Dubbed ‘Daytime’s Leading Lady,’ actress Susan Lucci has had an astounding career as an actress and TV host. Her role as Erica Kane in the ABC daytime drama All My Children is iconic. In 1996, TV Guide ranked Lucci number 37 on its 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list.
Unfortunately, Lucci has experienced health problems in recent years. In 2018, she underwent emergency heart surgery for a major blockage in her arteries that could have been fatal. Symptoms like shortness of breath and chest pressure led her to the hospital, where tests revealed a 90% blockage in her main artery and 70% in another.
In 2022, Lucci underwent a second emergency cardiac surgery. Although her symptoms were less severe, she recognized them in time. Dr. Richard Shlofmitz, chairman of cardiology at St. Francis Hospital, noted that while she wasn’t experiencing a heart attack, her symptoms were concerning.
After her husband Helmut Huber died at age 84, Lucci admitted it was hard to care about her health. Still, she encourages women to be proactive. “Listen to your heart and act on it,” she says. “You’ll save your life.”
