{
  "id": 10587674,
  "title": "Cyclist's heart attack a wake-up call for making lifestyle improvements",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/cyclists-heart-attack-a-wake-up-call-for-making-lifestyle-improvements-10587674",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-29T02:00:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/09/29/cyclists-heart-attack-a-wake-up-call-for-making-lifestyle-improvements/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Godfrey Abello, a 44-year-old Filipino cyclist, had a life-threatening heart attack after his symptoms were misdiagnosed as indigestion. While walking to work at his bike shop in Dubai, Abello experienced chest and arm pain, which he initially attributed to indigestion. The following day, the same pain returned, leading him to seek medical attention at Medcare Hospital in Al Safa. Diagnosed with NSTEMI, a type of heart attack caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, Abello was treated with CPR, defibrillation, and stent placement. Reflecting on his experience, Abello now emphasizes the importance of seeking immediate medical care for heart attack symptoms, even if they initially seem mild or non-threatening. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally, accounting for 40% of all fatalities in the UAE. In the region, acute cardiac events have been closely monitored to understand their causes and improve public health awareness. A study examining 3,197 patients across six Arab countries found that 30% reached the hospital more than 12 hours after their symptoms began, highlighting the critical importance of timely intervention. Dr. Jan Niclas Strickling, a specialist interventional cardiologist, warned that heart attack symptoms can be subtle and often mistaken for digestive issues. In the UAE, more than 35% of patients with heart attacks were under the age of 50, with many from South Asia. Factors such as unhealthy diets, heavy smoking, and living alone contribute to the higher prevalence of heart attacks among the expat population in the UAE.",
  "summary": "A Filipino cyclist says his brush with death after a serious heart condition went undiagnosed should encourage others to check their cardiovascular health. Godfrey Abello, 44, was walking to work at Wolfi’s bike shop in Dubai when he felt a sharp pain in his chest and arm. A recent check-up had told him his cholesterol was high, but he had otherwise been given a clean bill of health and so…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Cyclist's heart attack a wake-up call for making lifestyle improvements",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/cyclists-heart-attack-a-wake-up-call-for-making-lifestyle-improvements",
        "published": "2026-09-29T02:00:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}