When you look at my lifestyle, you would not think I was at risk. But a few months before my 40^th birthday, I experienced a heart attack.

I awoke one morning with tightness in my chest. After a few minutes, I began feeling dizzy and sweating profusely. I decided to call 911. When the paramedics arrived, the sweating and dizziness had passed. They checked my vital signs—everything seemed normal. They transported me to the hospital as a precaution. There, the doctor alerted me that I was having a heart attack.

Before the attack, I hadn’t experienced a single sign! Two nights prior, I had been running and playing with my nephew and niece for hours with no shortness of breath. I hadn’t experienced chest pain at all.

My overall health had been strong with only one exception. I had recently had a few molars extracted due to gum disease.

Friends and people who knew me—as well as the ones I meet—are so surprised that I experienced a heart attack. Physically, I appear exceptionally healthy and I maintain such a healthy lifestyle. No traditional risk factors or warning signs were present in my life prior to this incident.

Today, I maintain a healthy diet and regular cardiovascular activity, trying to workout for 30 minutes at least few times per week. I take medication to control cholesterol, and continue to seek care for my gum disease.