Healthy Mother's Shocking Near-Death Experience

A Utah mother has issued a warning to other seemingly healthy women after suffering a heart attack on a treadmill.

In May, Justine Carter's casual treadmill workout resulted in a shocking near-death experience, with the 33-year-old suffering a heart attack 12 minutes into the workout. She initially felt short of breath, then a pain in her back spread to her chest, and moments later she began vomiting violently.

At the time, Carter thought she had caught some kind of flu, but things took a turn for the worse.

“This is where things get a little fuzzy,” the mother said. Fox NewsShe added that she called her husband and mother-in-law, but she didn't remember having those conversations. “The next thing I knew, I woke up in the hospital.”

Her husband Kevin and mother-in-law Teresa found Justine passed out in the bathroom, apparently having a seizure. A nurse at HCA Healthcare’s Mountain View Hospital in Payson, Utah, kept her alive with CPR. Justine’s heart didn’t beat for 25 minutes, with blood circulating through her body only thanks to CPR.

“It was all pretty worrisome,” Teresa told the outlet. “She had what we call a ‘tombstone rhythm’ on the monitor, which tells us she was having a heart attack and her heart muscle wasn’t getting enough oxygen.”

Once EMS took her to HCA Healthcare Mountain View Hospital, doctors confirmed that Carter had suffered a spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).

SCAD occurs when a tear in the wall of a coronary artery occurs. It can lead to heart attack, heart rhythm disturbances, or sudden death. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), people with the condition are typically women in their 40s and 50s, who tend to present as otherwise healthy. “Scientists believe it is likely that several factors may cause SCAD, such as abnormalities in the arteries, genetic factors, hormonal influences, or inflammatory conditions,” their website states.

Before the episode, Justine said she didn't feel any warning symptoms. She recalls: “I just felt like I had a lack of energy that day and wasn't feeling my best, but I thought it was just because it was winter and it was cloudy outside.”

A week after the first heart attack, Justine experienced another cardiac event with the same symptoms as the last time.

This time, she was flown to HCA Healthcare Timpanogos Regional Hospital, where a full catheterization lab team and cardiothoracic surgeon were available in case she needed open-heart surgery.

The aortic tear that had caused her first episode had grown larger, causing the walls to bulge and block blood flow. The heart team restored blood flow by using a balloon to compress the arterial wound. They then implanted a small heart pump to temporarily relieve pressure on Justine’s heart while she healed.

Justine has since completed her cardiovascular rehabilitation and is now able to do some physical activities, such as walking her dog, but she has not been allowed to do more intense activities, such as hiking. She said the whole ordeal has given her perspective.

“You can live your life afraid of many things, but if you spend every day in fear, you will not enjoy life,” she said. “Life is fragile and short, so enjoy it for what it is.”

She also issued a warning to other seemingly healthy women. “If something doesn’t feel right, don’t hesitate,” she warned. “Just call 911, because a lot of things can be prevented if you do that.”