Dolores Catania Reveals She Underwent Heart Surgery After Being Diagnosed with AFib
Dolores Catania is recovering after a recent procedure.
On Friday (June 20), the 54-year-old Real Housewives of New Jersey star revealed that she underwent heart surgery after being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, also known as AFib.
“DID YOU KNOW THAT HEART DISEASE WAS THE #1 KILLER OF WOMEN? ???? LISTEN TO MY STORY,” Dolores started on Instagram. “About six months ago, I was driving when I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my chest that radiated down my arm. As women, we tend to ignore aches and pains, brushing them off as part of everyday life- but this felt different.”
Keep reading to find out more…“After that, I started experiencing frequent flutters in my chest, sometimes waking me up at night,” she recalled. “Eventually, I got scared enough to call my cardiologist. He gave me a heart monitor to wear, and within hours, he called to tell me I had AFib (atrial fibrillation). He referred me to an electrophysiologist, who confirmed the diagnosis. He told me, ‘You’re not the same girl I met two years ago when you came here with Paul.’ Some of you may remember that my boyfriend, Paul Connell, was diagnosed with WPW (Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome) and also needed an ablation.”
AFib “is an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm. An irregular heart rhythm is called an arrhythmia. AFib can lead to blood clots in the heart. The condition also increases the risk of stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
Dolores then went on to encourage people to consult with a doctor if something feels wrong in your body.
“I’m sharing this because I want you to listen to your body,” the Bravo star wrote. “That racing or fluttering in your chest you feel doing simple tasks during the day- that’s your body trying to tell you something. DON’T IGNORE THIS. AFib increases your risk of stroke or heart attack.”
Dolores concluded, “I’m not 6 weeks out and back to myself! I’ll be off all medication soon, and I haven’t had any episodes since the procedure. Please don’t wait. Your heart health is not something to take lightly. If you need recommendations for doctors, I was truly in the best of hands. Take care of yourself you deserve it!! ❤️”
We’re happy to hear Dolores is feeling better now!