An active father and husband with a business to run and a family to support, Scott Stokes isn’t what most people envision when they think about a heart attack survivor. However, he is a survivor—and he’s taking steps to ensure a heart attack doesn’t happen to him again.

Stokes, 49, has been married to his wife, Michelle, for 29 years. They have five daughters and a son. Stokes enjoys lifting weights, riding his motorcycle and working. He co-owns two businesses–Sun Country Custom Woodworks with his brother Rick, and Valley Athletic Club with his wife, his daughter Brittney, and his son-in law David. Active and fit, he had no reason to believe he would experience any health problems. He also didn’t see a need to undergo routine blood testing to ensure his heart’s health.

“My wife and I were having dinner with friends on the night of February 26, and someone mentioned having his cholesterol levels checked,” Stokes said. “I laughed about it, told him I was healthy as a horse and then went home.”

A Startling Discovery
The next morning, Stokes began experiencing pain in his left arm and chest. He was dizzy and found it hard to breathe. He knew something was wrong and had his wife call 911.

“When the pain shot down my left arm, I knew I was having a heart attack,” Stokes says. “They rushed me to the hospital. I was only in the Emergency department at Verde Valley Medical Center for about five minute before they took me into the cardiac catheterization lab. Every one of those people knew exactly what to do.”

During the angioplasty procedure, Bruce Peek, M.D., interventional cardiologist of the Heart & Vascular Center of Northern Arizona, discovered that one of Stokes’ arteries was 98 percent blocked. Fortunately, it was possible to stent the artery using a balloon-tipped catheter. The balloon’s expansion opened Stokes’ artery, allowing the blood to flow through again.

“By Wednesday of the following week, I was back at work,” Stokes said. “I just don’t feel like I have time to sit around. I’m doing great now, but the truth is my problem is genetic. My father, grandfather and brother have all had heart attacks, too.”

Staying Healthy
In order to keep his body healthy, Stokes now checks his cholesterol levels regularly—something he never would have considered doing at this time last year. Also, he’s added cardiovascular exercise such as the treadmill and elliptical machine to his workout routine.

“I don’t make fun of those tests anymore,” Stokes said. “I’m very lucky because now I feel like I’m going to be here to see my grandbabies grow. Had I not received such excellent care at VVMC, there is a chance I would have missed out on being part of their lives.”

To learn more about the services offered through Verde Valley Medical Center, visit www.VerdeValleyMedicalCenter.com and select the “Services” option.