Flu-like symptoms led to open-heart surgery on a 34-year-old Dallas man

What started as flu-like symptoms led to open-heart surgery on a Dallas man.

The symptoms of heart disease were completely unexpected, but the 34-year-old said he was grateful to be found before it was too late.

Nick Houser was a seemingly healthy and active 34-year-old husband and new father until his heart gave out in November 2022.

An avid golfer and marathon runner, he said that last fall, when he came down with symptoms of a bad cold, the last thing he thought about was his heart.

“I tried to diagnose myself and was online. I thought it was bronchitis. [on] symptoms,” Hauser said. “Indeed, the tipping point was on Sunday night when I was sitting with my family, holding baby James in my arms, watching the Cowboys play and just couldn’t breathe,” he said.

He went to the Baylor University Medical Center emergency room, where doctors discovered that his flu-like symptoms, such as coughing and shortness of breath, were caused by a leaky valve in his heart, a condition he was born with.

Doctors also found a bloody crib and a potentially fatal condition, an aortic aneurysm that could rupture and kill him at any moment.

This meant immediate open-heart surgery.

“The doctors were very honest with me and said, ‘You know, the survival rates weren’t necessarily high and it was just a tough operation.’ It was very hard for us,” Hauser said.

Fortunately, Houser’s operation was successful.

He underwent months of intensive cardiac rehabilitation to strengthen his newly repaired heart. with the help of Tiffany Schock, Physiology Physiologist and Supervisor of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.

“One thing I commend Nick for is the attention to his symptoms. He talked himself into thinking it was bronchitis,” Shock said.

“Your age doesn’t matter. If something is wrong, it needs to be addressed, and it could be heart disease.”

Houser remained motivated during his unexpected heart journey, knowing that he was lucky to be alive. He is close to reaching his goal of being as active as ever, but above all, he is on the path to a healthy heart that will keep the 34-year-old here for the people he loves most.

“The most important thing for me was to be healthy, to be a father, to be a husband and just to be here for a while. Do not leave your wife and child,” he said.

Houser will be on medication for the rest of his life to keep his heart as healthy as possible.