Dr. Chris Loreto, a seasoned emergency room physician in Canada, realized he was having a heart attack only after treating a patient with identical symptoms.
His self-diagnosis of acid reflux nearly cost him his life, but a chance encounter with a patient’s wife led to a moment of clarity—and ultimately saved him, according to Bay Today.
Loreto, who has worked at the Timmins and District Hospital for 30 years, had been experiencing severe chest pain for months, particularly during exercise.
Assuming it was acid reflux, he sought treatment but never mentioned that the pain flared up during physical exertion. Despite worsening symptoms, he continued his daily routines, including running and playing hockey.
On November 12, 2024, after a hockey game, the pain lingered in his shoulders, but he brushed it off and went to work as usual the next morning.
During his shift, Loreto treated a patient who had suffered a massive heart attack. Afterward, he spoke to the patient’s wife, learning that her husband’s symptoms mirrored his own.
Both had been taking acid reflux medication, which had failed to alleviate their chest pain. At that moment, Loreto recognized the alarming similarities and confided in his colleagues.
They quickly ran tests, including an EKG and bloodwork, confirming that Loreto was having a heart attack. He was immediately transferred to Health Sciences North in Sudbury for treatment.
At the hospital, Loreto and his patient ended up in rooms across the hall from each other. The patient’s wife visited Loreto to thank him for saving her husband’s life, to which Loreto replied, “No, thank you for saving my life.”
He was later transferred to St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, where doctors placed stents in his arteries. Now, three months later, he remains on medical leave and is undergoing cardiac rehabilitation.
