Heart Attack Survivor Reverses Heart Disease With Plant-Based Diet
Heart Attack Survivor Reverses Heart Disease With Plant-Based Diet
She’s lucky to be alive and making the most of her second chance at life!
With arteries that were nearly completely blocked, Betty Mizek suffered a widow-maker heart attack. At the time, her cholesterol and triglycerides were off the charts, while her blood sugar skyrocketed over 500.
Then she began eating a plant-based diet and the results were rapid and dramatic! Her cholesterol plummeted by more than 140 points, while her triglycerides fell by 60!
“The Weight Loss Champion” Chuck Carroll revisits her story on this episode of The Exam Room Podcast Playback.
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Content
0 -> Welcome to the Exam Room podcast
1.584 -> brought to you by the Physicians
Committee.
3.211 -> Hi, I'm the Weight-Loss
champion, Chuck Carroll.
6.589 -> Betty Mizek is a "widowmaker"
heart attack survivor.
12.345 -> At one point, her blood
sugar was raging out of control
16.307 -> well over 500 points.
18.893 -> She had near complete blockages
in both of her arteries.
22.605 -> But she survives
this heart attack
24.816 -> and she decides, I want to make
the most out of this life.
27.736 -> I want to live.
28.778 -> But I don't know how to do that.
31.197 -> How do I do that?
34.075 -> Well, at this time,
her triglycerides were way,
36.995 -> way, way up.
38.288 -> But what she figured out was
a way to drop them by 60 points
42.459 -> and her cholesterol
that plummets by 140 points.
46.337 -> But her health outlook that then
with these changes
50.175 -> goes way up through the
roof, healthier than ever.
56.222 -> And how did she do it?
58.058 -> It wasn't a magical pill
for Betty.
61.144 -> It was what she was eating.
62.645 -> Betty, thank you so much
for joining us.
64.981 -> Thank you for asking me.
66.066 -> I mean,
your story is really remarkable
70.278 -> what you've been able
to accomplish.
72.072 -> And I will say that when
76.326 -> I was told
about what you had been through
79.12 -> and how much you will have
improved,
81.372 -> I mean, my jaw just dropped.
83.249 -> So I understand that you had
almost a near-death experience.
87.67 -> Is that correct?
88.546 -> Well, I had a heart attack
in April of 2016
92.926 -> and and it was a wake up call.
96.971 -> I'm a medical social worker.
99.099 -> I take care of everyone else.
101.184 -> And basically, it was time
for me to take care of myself.
105.73 -> And fortunately, I lived
and and I knew I had to change.
110.276 -> Right.
111.111 -> And so all the pieces
fell into place.
116.074 -> And I don't know how much
116.866 -> you want to know of the
story, but basically, I had
122.831 -> a neighbor who was eating plant
based.
124.874 -> Mm hmm.
125.625 -> And I came home
128.378 -> from the hospital, and,
you know, after one day.
132.173 -> Right.
133.174 -> I did have a stent put in.
135.718 -> I had 90% blockage in my
right artery.
139.097 -> Well, let me actually back
that up a little bit.
141.683 -> Walk me through the day
that you had the heart attack or
145.937 -> start at the morning.
146.813 -> And just how did that day
progressed?
148.439 -> Well, I woke up
and I felt really strange, and
154.779 -> so I thought
my blood sugar was low,
156.739 -> and I checked
and it was like over 500.
159.45 -> Mm hmm.
159.909 -> And so I thought
my pump had become dislodged.
163.538 -> And you're a type one diabetic.
Type one diabetic.
166.124 -> And then I had this enormous
pain.
168.668 -> You know,
168.877 -> they say the it's like an
elephant sitting on your chest.
173.089 -> And I said to my husband,
174.924 -> I think
I'm having a heart attack.
176.301 -> He said, No, you're not. And
179.179 -> I said, no,
I think I should call my doctor.
181.598 -> So I called my cardiologist.
183.016 -> I have his cell phone number
because he sees my clients
186.477 -> And he said, call 911 and
192.025 -> take three aspirin.
193.109 -> And I call 911. And they said,
take three more aspirin.
195.945 -> And I did.
197.113 -> And then the rest
is kind of a fog.
200.325 -> My husband can probably give
more details, but basically they
206.08 -> they didn't.
207.54 -> They were actually it's really
kind of bizarre because they
210.46 -> were focusing on the diabetes
and not the heart in my.
214.422 -> There's a certain level.
215.798 -> It's called a troponin level.
217.592 -> And if you've had a heart event,
it elevates in mind
220.47 -> didn't and they were going
to send me home. Hmm.
224.015 -> And this doctor came in and
she said something is not right,
228.353 -> you know, clearly.
229.729 -> And they put me in the PICU
and then they found out that
234.484 -> it was a heart attack.
236.611 -> And I had
238.363 -> an angiogram the next morning
and I had a ladder.
241.532 -> 70% blocked in right
artery. 90%.
245.536 -> You can tell that you work
in the medical field
247.622 -> using all those fancy acronyms.
