Never ignore the signs, especially when it comes to your heart. That's the best advice your doctor can give you.
Mission residents are thankful they didn't.
At 60 years old, Iliana Peña considers herself on a healthy trajectory.
“I feel like I don't have any limitations. I was told to live as normally as possible. That's my goal,” Peña said.
That wasn't the case a year ago. Peña still remembers when she started noticing healthy changes in herself.
Her symptoms started with pain in her lower body, and she visited an obstetrics and gynecology department.
A few months later, more symptoms appeared. Peña suffers from indigestion and vomiting. She had her colonoscopy done and the gastroenterologist said there was nothing wrong with her colon.
Over the course of five months, two doctors could not find the cause of her pain, and the symptoms did not stop.
“Then, as I was exercising, I started feeling pressure in my chest going up my arm. At that point, I knew something was wrong,” Peña said.
Seeking answers, Peña turned to a doctor friend for advice. They recommended that Peña undergo a calcium test.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, anything above zero means there are signs of heart disease.
“My score was 900,” Peña said.
Peña immediately went to see a cardiologist at South Texas Health System Heart Hospital in McAllen.
Doctors were finally able to give her a solid answer about what was going on with her body, but the news wasn't good.
Her left internal descending artery was 90 percent blocked, and doctors found that her central artery was 80 percent blocked.
Peña immediately underwent double bypass surgery within days.
STHS interventional cardiologist Victor Castro said the most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD).
Dr. Castro says one of the best ways to minimize risk is to maintain a healthy diet.
Peña transitioned from eating red meat and fast food to a Mediterranean diet that includes more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
Peña is now healthy and living a normal life. She encourages everyone to take care of their hearts and listen to their bodies, just like she did a year ago.
Watch the video above for the full story.
