EART Patient Profiles: The Mericli Family
has always been a thought in the back of my mind. My father has ventricular tachycardia. My mother’s dad died at 66 and her grandfather passed away at the age of 70, both due to massive coronaries.” Last year, Kurt began having chest pains and went through
C
ardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer in the world,
a series of stress tests, including wearing a heart monitor for
causing more deaths than all forms of cancer combined.
a month. He was soon diagnosed with mild tachycardia,
It claims an average of one life every minute, according to the American Heart Association.
brought on by stress, diet, and lack of exercise. “My cholesterol was through the roof,” says Kurt. “But my
For the Mericli family, heart disease is a serious family matter.
cardiologist said that it’s 50 percent cheeseburgers and 50
In the fall of 2001, at the age of 47, Kam Mericli, a deputy
percent your parents. Your genes have a lot to do with it, but you
attorney general at the Pennsylvania State Attorney General’s
can also watch your diet and exercise more to live a heart-healthier
Office in Pittsburgh, was diagnosed with coronary heart disease
life. When you’re facing mortality, it serves as an incentive for you
and had two stents put in to prop open his blocked arteries.
to live healthier.”
Six years later, Kam’s mother, Mary Jane, 76, of Green Tree, also had to have two stents. “That was an awakening for me,” recalls younger brother Kurt, 45, of Mt. Lebanon who is a high school social studies teacher in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. “Heart disease runs in our family, so that
In all three cases, the Mericlis sought treatment from St. Clair physicians James MacDougall, M.D. and Harshad Mehta, M.D. Today, all three family members are taking statin medication (to lower cholesterol) and blood thinners, while also watching their diets and exercising daily. In fact, after her surgery, Mary Jane was in cardiac rehab for six months, and she has since converted her rehab to a gym where she works out three times a week. Following her lead, Kam and Kurt also stay as active as possible. “You don’t think of heart disease, or any type of illness, until it happens to you or someone close to you,” adds Kurt. “Dealing with something like heart disease helps if you have caring physicians who explain things clearly to you as well as a good support network. St. Clair is a solid organization. I felt good going there and knew they were going to take care of my problems.” Kurt wanted to express his appreciation to the St. Clair cardiology team and to also help make others aware of the risk factors of heart
HEART PATIENTS KAM, MARY JANE, AND KURT MERICLI
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disease. He contacted the Hospital