A recent account shared by television host Drew Carey has drawn attention to an important public health issue: heart attack symptoms are not always recognized immediately. Carey revealed that he experienced a heart attack in 2001 while preparing to film his sitcom The Drew Carey Show, but initially dismissed the symptoms and delayed seeking medical care. His experience highlights how misconceptions about heart attack symptoms can lead to delays in treatment.
Drew Carey spoke about the incident during an appearance on Ted Danson’s podcast Where Everybody Knows Your Name. According to Carey, the event occurred in 2001 while he was getting ready to return to work on his television series.
At that time, Carey said he had started jogging as part of an effort to improve his health. During one of his runs, he noticed that his heart rate increased rapidly and he experienced numbness in his shoulder. Despite these warning signs, he did not initially think he was having a heart attack.
Carey explained that he associated heart attacks with dramatic symptoms such as sudden collapse. Because his symptoms appeared less severe, he decided to stop running and return home instead of seeking immediate medical attention.
I thought if you had a heart attack, you would go and fall down, like in a cartoon.Drew Carey
Later that day, he went out for dinner with his girlfriend and planned to contact a doctor the next morning. The following day, he returned to the television set for rehearsals and continued working despite feeling unwell.
During a meeting in the writers’ room, Carey reported worsening symptoms, including chest tightness.
I felt something in my chest again tighten up. I went, ‘Oh, I'll be right back. Let me go to my trailer.Drew Carey
He also found it difficult to climb the stairs to his trailer. At that point, he asked a producer to call an ambulance because he suspected that he might be having a heart attack.
Carey was admitted to the hospital, where doctors identified a severely blocked coronary artery. Physicians treated the blockage with angioplasty and placed a stent to restore blood flow to the heart muscle.
Angioplasty is a medical procedure used to open narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. During the procedure, a small balloon is inflated inside the artery to widen it. A stent, which is a small metal mesh tube, is often inserted to help keep the artery open and maintain blood flow.
Carey remained in the hospital for two nights while doctors monitored his recovery.
After the incident, Carey later made several health-related changes. Over time, he adopted dietary adjustments and increased physical activity. These lifestyle changes were also part of his management after he was later diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Lifestyle modification is often recommended for individuals with cardiovascular risk factors. Measures such as maintaining a healthy weight, improving diet, exercising regularly, and controlling blood sugar levels can help reduce the risk of future cardiac events.
Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Health experts emphasize that recognizing symptoms early and seeking emergency medical care can significantly improve survival rates.
Carey’s experience illustrates how easily warning signs may be overlooked when symptoms do not match common expectations. Increasing awareness about the range of heart attack symptoms can help encourage faster medical response and improve outcomes for patients.
(Rh/SS)