Famous actress and soap opera icon Susan Lucci provided a health update after undergoing two heart procedures in four years.
The “All My Children” star paused for an interview after the 75th annual Writers Guild Awards on Sunday to tell fans she is recovering well after undergoing another heart procedure in January, according to People. Lucci was most recently outfitted with a stent in her artery and reflected on her recovery. “It is so far so good,” Lucci said. “I would hear that heart disease is the number one killer of women, but that went in one ear and out the other,” she said. “But now I get it.”
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Lucci has become an ambassador for the American Heart Association since battling heart disease.
“I’m doing really well,” Lucci said. “I always keep an eye on myself, what’s going on.”
She went on to describe the scary road that led her to this newfound sense of awareness of her health.
Lucci indicated she began feeling intense, crushing chest pressure in Oct. 2018 that felt “like an elephant pressing down,” and described having pain around her rib cage.
The 76-year-old actress admitted to ignoring her initial symptoms.
“Like most women, I thought, ‘I have too much to do. It will go away.’ I didn’t want to bother the cardiologist,” she said. “We take care of our children, we are advocates for our loved ones, but we’re not at the top of our own to-do list.”
“I didn’t realize how close I came to a fatal heart attack,” she said. (RELATED: Basketball Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Speaks Out About Atrial Fibrillation Diagnosis)
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Lucci had suffered a 90% blockage of the main artery and required emergency surgery. She was later informed she suffered from a genetic heart condition that was hereditary from her father’s side, according to People. Two stents were put in at that time.
Lucci admitted to binging on “comfort food” during the pandemic and said that it all caught up with her again in January. She experienced chest pain again and discovered she had an 80% blockage that required immediate care, according to People.
She is now advocating for health awareness and encourages fans to keep up-to-date with their medical check-ups.
“It’s important for everyone to know their family history,” Lucci said to People.
“I don’t think that I ever mentioned my dad’s family history to a doctor.”
“I almost wasn’t going to speak about it, I was so ashamed of myself. But it’s a reminder to be vigilant,” Lucci said to People.