Karen’s Story

Recognizing the Hidden Signs of a Heart Attack

Karen Welford’s heart attack didn’t look like what most people expect. It was quiet, almost easy to dismiss. A healthy, active nurse with well-controlled high blood pressure and cholesterol, Karen never imagined she was at risk. Her first warning came after sprinting through the Miami airport to catch a flight home from St. Martin—shortness of breath, chest pain, a need for water. It passed, and life went on.

Two weeks later, she woke with a severe tightness in her throat radiating to her neck. Even then, as a nurse, she didn’t think “heart attack”—a reminder that women’s symptoms often present differently. When the pain wouldn’t ease, she went to the Concord Hospital Emergency Room. Tests moved quickly. By the next afternoon, two stents were placed—one artery 99% blocked, another 90%.

Karen was home within 36 hours and has been amazingly well since. What stayed with her most was the aftercare—the reassurance, accessibility, and compassion of her cardiology team. Her message is simple: don’t ignore pain that won’t go away, and never be afraid to seek care. It may save your life.