I'm sorry. Yeah.
250.041 -> It is
that it's called the Widowmaker.
252.126 -> If that one goes your
you don't survive.
255.171 -> And so, you know, it's, it's
hard to tell the story again
260.176 -> because I still have
a lot of emotions.
261.886 -> Sure, sure.
263.263 -> But I knew I got up that night.
264.973 -> It was Sunday,
266.975 -> and I went in the bathroom and
268.977 -> I just looked in the mirror
and I said, I've got to change.
271.896 -> Right.
272.814 -> And so I went home
and I read Dr.
275.65 -> Esselstyn
book Reversing Heart Disease.
279.696 -> And and it's funny
because I told Dr.
282.407 -> Esselstyn that,
and he and I said
284.2 -> I read it in one sitting, and he
said, But it's only 90 pages.
288.329 -> And because I had
heard about it from my neighbor,
291.04 -> and then I call my neighbor,
and I said, How did you do it?
294.627 -> And and then a miracle occurred.
297.672 -> He brought me a brochure
from PC Krim,
300.425 -> and he said,
You need to call these people.
302.719 -> Yeah.
303.761 -> Because I had looked on the web
for support, couldn't find it.
307.056 -> And I start coming here and
311.602 -> and since April, this happened
on, you know, in April 20, 16.
316.733 -> And I never went back.
319.068 -> I just went cold turkey.
320.987 -> And that's
kind of the way to go.
322.739 -> You know, there are studies
that will show that people who,
325.908 -> whatever
the change they make in life,
327.702 -> whatever that change may be,
if they go cold turkey,
330.747 -> they have a higher rate
of success.
332.332 -> So But you had this epiphany.
334.334 -> You had this real, real serious
wake up call.
338.212 -> Right.
338.588 -> And you just
went all in on this.
341.007 -> And it sounds to me,
before we started rolling,
344.052 -> we were talking a little bit
about your family.
345.97 -> And it sounds like you had
a tremendous amount of support.
348.765 -> Right.
349.015 -> My husband,
he also decided to eat this way.
353.603 -> Mm hmm.
And he has had remarkable
355.772 -> improvement
in his kidney function.
358.149 -> And we sat up in Baltimore
with the number one
360.526 -> nephrologist who was saying
this just doesn't happen.
363.613 -> People don't get better.
365.948 -> You know, and
I just really can't explain it.
368.659 -> Wow. You know,
and but he's supportive.
372.08 -> You know, he's
372.58 -> supported the plant based,
but he's like on the
374.707 -> board of the Kidney Foundation,
and people just don't talk
378.378 -> about diet. Right.
380.004 -> And in September of 2015,
383.716 -> my cholesterol was 257
388.054 -> Last week it was 152. Mm.
392.183 -> Look at you.
392.85 -> Yeah.
393.142 -> Triglycerides were 154
and now they're 58
397.397 -> you know,
that's just a small sample.
399.065 -> But the biggest news
is that my cardio,
402.402 -> the cardio risk factor, the CRP
406.03 -> was 4.17.
408.95 -> And for you doctors out there,
410.076 -> you know what this means in my
actually my cardiologist said
414.247 -> if you don't do something,
you were not going
417.291 -> you're going to predeceased
your clients. Right.
419.252 -> Because I work with the elderly
and we need to help you.
422.213 -> But nobody ever said
anything about diet.
425.633 -> So 4.17 and you should be it.
428.386 -> That's high risk. That's good.
429.595 -> Now, I'm at 1.49,
431.681 -> and anything less than one
is no risk continuing to fall.
435.852 -> I assume Yes. Look at you.
438.062 -> Look at you.
438.855 -> Hemoglobin, A1.
439.48 -> See, it's come down 2.2 points.
442.024 -> Still working on that.
443.151 -> It's hard,
you know, but I think the main
447.405 -> issue is that for the first time
449.991 -> in 43 years
of having type one diabetes,
453.911 -> I felt like I had control over
that my life could get better.
459.834 -> Like Dr.
460.334 -> Barnard asked me,
why did you have a cardiologist?
463.421 -> And I said, Because if you're
diabetic, you're going to die.
466.007 -> From heart disease. Yeah.
467.675 -> And everybody
has a cardiologist.
469.594 -> And so for the first time,
I realized I don't
474.015 -> I can actually do something
about my health
475.85 -> and it's very empowering.
477.518 -> I feel good now.
478.811 -> Yeah, I feel great. And
482.565 -> but, you know, the support of
my husband was great.
485.318 -> And then coming to the 12 week
course,
489.822 -> I'm telling you,
that was the best thing I did.
492.074 -> I came every week.
493.034 -> I think I came to every session.
494.535 -> I was so proud of myself.
496.162 -> You know, and I'm also all that
I want to say.
498.706 -> I'm a type A personality,
501.792 -> but when
I'm committed to something,
504.337 -> I do it And the results were,
you know, I'd be getting blood
509.467 -> tests and running down
to my neighbor and sharing them.
