For Hunter Mixson, playing soccer felt as natural as breathing.
Less than a minute into a soccer game, though, the normally agile
30-year-old felt tightness in his chest. Confused, Mixson struggled
to jog before he suddenly collapsed from a life-threatening heart
condition known as spontaneous coronary artery dissection, or SCAD.
After five days at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort
Worth, where he had a cardiac catheterization procedure, coronary
artery bypass surgery, Mixon is participating in several weeks of
cardiac rehabilitation.
“I’m young and healthy, and I was dealing with something I’d
never heard of,” Mixson said.
Even though SCAD can affect adults of any age, it tends to occur
most often in women in their 40s and 50s, and primarily those
considered relatively healthy. Unlike a normal heart attack, where
a clot blocks blood flow to the heart, SCAD develops when a bleed
or a bruise causes a separation between layers of the artery wall,
then expands and cuts off blood flow to the artery, according to
the American Heart Association (AHA).
Cardiac symptoms ─ chest pain, shortness of breath and dizziness
─ sometimes mimic other health conditions, such as acid reflux or
musculoskeletal pain, said Brendan Reagan, M.D., an interventional
cardiologist on the Texas Health Fort Worth medical staff.
“Seeking immediate medical treatment can be the difference in
minimizing damage to the heart, or even the difference between life
and death,” Reagan emphasized.
Receiving specialized cardiac care
After Mixson’s teammates called 911, paramedics took him to
Texas Health Fort Worth. Bill Reed, B.S.N., R.N., an ICU nurse at
the hospital, said Mixson exhibited the classic signs of a heart
attack but with a few oddities. His chest pain and breathing would
quickly return to normal. Even Mixson’s echocardiogram, an
ultrasound device that produces images of the heart, showed no
signs of blockage in his arteries.
The care team determined a cardiac catheterization was
necessary.
“That’s when they saw my dissected arteries. It’s also when I
heard SCAD for the first time,” Mixson said.
Carlos Macias, M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon on the Texas
Health Fort Worth medical staff, said Mixson’s situation was
critical. Tears in two of his arteries were severing blood flow to
his heart. Physicians determined the best course of action was
coronary artery bypass surgery.
“Mr. Mixson had severe tears in the arteries which encircle the
entire heart muscle. It was life-threatening and needed to be
addressed immediately,” Macias said.
After extracting a blood vessel from Mixson’s right leg, called
a graft, Macias rerouted blood around both torn arteries and
restored blood flow to his heart.
Mixson said he’s grateful to so many individuals at Texas Health
Fort Worth. “From the employees delivering my food to the
physicians and surgeons who helped save my life, they were
amazing,” he said. “My nurse, Bill Reed, is definitely a superhero.
He was so observant, and he treated me like I was the only person
there.”
Regaining confidence after SCAD
Mixson looks forward to graduating from cardiac rehabilitation
later this month.
Cardiac rehab provides more than just physical conditioning
after a cardiac event, said Reagan, Mixson’s interventional
cardiologist and a member of Texas Health Heart and Vascular
Specialists, a Texas Health Physicians Group practice*.
“It offers patients reassurance that they can safely resume most
physical activities without damaging their heart.”
Mixson has played soccer since the age of 4, and he’s grateful
to be back on the field.
“Life will throw obstacles your way, but how you respond truly
defines you. I’m here, and despite a major setback, I’m still doing
what I love.”
To learn how Texas Health is advancing heart and vascular care
throughout North Texas, click here.
*Physicians employed by Texas Health Physicians Group practice
independently and are not employees or agents of Texas Health
Resources hospitals.
– END –
For images and accompanying video, please contact Chandra
Caradine.
About Texas Health Resources:
Texas Health Resources is a faith-based, nonprofit health system
that cares for more patients in North Texas than any other
provider. With a service area that consists of 16 counties and more
than 7 million people, the system is committed to providing
quality, coordinated care through its Texas Health Physicians Group
and 29 hospital locations under the banners of Texas Health
Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial, Texas Health
Harris Methodist and Texas Health Huguley. Texas Health access
points and services, ranging from acute-care hospitals and trauma
centers to outpatient facilities and home health and preventive
services, provide the full continuum of care for all stages of
life. The system has more than 4,100 licensed hospital beds, 6,400
physicians with active staff privileges and nearly 29,000
employees. For more information about Texas Health, call
1-877-THR-WELL, or visit www.TexasHealth.org.
- The Mixsons
- Cardiac Rehab
Chandra L. Caradine
Texas Health Resources
chandracaradine@texashealth.org