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CC Sabathia says a near-fatal heart scare during his playing career changed how he approaches health in retirement. After doctors found a 90% blockage in an artery leading to his heart in 2018, he changed his diet and joined an awareness program focused on cholesterol and heart health.
CC Sabathia says a heart scare near the end of his baseball career changed how he approaches his health in retirement. Speaking at Yankee Stadium the day before the Yankees retired his No. 52, the former pitcher described learning that an artery leading to his heart was 90% blocked and urged people to discuss cholesterol and heart health with their doctors.
Sabathia said the episode happened in November 2018, while he was still pitching. He woke during the night vomiting and initially thought he might be having a heart attack. Doctors found a severe blockage and performed an emergency angioplasty, placing a stent. The discovery came during a season in which he was nearing the end of a 19-year major-league career, including 11 seasons with New York.
Sabathia connected his experience to LDL-C, a measure of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol often called “bad” cholesterol. He said people should know their number and speak with a doctor about what is happening in their bodies. The source report describes high LDL-C as a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; Sabathia’s comments were personal testimony, not medical advice.
He said the biggest change he has made to address his LDL-C is his diet, which he described as mainly Mediterranean food. Sabathia said he has lost weight and continues lifting and doing cardio, now at a pace he feels suits him. Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who has his own history of heart conditions, also spoke at the event about paying attention to diet, sleep and exercise.
A Career-Ending Scare Shapes His Message
Sabathia’s account brings attention to a health issue that may not be obvious from how someone feels day to day. In his case, he said he was active and still pitching when doctors found the blockage. His experience gives a personal reason for his call to discuss cholesterol measurements and heart health with a medical professional.
His public role may also reach sports fans who follow athletes’ training and performance but hear less about their long-term health. Sabathia said players can help make these conversations more ordinary by talking openly about what they have experienced. The remarks do not establish that his approach will produce the same results for others; they explain what he changed after his own diagnosis.
The timing connected the health discussion with a major Yankees recognition. The club’s Monument Park ceremony honored Sabathia’s No. 52, while his remarks directed attention to a separate measure he considers more important: understanding what is happening inside the body. That juxtaposition made the event both a career milestone and a platform for his health message.
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The 2018 Blockage and Its Aftermath
Sabathia pitched 11 of his 19 major-league seasons for the Yankees. In November 2018, he experienced symptoms that he initially associated with a heart attack. According to the report, testing revealed a 90% artery blockage, and he underwent emergency angioplasty with stent placement. He later finished his playing career and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
His remarks at Yankee Stadium were part of his participation in Playing with Heart, a program from Merck and WomenHeart. The report says the program involves nine MLB franchises and promotes awareness of LDL-C and heart health. Sabathia appeared alongside Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who discussed his own history with heart conditions and routine health habits.
The report also places the conversation within a wider sports focus on player wellness. It cites NFL partnerships related to recovery and long-term health, and a National Basketball Players Association virtual-care provider. Those examples offer context for increased attention to athlete health, but the report does not establish how broadly such services are used or what outcomes they have produced.
““Had I not known or not been on top of everything, I could have passed away at 38 years old from a massive heart attack.””
— CC Sabathia
What the Report Leaves Open
The report does not provide Sabathia’s current LDL-C level, details of his ongoing medical care, or a clinical assessment of his health today. It also does not describe whether his dietary changes were recommended by his doctor or quantify how much they changed his cholesterol. His account is a description of his own experience, not evidence that the same diet or exercise routine is suitable for every person.
The report gives no date for the Monument Park ceremony beyond saying it took place on a Friday, and it does not detail the program’s activities at each participating franchise. The size of the program’s reach and any measured effect on awareness or health outcomes remain unclear.
Public Outreach Continues
Sabathia is taking part in Playing with Heart to encourage discussion of cholesterol and heart health. The report does not announce a next event or a schedule for further appearances, so the timing of any additional outreach has not been specified.
For now, Sabathia’s stated next step is continued openness about his experience. He said he wants people to know that athletes face health challenges too, and hopes his story prompts others to talk with a doctor and learn their own numbers.
Key Questions
What happened to CC Sabathia in 2018?
Sabathia said he woke during the night vomiting and initially thought he might be having a heart attack. Doctors found a 90% blockage in an artery leading to his heart and performed emergency angioplasty with a stent placement.
What health change did Sabathia describe?
He said his largest change was his diet, which he described as mainly Mediterranean food. He also said he continues lifting and doing cardio at a pace he feels suits him.
What does LDL-C mean in Sabathia’s remarks?
LDL-C refers to cholesterol carried by low-density lipoproteins, commonly called “bad” cholesterol. Sabathia urged people to know their number and discuss their health with a doctor.
Why was Sabathia speaking at Yankee Stadium?
He spoke the day before the Yankees held a Monument Park ceremony retiring his No. 52. His remarks also related to his participation in Merck and WomenHeart’s Playing with Heart awareness program.
Source: rss
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