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SALT LAKE CITY — Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for both men and women. One of the many personal stories about heart health at KSL includes our managing editor, Doug Wilks.
In conjunction with American Heart Month, Doug decided to share the story of his sudden battle with heart disease in hopes of inspiring others to pay attention to their bodies and get help quickly.
Doug had triple bypass surgery around Christmastime. The wake-up call came when he found himself struggling to carry an empty cooler that weighed just a few pounds.
“At that point, I’m thinking, ‘Oh I’m out of shape,’ or some other reason, not totally recognizing how serious it could be,” Doug said.
His wife, Christiana Wilks, insisted he seek medical attention, though she says he resisted.
“It’s not that I fought really hard, because I didn’t,” Doug said. “Something was clearly wrong.”
When he did go in for a checkup, what the Doug’s doctor found was scary: blocked arteries and a mild heart event, requiring triple bypass surgery.
Related:
Heart condition prompts surgery for KSL reporter
Though his sense of humor never fails, KSL-TV political reporter Richard Piatt knew his heart was showing early signs of failure.“When we got in there we found the pattern of obstructive disease was so extensive that surgery was a more direct and safer option for him,” said Dr. James Revenaugh, Doug’s cardiologist.
What is now clear to Doug, and his family, is that fast intervention saved his life. Cardiovascular surgeon John Doty constantly urges people to pay attention to how they’re feeling, and follow up.
“The sooner you can have your heart disease addressed, the better chance you have of preserving your heart function — preserving you — and getting sort of where you should be, compared to the rest of the population,” Doty said.
For Doug, remembering the experience is humbling — and he’s “beyond grateful” for the extra time he’s been given to spend with his wife and children, and grandchildren.
“This really isn’t a heart story; this is a family story,” he said.
The designation of February as American Heart Month is “aimed at increasing awareness that heart disease is the nation’s No. 1 killer,” according to the American Heart Association. During the month, men and women are encouraged to learn more about heart disease and recognize its symptoms. For more information, visit www.heart.org.
