Woman Credits Rosie O’Donnell’s Advice for Life-Saving Heart Attack Recognition

Denise Warner, aged 57, survived a heart attack after paying attention to unusual symptoms. Originally from the United States, she now resides in London. She attributes her survival last year to memory of comedian Rosie O’Donnell’s warning about heart attack signs.

“In May, while watching TV, my arms and hands started tingling,” Warner shared with Newsweek. “I thought it might be carpal tunnel and ignored it.” Though she tried to rest, she felt like her chest was compressed. Unlike typical depictions, she didn’t experience stabbing pain or severe shortness of breath, just a sudden flush and vomiting without nausea.

That was when I remembered Rosie O’Donnell talking about HEPPP.

After her heart attack at 50, O’Donnell shared the HEPPP acronym to describe women’s heart attack symptoms: Hot, Exhausted, Pain, Pale, and Puke. Warner had seen this in O’Donnell’s comedic and social media work.

Recalling these symptoms when she vomited, Warner awoke her wife, Jem, and went to the hospital. There, she learned she was experiencing a “significant cardiac event.” She underwent angioplasty to improve blood flow. Warner shared O’Donnell’s HEPPP acronym with medical staff, explaining how it prompted her hospital visit.

Previously, Warner only lightly regarded the comedy special. “I was glad Rosie recovered but didn’t think about it again until I vomited that night. It was then I realized it wasn’t a panic attack,” she admitted. She believes Rosie’s information was crucial in her timely response.

The Cleveland Clinic outlines common heart attack symptoms as chest pain radiating to the jaw, shoulder, arm, or back, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, and sweating.

In her special, A Heartfelt Stand Up, O’Donnell described HEPPP humorously, aiming to educate women on heart attack indicators. On The View, she explained the show’s intent to spread awareness.

After her recovery, Warner reached out to thank O’Donnell on social media. “She immediately replied, saying she’d never tire of hearing it,” Warner noted. O’Donnell expressed joy and well-wishes for Warner’s future.

Warner described O’Donnell as “open, honest, and kind,” and now feels “happy and alive.”