ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — Steve Sventek is recovering from heart surgery.
"I was one of these believers that felt that you went to see a doctor when you either felt or looked bad," Sventek said.
With Sventek looking and feeling great, his health didn't concern him. Fortunately, as is the case with many men, his wife brought up the subject of getting a check-up.
"She said 'Ok, now you are 70 years old - maybe we ought to go in and maybe just get checked out,'" he said.
That led him to Dr. Nicholas Anderson who, at first glance, thought he was dealing with a perfectly healthy 70-year-old. Then he found a heart murmur.
"That kind of set the stage that we should probably investigate this a little bit more," Dr. Anderson said.
Blood work and follow up tests showed how serious this was.
"The nurse there came out and said, 'Steve, I think you should go to the hospital and I think you should go right now,'" Sventek said.
Turns out Sventek had a valve problem and excess fluid was built up around his heart. All of which would have led to a heart attack. Surgery avoided that.
The quick navigation through the medical system is something Dr. Anderson feels begins with a good doctor/patient relationship.
"Patients are generally more able to tell you what's going on and what may have changed since the last visit," Dr. Anderson said.
Now Sventek is working his way through rehab with a lasting message.
"Even if you are doing all the right things, or you think you are doing all the right things, it doesn't mean your body can't play tricks on you and that's where the doctors come in. Get the checkup," Sventek said.
Sventek says he hopes to spend a lot more time with his wife, kids and 10 grandchildren, and reminds us all that you have to take care of your health to be around for those moments.
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