care, it’s important to understand the basics of heart health.

Nicole’s journey from fitness enthusiast to heart attack survivor to advocate reminds us that sometimes the strongest thing we can do is acknowledge our vulnerabilities and seek help when our bodies are trying to tell us something important. In a world that often celebrates pushing through pain and ignoring warning signs, her story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the most courageous thing we can do is stop, listen, and act on what our bodies are telling us.

Author: Donna Ryan is a writer from Tucson, AZ.