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CC Sabathia says a 90% blockage in an artery leading to his heart, discovered in 2018, changed how he thinks about health. He has since focused on diet and joined a program that promotes cholesterol and heart-health awareness among baseball communities.
CC Sabathia says a near-fatal heart scare in 2018 changed how he approaches health after doctors found a 90% blockage in an artery leading to his heart. The retired Yankees pitcher discussed cholesterol monitoring, diet and long-term wellness at Yankee Stadium shortly before the team honored his No. 52 in Monument Park.
Sabathia, a 19-year Major League Baseball veteran who spent 11 seasons with New York, recalled waking in November 2018 and vomiting. He initially thought the symptoms might signal a heart attack. Doctors later found the severe arterial blockage, and he underwent an emergency angioplasty with a stent placement, according to the Athletech News report.
He connected the experience to LDL-C, commonly called “bad” cholesterol, and urged people to learn their levels and discuss them with a doctor. Sabathia has taken part in Merck and WomenHeart’s “Playing with Heart” program, which the report says includes nine MLB franchises and aims to raise awareness about cholesterol and heart health.
Sabathia said changing his diet was the biggest step he took to improve his LDL-C. He described his current diet as mainly Mediterranean food and said he had lost weight. Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who has his own history of heart conditions, also cited diet, exercise and sleep as part of his approach to heart health.
A Baseball Career, Then Heart Health
Sabathia’s account brings attention to the health risks that can remain out of view even for elite athletes. He said he had been pitching while unaware of the seriousness of the blockage, and that he could have died at age 38 without timely attention to the problem. His warning is personal testimony, while the broader message in the program is to monitor cholesterol and discuss individual health with a clinician.
His public comments also put long-term wellness alongside performance and recovery in sports. Sabathia said athletes can help make those conversations more ordinary by talking openly about their experiences. He pointed to younger players, including his son in rookie ball, as more attentive to their bodies than he remembers being early in his own career.
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The 2018 Scare Behind His Message
Sabathia’s health scare came during his final major-league season. The report says that after his November 2018 symptoms, doctors identified the blockage and treated it with angioplasty and a stent. The episode prompted him to pay closer attention to his LDL-C and diet.
His remarks at Yankee Stadium came shortly before the Yankees’ Monument Park ceremony retiring his No. 52. Boone joined Sabathia for the discussion. The Athletech News report also noted other professional sports efforts to address player health, including NFL partnerships focused on recovery and a virtual-care provider selected by the National Basketball Players Association.
““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 Sabathia Has Not Detailed
The report does not give Sabathia’s current LDL-C reading, describe his ongoing medical care or say whether the blockage has had any lasting effects. It also does not provide data showing whether his advocacy or the “Playing with Heart” program has changed screening or health outcomes among players or the public. Sabathia’s experience does not establish what medical steps are right for other people.
Heart-Health Outreach Continues
Sabathia is participating in the “Playing with Heart” effort, which the report says spans nine MLB franchises. The source does not specify future events or a schedule for the program. Sabathia’s next stated role is to keep sharing his experience and encourage people to check their cholesterol with a doctor; further details about the program’s reach and results have not been reported.
Key Questions
What happened to CC Sabathia in 2018?
Doctors found a 90% blockage in an artery leading to his heart after he woke up vomiting and feared he might be having a heart attack. He underwent emergency angioplasty with a stent placement, according to the report.
What does Sabathia mean by “his number”?
He was referring to LDL-C, commonly known as “bad” cholesterol. Sabathia encouraged people to learn their own level and discuss it with a doctor.
What changes has Sabathia made to his health routine?
Sabathia said his diet is now mainly Mediterranean food and described changing his diet as his biggest step to improve LDL-C. He also said he continues lifting and doing cardio at his own pace.
What is the “Playing with Heart” program?
It is a heart-health awareness program run by Merck and WomenHeart. The report says it involves nine MLB franchises and focuses on cholesterol awareness and monitoring heart health.
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