On February 4th, Amy Yasbeck, John Ritter’s wife and widow, announced that she was filing suit against two doctors to the tune of $67 million dollars. While that amount of money may seem breathtaking, Amy Yasbeck noted that she intends to use much of the money (if she wins) to start the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health. See information here about that, one of many sites which has links to the interview as well as other details about John Ritter: www.fluffytails.ca/johnritter.asp
According to the interview, which I happened to see and Tivo, John’s condition was misdiagnosed as a heart attack in spite of allegations by Amy Yasbeck that earlier x-rays, taken years before, indicated that area of the aorta was enlarged. After John died, his surviving brother was diagnosed with the same aortic condition, underwent surgery and is a survivor. He was at risk of death before then, from the same thing that killed John!
Please note: no information in this article is meant to substitute for medical evaluation and treatment.
What you can learn from this:
First of all, know your family history. Did anyone die young of heart disease? Has it occurred more than once in your family’s history or genetic family tree? Did anyone die of something called aortic dissection? Particularly if the answer to the last question is “yes” then seek medical advice from an experienced cardiologist. Get a chest x-ray and other tests. Aortic dissection can run in families!
Even if you aren’t at risk, know the facts about aortic dissection. Again, a tendency for this can run in families. More information can be found here: www.sjhlex.org/body.cfm
While the condition is not common, it does occur more often in people with high blood pressure, a family history of the disease as well as those prone to arteriosclerotic vascular disease. There are other, even rarer, congentital disorders, conditions which are present at birth but not always detected. You can read about those at the site link above.
Know the symptoms and be sure that doctors know how to determine the difference between an aortic dissection and a heart attack.
Symptoms of aortic dissection include a sudden and intense onset of pain that is often characterized as a stabbing and even tearing sensation. Yes, it can be confused with a heart attack but many heart attacks can build gradually – unlike aortic dissections. Intense back pain, nausea and vomiting may also be present. Trust your instincts and know the typical symptoms of a heart attack. Also realize that symptoms of heart attacks in men may differ from those for women.
In some cases, there may not be any pain but a certain fogginess or sense of being “out of it” as well as a numb feeling in the arms and legs could be early signs of aortic dissection. In this case, being informed may be your best defense.
Why knowing the difference between the two, heart attack or aortic dissection, is crucial:
Aspirin therapy is often given for heart attacks and is appropriate in many cases but only if the person is having a heart attack. If aspirin is given to a person with aortic dissection, it can actually make the situation much worse. Aspirin thins the blood and allows more blood to leak out of the aorta. This can lead to death. Allegations of inappropriate treatment are one reason Amy Yasbeck is filing this lawsuit. She believes her husband was treated for a heart attack and should have been given a chest x-ray to detect the aortic tear. But before all that could happen, her husband’s situation went from bad to deadly.
Request tests to detect aortic dissection:
These include chest x-rays, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging and angiography, among other tests. Again, an experienced cardiologist is your best best but don’t be afraid to speak up and be pro-active. This is your life, your body and your health at stake. If someone in your family has similar symptoms, advocate for that person. Remember, he or she may not be thinking clearly due to diminished blood flow to the brain.
Surprisingly, surgery is NOT always necessary for aortic dissections. Options include drug therapy and other options. Surgery is risky but may be the best choice. John RItter’s brother opted for surgery.
