The 64-year-old recently said he’d been left “days away” from death
Health experts have warned of a red flag sign of cardiovascular disease that could easily go unnoticed after Jeremy Clarkson revealed he underwent urgent heart surgery. The 64-year-old recently said he’d been left “days away” from death due to a serious health problem.
Writing for The Times, the Grand Tour presenter shared how he was on holiday when he experienced a number of uncomfortable symptoms. After hearing about Alex Salmond’s sudden death on October 12, Clarkson sought medical help and discovered that he needed a heart bypass.
He was admitted to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital via ambulance, but tests ruled out a heart attack. Doctors believed he was potentially “days away” from becoming very ill. Clarkson said: “It seems that of the arteries feeding my heart with nourishing blood, one was completely blocked and the second of three was heading that way.”
He required a stent, which is a small device used to keep an artery open, and this was fitted in about two hours. Prior to the diagnosis, Clarkson reported feeling “clammy”, a tightness in his chest, and pins and needles in his left arm.
He also described having to steady himself after getting up from the breakfast table, struggling to dive and then swim, and issues descending a flight of stairs without holding on to someone. According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), another telltale sign of cardiovascular disease is swollen ankles.
As they are fairly common and can have lots of causes, such as taking blood pressure medication, they can be easily overlooked. “However, that does not mean you should ignore them, especially if your ankles get very big, as this can be a marker of heart failure,” the BHF says.
“This means that your heart may not be pumping blood around your body as well as it should be, and fluid collects in your lower limbs. So, if you’re getting swollen ankles, it’s worth making an appointment with your GP.”
Other warning signs of heart disease as listed by the BHF include:
- Chest pain
- Stomach pain like indigestion
- Arm, jaw or back pain
- Feeling sweaty
- Choking feeling
- Feeling sick
- Leg pain
- Extreme fatigue
- Palpitations.
If you experience any of these unexplained symptoms you should speak to a doctor. Clarkson issued a response to those concerned about his health, in an interview with The Sun.
“I’m very grateful to everyone who sent supportive messages but I’m fine,” he said. “I just have to not do any manual labour or dishwasher emptying for the next four years. At least I think that’s what the doctor said.”
