On Sunday night, director Kevin Smith suffered a heart attack right after a stand up performance. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors discovered he had 100% blockage of the LAD artery, which is the main artery supplying the heart with blood. So many people were concerned about Kevin, including Chris Pratt, who tweeted that he was praying for him and had some idiots trolling him for it. Well Kevin wants us to know that he’s doing well and also that he appreciates well wishes and prayers. He recorded a Facebook live from the hospital, where he described his heart attack and how he’s doing now. It was open, heartfelt and funny as Kevin discussed his brush with death. He gushed about the hospital and his doctor, who he called the Batman of cardiologists. Here’s some of what he said and you can watch the video above.
On his symptoms
I started feeling nauseous and then I tried to lay down on the floor… I threw up. I was under the impression that I’d gotten some bad milk.He never realized he was having a heart attack
I started feeling pressure on my chest. Honestly I was never in pain. I just couldn’t catch my breath. Because of that, and because I’m 47 I didn’t piece together heart attack… even though my father died at 67 of a massive heart attack [and] even though my mother has heart problems and she has two stents. I never in a million years thought it was heart attack. I thought I was just mucusy, I’d smoked like two joints earlier in the day.He didn’t want to let them see his dick
Here’s me in the emergency room literally dying and this was my biggest concern. Guy comes in he goes ‘I’m going to have to shave your groin.’I said ‘I don’t want to do that.’ My biggest fear in life, death number one. Number two, people seeing my dick. Never wanted to go to a hospital or a doctor for that reason. Obviously small.
On his operation
They went in there and went up my groin. They found the LAD it was 100% blocked, put a stent there. Bam here I am. Crazy. Dude literally saved my life.He explained that it’s because of his genetics and earlier lifestyle
He told the doctor ‘I just lost like 85 pounds and I walk everyday.’
[The doctor told him] ‘This started a long time ago. All that plaque in that artery.’ Plus because of my genetics I’ve got a real thin artery there.I lost like 85, 90 pounds since [I was too fat to fly]. I went through lifestyle changes. Some shit you can’t beat because it’s genetic.
On all the well wishes
It was kind of like reading your eulogy. I saw what the reaction will be when I die and it was very sweet.On Chris Pratt praying for him
Poor Chris Pratt, one of my favorite actors on the planet, put up a nice tweet. Apparently some people were like ‘f-ck your prayers’ and attacked him and shit. Number one, thanks to Chris Pratt, how sweet was that? Number two, please don’t fight over stuff like that, it’s a waste of time. This is like good intention.
Kevin said that he’s feeling much better now, which his doctor told him was likely because his artery was blocked for so long and he’s finally getting blood to his heart again. He did think he was going to die at one point and he was ok with that. He got choked up as he described his thoughts at that moment. “I thought about my parents and how they raised me and my brother and my sister and my friends and my wife and my kid and this weird wonderful career that I’ve had. I was content. I didn’t want to die but I was like ‘Well, if the ferryman comes tonight, I got to pay him. What a ride it’s been.‘” He said he felt calm in that moment and that he used to be worried he would be afraid of dying, but he was ready.
That touched me so much, especially when he said he felt like he was Babe! He said “That’ll do pig, that’ll do.” I’m so glad Kevin didn’t die and I hope more people watch this video. His story is moving, and he will save a few lives by describing his symptoms.
Also, he said a Jay and Silent Bob reboot is coming!
photos credit: Getty and Facebook/Kein
Spice known as dry paprika can save a life in these situations. Literally just give to the person who seems to have cardiac arrest. No side effects, cos its a spice.
Glad to heat he’s well and i think he described symptoms well… Like we know that if your left arm is still it might be heart attack, but it’s more than that.
Not finding any evidence that paprika stops a HA while it’s occurring:
Tell me: Can cayenne pepper halt a heart attack in progress?
Many noted herbalists – particularly the late Dr. John Christopher, who claimed to have stopped heart attacks “in their tracks” with cayenne pepper — insist that it can, and anecdotal accounts of the life-saving effects of cayenne abound on the internet.
On the other hand, conventionally-trained physicians scoff at this assertion, and warn that there is not enough evidence to justify cayenne’s use as an emergency treatment. Many also point to the dangers of administering cayenne to a patient suffering from a heart attack or stroke.
Experts say its use could lead to uncontrolled bleeding if the person is on a blood thinner, such as coumadin. In addition, the pain of ingesting an unaccustomed dose of hot pepper could cause adrenaline to be released, increasing heart rate while reducing blood flow to heart and brain and causing increased death of tissues.
Reperfusion injuries – damage to tissues from the sudden return of blood and oxygen – could also occur. And some websites actually encourage the administration of liquid cayenne extracts to heart attack victims who have lost consciousness – an appallingly dangerous action.
https://www.naturalhealth365.com/cayenne-pepper-stop-heart-attack-1145.html
No, no it won’t. Good grief.