512.72 -> I mean, I just was so happy.
514.639 -> Yeah.
515.389 -> And, you know, my latest blood
work, I had nothing abnormal.
520.478 -> Look at you go look at,
you know, it.
522.855 -> Also the other thing
that I didn't
524.273 -> really start to do it,
but I lost £25.
527.485 -> I've gone from a size
14 to size ten
531.322 -> and it takes a real woman
to talk about her dress size.
534.408 -> I know my hat's off to you
right now.
536.786 -> That is
that is a closely guarded secret
539.08 -> in most circles, right?
540.164 -> I even were 16 and something,
believe it or not
543.417 -> you now some of that I had in
I had to buy a belt
545.795 -> for the first time.
546.921 -> Wow. I now have belts
because my pants fall off
550.299 -> if I don't wear a belt.
551.384 -> And you know
so that's a nice byproduct but
556.681 -> I'm taking less insulin.
558.015 -> So I guess I wish
I wanted to tell my story
561.435 -> because I want people to know,
especially women, diabetics.
566.774 -> You know,
my heart attack did not present
569.61 -> like the usual.
571.904 -> I had heartburn
for a months before
574.49 -> and that that was unusual
and I've later learned that's
578.244 -> significant
for right artery blockage so
582.999 -> so that there is an option.
586.627 -> You know,
the whole food is medicine.
589.213 -> And I was very motivated
592.925 -> and I felt better
and it is very hard.
595.845 -> It's still there are some things
that are very hard.
598.18 -> You know, people say,
what do you miss the most?
600.349 -> And you're going to laugh
when I tell you fried chicken.
603.102 -> Is that right?
604.478 -> So but Whole Foods,
which is my happy place.
607.523 -> Indeed it is.
608.399 -> Whole
Foods has tofu fried chicken,
612.903 -> which I occasionally splurge.
615.865 -> But when you stop eating fat,
sugar and salt,
619.118 -> you stop craving fat,
sugar and salt and
623.289 -> I don't
I don't eat desserts anymore.
626.042 -> I was the diabetic.
627.126 -> And you know who
you are out there
628.628 -> where you would eat a dessert
and then you take more insulin
632.84 -> and and
635.801 -> in that was not very helpful.
639.013 -> I I want to ask you about
your motivation for doing this.
643.059 -> You have a wonderfully
supportive husband,
645.269 -> but you also have grandchildren
that you wanted to be around
648.773 -> to make them grow up.
649.815 -> Yes. Yes.
651.025 -> I have a granddaughter
who is a grandson,
654.862 -> and I wanted to be around
for her
659.2 -> both of them, actually,
and my family.
661.952 -> And, you know, and now I feel
like that's going to happen.
666.457 -> Yeah. Yeah.
668.084 -> And and I'm not that was a big
motivating factor.
672.254 -> But also,
674.382 -> I didn't how could I take care
of everybody else and not care?
677.802 -> Take care of myself? Right.
679.72 -> You have to put yourself first
and end food is a big deal.
684.016 -> And and I work you know,
I work with assisted
689.23 -> living facilities.
690.356 -> And I had a conversation
yesterday with two of my clients
693.943 -> who were complaining
about the food, too.
696.404 -> Much butter, too much,
you know, overcook vegetables.
699.865 -> And and I realized
that some of my clients,
702.368 -> they move into assisted living
and they gain weight. Wow.
705.621 -> And so, you know,
I guess that's my next cause.
709.542 -> But I'm you know, I'm really
714.88 -> I'm really stressing
717.633 -> that if you are diabetic
or not even diabetic
720.636 -> and you have high numbers
to definitely give this a try,
725.516 -> just a remarkable story
and just congratulations
729.77 -> for not only surviving,
but thriving and now
733.19 -> using your story
to affect change.
736.861 -> People are going to hear this
and hopefully they will
740.781 -> be inspired to take better care
of themselves as well.
744.368 -> That's
what this podcast is all about
746.287 -> and that's what you are bringing
to the table. Right.
748.581 -> Thank you for letting me do
that.
750.124 -> And I and I really do
encourage people and,
752.918 -> you know, your friends,
they will come around
756.338 -> yeah.
756.714 -> And, you know, there's a
there's people
760.843 -> it's the positive,
761.886 -> positive atmosphere
that you were talking about.
765.639 -> A lot of people
like to stay in the negative.
767.767 -> Yeah, they do.
769.018 -> So, um, we just need to rethink
the way that we think.
772.605 -> Right.
772.897 -> So, Betty, thank you so much
for inviting me
779.445 -> if your health
780.196 -> IQ was a couple of points higher
than it was a few minutes ago,
783.491 -> go ahead and light
this video or subscribe
786.118 -> to the YouTube channel
787.328 -> and to take it even higher, head
over to Apple Podcasts
790.956 -> or wherever
you get your favorite shows.
793.083 -> Look for the exam room
by the Physicians Committee.
795.336 -> Hit the subscribe button
796.42 -> there as well and help to make
your world a healthier place.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MszEjwxF_80