Valentine’s Day Brings Attention To Heart Disease

Millions are putting the final touches on Valentine’s Day plans, but on the eve of that celebration of love, keep in mind that February is American heart month.

Rancho Mirage city attorney, Steve Quintanilla, said it wasn’t until a man with close ties to desert politics died of a heart attack, that he realized he should get checked.

“I had a ticking bomb in my chest,” said Quintanilla. “I could have died in my sleep. I could have died while driving. I could have died alone.”

That scare happened almost two years ago.

Quintanilla is 53 years old now, which is the same age as longtime La Quinta city manager Tom Genovese when he died last year, after he collapsed on the bump and grind trial and suffered a heart attack.

“Heart disease can strike any time and you can have a heart attack any time — particularly if heart disease runs in your family,” he said.

Heart disease runs in Quintanilla’s family.

His father and both of his brothers suffered heart attacks at age 47.

One survived and the other died years later.

His father lived through his, and passed away in his 80’s.

In May 2010, Quintanilla experienced chest pains, but doctors said it was acid reflux, but when news broke that Assemblyman Brian Nestande’s 49-year-old brother Barry had passed away from a heart attack, Quintanilla went back to the hospital.

That’s when his cardiologist told him four out of five of his arteries were seriously clogged.

He had quadruple bypass surgery the next day, and told less than a handful of people about it.

“I didn’t want to alarm people about my health condition, and so I kept it quiet,” he said.

But today he’s vocal — telling others to get checked.

Assemblyman Nestande responded to Quintanilla’s story in a statement that read, “although the death of my brother was a tragic event for my family and me, I am glad my brother Barry may continue to inspire others.

“The heart is where the love comes from and without your heart, you cannot love,” said Quintanilla.

Quintanilla said he’s always been pretty healthy, and now, he runs four to six miles per day, but heart disease affects all ages.