萝莉社

萝莉社 videographer Jeff Imperial thought it was just a passing spell 鈥� until a gut instinct and quick action led doctors to uncover life-threatening blockages and give him a second chance at life.

October 17, 2024, started like any Thursday for videographer Jeff Imperial. He arrived at 萝莉社 Jacksonville and walked from the parking garage to his building, carrying only a briefcase and lunch. But when he reached the Media Center and opened his office door, a cold sweat stopped him in his tracks.

鈥淚t was strange,鈥� Jeff recalled. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 doing anything strenuous 鈥� just walking from the garage. I thought, oh my, what鈥檚 going on? It felt unusual, but it passed after a few minutes, so I continued my day.鈥�

A Gut Instinct 鈥� and a Second Warning

Jeff went about his routine eight-hour shift, keeping an eye out for any more symptoms. He spent most of his time at his desk editing campus videos and discussing projects with co-workers, without any further issues. At the end of the workday, Jeff gathered his things and headed home, with the morning鈥檚 episode lingering in the back of his mind. Arriving at his car, he was once again overwhelmed by a cold sweat. Although he did not have additional symptoms, like shortness of breath or chest pain, he knew it was an issue that shouldn鈥檛 be ignored. Rather than call his wife, whom he knew would worry, Jeff called a trusted colleague to explain what was happening.

鈥淢y friend had recently had a heart attack,鈥� Jeff said. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 sure what was happening was that serious, but I knew ignoring it could be. After I explained the first episode and how it came back, my colleague said, 鈥榊ou need to see a doctor immediately. Do not drive home. Go straight to the ER.鈥�

A Life-Changing Diagnosis

After he arrived at the 萝莉社 Jacksonville Emergency Room medical staff placed Jeff in an exam room, quickly assessed his condition and prepared him for cardiac catheterization. The cardiac catheterization laboratory performs tests to measure blood pressure within the heart and the amount of oxygen in the blood. It is used to diagnose coronary artery disease, or CAD, and heart attacks, and to assess the heart鈥檚 pumping ability.

Results from these tests revealed severe blockages in three of Jeff鈥檚 major arteries.

Jeff was in disbelief. He had never experienced any symptoms of a heart attack before. Although he had a family history of heart disease, he had been very conscientious about taking care of himself throughout the years. He exercised regularly, stayed very active and maintained a healthy diet, but his diagnosis was clear. The only option to restore healthy blood flow and reduce his risk of a heart attack was open-heart surgery. Jeff would need a triple bypass procedure.

The news left him and his family stunned, but the 萝莉社 Jacksonville heart and vascular team moved quickly to prepare him for surgery the next morning. Thomas Zeyl, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon specializing in coronary artery bypass graft procedures, consulted with Imperial and prepared for the procedure.

Bypass surgery treats CAD by creating new routes for blood to reach the heart, bypassing blocked arteries. A healthy blood vessel from a patient鈥檚 leg, arm or chest, called a graft, is attached beyond the blockage, diverting oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.

鈥淐oronary artery disease is one of the most common conditions we see,鈥� Zeyl explained. 鈥淚t affects roughly 20.1 million adults in the U.S. and is the leading cause of death nationwide. Some risk factors are lifestyle-related 鈥� smoking, diabetes and high cholesterol. But other risk factors, like genetics, are out of your control. In Jeff鈥檚 case, family history played a large role.鈥�

As Jeff and the heart team readied for bypass surgery, he couldn鈥檛 help but reflect on how uncanny it was to become a cardiac patient in the hospital where he鈥檚 worked for 15 years.

鈥淚t was surreal,鈥� Imperial said. 鈥淚鈥檝e filmed inside the cath lab and operating room before, so lying there as the patient and watching my own heart beating on the screen was something else.鈥�

Recovery and Rehabilitation

When he woke up after surgery, Jeff had cables and sutures keeping his chest closed but a second chance at life. The heart team encouraged him to begin walking, even if only a few steps at a time. Although movement can be difficult, it helps to prevent complications associated with immobility, such as blood clots and pneumonia, and to speed up the recovery of strength and cardiovascular function.

鈥淧hysically, I felt pretty rough,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut emotionally? Calm. I knew it was handled, and they said walking was key to recovery. By Day 5, I was walking laps around the floor.鈥�

After discharge, Jeff began his outpatient care with 萝莉社 Cardiac Rehabilitation 鈥� Jacksonville, attending three times a week for seven weeks. The team gradually increased his exercise load as he built strength and confidence.

Living with Gratitude and Awareness

More than a year later, Jeff has bounced back from bypass surgery and is experiencing a smooth recovery. His cardiologist, Calvin Choi, MD, recently extended his visits from monthly to semiannual, a positive sign that his recovery remains on track. He continues to exercise and has stuck to an even healthier diet.

鈥淚鈥檝e cut back on cheese 鈥� that one hurts,鈥� he said with a laugh. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 eating even more vegetables and staying active. I want to live a long life. I鈥檓 more patient now. I don鈥檛 sweat the small stuff. I appreciate my family and my time more than ever. I know how lucky I am.鈥�

A Message from the Doctor

Dr. Zeyl says Jeff did everything right to reduce his risk: He stayed active, ate a healthy diet and listened to his body.

鈥淏ut some risk factors are simply beyond our control,鈥� he emphasized. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 change your genetics. That鈥檚 why knowing your family history is just as important as eating well and exercising. Coronary artery disease is still a leading cause of death, but it鈥檚 also one of the most preventable and treatable if caught early. Listen to your body, don鈥檛 ignore warning signs and, if you have a family history, get regular checkups.鈥