An inspiring story of recovery after a heart attack!

This is about an athlete who had a heart attack at 52, overcoming this adversity, and continuing on to greater heights! Now, at age 55 he’s better than ever. And still exercising!

Art Henson at age 55 -- a birthday photo shoot that documents his successful journey to regaining his health after a heart attack at age 52.

Art Henson lives in Charlotte NC, grew up in Ohio and spent a few years in Maine building his advertising and marketing business. As a kid he was energetic, skinny, and played all sports. He grew up to be a college athletic scholarship winner in track, an amazing guy with a will to win. Then later came a job in advertising and marketing with long hours and high stress but still with time for gym workouts.

Art slowly worked his way back. For months, he could only take short walks. Now, he's back to mountain biking and running and doing all of the things that he did before.

One day at the gym pushing it really hard he suffered a heart attack. He was diagnosed with ‘spontaneous coronary artery dissection’ aka SCAD. This is when the lining of the heart tears and forms a flap that blocks blood flow. The doctors said it would be impossible for him to do strenuous activities in the future. 

A few months earlier he had Covid and there was talk about instances where Covid has caused plaque instability in the arteries.

So, Art got a second medical opinion that concluded the heart attack was an anomaly and not the result of SCAD or anything else. He had a heart scan several weeks after the incident that showed his heart to be perfectly normal and that gave support to the opinion the heart attack was in fact an anomaly.  

Art slowly worked his way back. For months, he could only take short walks. Now, he's back to mountain biking and running and doing all of the things that he did before. The big difference is that he did all these things now with a feeling of appreciation and gratitude after almost losing the ability to do them at all.

When we go to the gym or go running or exercise, we take for granted we’ll come away feeling we’ve done something to improve our health and make us stronger. We’ll be healthier and live longer. Art felt that way when he went to the gym that day. What he did afterwards took courage and perseverance. He started over and carefully built back his strength with resolve and dedication. He achieved a complete recovery after a heart attack! It took a year or so and as he approached 55 he took pictures.

Art went to the gym feeling good that day. Recovering from the heart attack took courage and perseverance. Now he carries out his activities and exercise with a profound feeling of appreciation and gratitude after almost losing the ability to do them at all.

He looks incredible! He still goes to the gym regularly and believes almost any kind of exercise is good for you; dance, yoga, mountain biking, paddleboarding, anything that gets you moving. Being creative, he designed the Paddlemaran that converts paddle boards into a floating platform for families and pets to play on, along with a business building and selling them.

What Art has done is inspiring! After a frightening experience he recovered, regained his health and reached a higher level! Self-confidence and perseverance in abundance!