I love Kevin Smith’s work so much. I’m so glad he made it and is still here.
me too. yeah, he likes dick and fart jokes, but he’s a genuinely nice guy who didn’t forget where he came from or the “little people” who helped him along the way.
and I think he’s funny as hell.
I’m glad that he’s talking about it because most people think of “elephant sitting on one’s chest” as the only symptom of a heart attack. The symptoms for widowmakers in women is usually nausea as well as other things not usually associated, too.
Considering his family history, I’m really surprised that his doctor didn’t have him regularly seeing a cardiologist, and that they weren’t doing routine echocardiograms. I have mitral valve prolapse and my cardiologist wants me to come in yearly to get one done – even though mine isn’t bad. Also, I was given a stress test after it was diagnosed, so again, it makes me wonder how good his usual doctor is since they missed the blockage for so long.
He probably avoided going to the doctor since people think “that won’t happen to me”. It’s shocking how many people don’t take their health seriously, or they don’t take family history into account, that’s a fantastic indicator of things to come. I constantly argue with patients about going to see specialists or needing to go to the ER. People are stubborn as hell and think their google degree beats our doctor.
We had a type 1 diabetic child in our clinic recently and the mother “didn’t believe” in diabetes so she wasn’t giving insulin or checking blood sugars, we called cps and the police and apparently the father has primary custody(he’s also a type 1 diabetic) but mom had her every other weekend, not anymore!
Wow!
Wow that’s an unbelievable story! She doesn’t “believe” in diabetes? What is going on with people? They only want to believe their version of the truth even when they know deep down they’re wrong. Crazy!
“, and he will save a few lives by describing his symptoms.”
That was my thought too! A lot of guys in his fan base demographic (and girls) could do with hearing the symptoms. Maybe a few more won’t hesitate if the moment comes.
While I may be lukewarm on his films at best he’s an incredibly talented raconteur, as this video shows. All the best to you Kevin.
I really like him, I’m also glad he didn’t die.
Almost exactly the same thing happened to a friend of mine. He had cleaned up his diet in his mid-40s and started exercising, lost a good amount of weight (he was never terribly overweight), and had this weird evening when he just felt sick and wasn’t sure what was up. His wife finally took him in to the hospital and it was the exact same type of heart attack Smith had. He’s doing great now, but it was very scary for him and everyone who loves him.
Read up on the symptoms of heart attacks — especially women, because ours are different — and call 911 if you don’t feel right. Please.
I feel like ugly crying now.
Clerks, Mall Rats, Dogma, Chasing Amy, aaahhhh the lovely 90s lol. Yay for Jay and Silent Bob… so glad he’s doing well.
Chasing Amy was the best acting Ben has ever done. He actually showed emotion.
He seems like a downto earth and nice guy. That part about being afraid of doctoes seeing hia small dick:) i am sure doctors have seem so much they see human bodies as flesh and material, not judgging it.
A similar thing happened to my brother— sudden onset of nausea, sudden dizziness, but it wasn’t a heart attack, it was a stroke.
Problem is, the emergency room doctors said he had food poisoning & sent him home. He went to his doctor the next day, who scheduled him for tests the following week, but in thw meantime, he suffered a massive stroke (he recovered & was back to work four months later).
Know the symptoms!
He’s one of the good ones. May he live many more years.
Best news: His recovery is going well! I have such a soft spot him and good on him for speaking up for Chris Pratt.
Second best news: The return of Jay and Silent Bob! I know my middle-aged azz shouldn’t be excited about this, but I can’t help who I am.
Yes, I love his comments on the Chris Pratt debacle. Very well put.
I think, in an age of oversharing, this is something that’s really good to recount in detail, because I think most people wouldn’t recognize these feelings as a heart attack, and might go and lay down thinking they were just sick.
I’ve also heard of many people who try and get more exercise and be heathier after getting really heavy, but still have a heart attack, and once they fully have surgery, finally feel good for the first time in a long time. Better circulation and also better sleep.
I hope Kevin feels better and keeps his healthy habits going. Unclogging arteries is one of the big diseases doctors have gotten really really great at. My grandmother had this done in the late 80s and they had to split open her chest. Kevin just had to shave his groin, lol.
I was cracking up about his fear of people seeing his dick, usually men are the opposite and I swear they try to show it off. Nobody wants to see that shit, lol.
Loved his video! Very touching! Happy he is doing so well!
I think that is helpful. If I had those symptoms I would also assume it was food poisoning and probably chug some yogurt and hope for the best.
LOVE him and sooooo glad to know he is doing well now!!
So happy he’s talking about his experience. I tell everyone I know that heart attacks don’t always present with typical “elephant on chest”, especially women. Nausea/vomiting, shortness of breath and (more often with women) a feeling of “something isn’t right”…please get it looked at. Time is muscle, had he waited best case he would have permanent damage, worst case he wouldn’t be here.
I adore him! He was such a big part of the 90’s for me. I’m so glad he’s okay.
I love you, Kevin. I hope you and Ben make up and become friends again.
I say that, because Kevin really seems to miss him.