Crises Are Like Little Gifts

Saly A. Glassman

Several years ago I had an unexplained pain in my chest on the left side. I instantly thought I was having a heart attack. In a state of panic, I called one of my clients, a cardiologist, and asked to be seen immediately. I was convinced I was in the middle of a health crisis.

I soon learned there was nothing wrong with my heart. I had actually torn my left intercostal muscle, which sits just beneath the heart. I had injured myself lifting weights on the bench press and hadn’t recognized it at the time.

During the appointment, my doctor suggested I have some other tests because I have a family history of heart disease. One of the tests included blood work for cholesterol levels. I learned that my ...