When Jessica Rodriguez, 55, experienced sudden, severe jaw pain one evening, she assumed it was related to recent dental work. But as the pain worsened overnight, she trusted her instincts and sought emergency care—a decision that saved her life.
At Mount Sinai Queens, Ms. Rodriguez was treated by Jonathan L. Murphy, MD, an interventional cardiologist, who quickly identified that she was having a severe heart attack, despite her initial symptoms being subtle. Additional testing revealed a 100 percent blockage in her right coronary artery, and Dr. Murphy immediately performed a life-saving stent procedure to restore blood flow to her heart.
Jonathan L. Murphy, MD. Click here to make an appointment.
“Heart attacks don’t always present as chest pain, especially in women,” says Dr. Murphy. “Symptoms like jaw pain, back pain, fatigue, or shortness of breath can be warning signs and should never be ignored.”
Thanks to rapid diagnosis and treatment, Ms. Rodriguez recovered quickly and returned home within a day. She has since made lifestyle changes to support her heart health, including increasing physical activity, improving her diet, and working to quit smoking, while also learning about her family history of heart disease.
Dr. Murphy emphasizes the importance of self-monitoring and self-advocacy. “If something doesn’t feel right, listen to your body and seek care,” he says. “Acting early can save your life.”
Ms. Rodriguez, a Queens resident, now shares her story to encourage others—especially women—to take symptoms seriously.
“I almost talked myself out of getting help,” she says. “Trusting myself made all the difference.”