38-year-old triathlete survives ‘widowmaker’ heart attack that leaves him ‘dead for several minutes’ during race

Matias Escobar had no obvious risk factors for a heart attack, but is part of a growing trend of unexplained heart attacks in younger people

Last October, Matias Escobar was on the home stretch of the New York City Triathlon when he suffered a severe heart attack and was left lying on the asphalt without a pulse.

“I was dead for several minutes. My heart stopped beating and they kept me alive with CPR for 12 minutes until the ambulance arrived,” said 38-year-old Escobar Today.

He remained in a coma for two days while doctors tried to determine why Escobar – who said he was not stressed, did not eat much red meat or drink alcohol – had suffered an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the deadliest type of heart attack, which Escobar said is also known as a “widow maker.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, up to 10% of patients with a STEMI die within 30 days because it is “a complete blockage of one of the main supplying arteries to the heart.”

“If this happens during a heart attack,” says the Cleveland Clinic, “it may be a sign that the ventricular muscles are dying.”

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The triathlete is part of a growing trend of otherwise healthy, younger people suffering heart attacks.

“There are definitely more young people coming to the hospital with heart attacks. The data also confirm this. What is behind it, however, is more controversial,” said Dr. Deepak Bhatt, director of the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, Today.

But in someone like Escobar, who appeared to be healthy, the cause of the heart attack was attributed to inflammation – and perhaps cholesterol, because the athlete and father of a two-year-old said he had high cholesterol when he was younger.

But as Escobar said Today“The cardiologist didn’t define it as a risk at the time. It was a data point that I needed to lower, but I wasn’t diagnosed with anything.”

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But as Bhatt said Todayeven the slightly elevated cholesterol level could have caused the heart attack. “Was it a risk? Of course your cholesterol level today is important, but also how long it was elevated before and how high – that determines how much plaque (you have), even if it was well controlled.”

And Escobar says doctors told him it was dangerous to “have cholesterol in your veins, no matter how healthy you are.”

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As Bhatt tells Today“I think that’s the most important message – know the risk factors and know your numbers. Everyone should know their blood sugar, blood pressure, waist circumference and bad (LDL) cholesterol. These are important vital signs.”

Although the cause of Escobar’s heart attack has not been officially determined, the athlete said he is now eating a vegan diet and staying active – which includes training for the next New York City Triathlon.

“At first I didn’t want to do the same race that basically killed me,” he said Today“but I think I have to.”

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