Woman Credits Comedian Rosie O’Donnell for Life-Saving Heart Attack Awareness

Denise Warner, a 57-year-old originally from the United States now residing in London, UK, has expressed gratitude to comedian Rosie O’Donnell for potentially saving her life by raising awareness about heart attack symptoms in women. Last May, Warner was watching TV when she experienced tingling in her arms and hands, initially dismissing it as carpal tunnel pain.

She attempted to rest, but the peculiar sensation persisted, and she felt her chest tightening, similar to a vice. Despite a lack of severe symptoms typically depicted in media, such as stabbing pain, chest clutching, or shortness of breath, she felt uncharacteristically hot and vomited without prior nausea.

“That was the moment I remembered Rosie O’Donnell talking about HEPPP,” Warner told Newsweek.

Rosie O’Donnell, who suffered a heart attack at age 50 in 2012, has openly shared her experience through comedy specials and social media. She created the acronym HEPPP—hot, exhausted, pain, pale, and puke—to educate others about heart attack symptoms in women. Warner’s recollection of O’Donnell’s insights prompted her to seek immediate medical attention.

Warner’s wife, Jem, rushed her to the hospital where tests confirmed a “significant cardiac event.” She underwent angioplasty, expanding an artery to facilitate blood flow. During recovery, she discussed HEPPP with medical staff, emphasizing its role in her self-diagnosis.

Warner reflected, “When I first saw the comedy special, I didn’t think much about it, but it stuck with me. O’Donnell’s mnemonic song highlighted the differing symptoms between genders.” She realized the critical difference when she vomited, recognizing it as more than a panic attack.

Warner conveyed that, without O’Donnell’s message, she would’ve ignored the incident. Cleveland Clinic outlines common heart attack symptoms including chest pain radiating to the jaw, shoulders, arms, or back, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, and profuse sweating.

In O’Donnell’s stand-up special, A Heartfelt Stand Up, she humorously depicted HEPPP, aiming to inform women about heart attack indicators. Warner expressed gratitude towards O’Donnell via social media; O’Donnell promptly responded, feeling pleased with Warner’s outcome and extending well wishes.

Warner described O’Donnell as “open, honest, transparent, and kind,” affirming her current happiness and vitality. Representatives for O’Donnell have been contacted by Newsweek for comments on Warner’s story.

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Newsweek story editors: Sirena Bergman and Emma Lee-Sang.