Heather Dubrow Reflects On Husband Terry's Sudden Health Crisis: 'This Could Have Gone Very Differently'

Reality TV star Heather Dubrow expressed deep gratitude as her husband, Terry Dubrow, emerged unscathed from a recent health scare involving a mini-stroke known as Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA).

She took to Instagram to share their photo, acknowledging Terry's fortunate outcome and emphasizing the importance of swift action during stroke-like symptoms.

Earlier, Terry revealed Heather's pivotal role in preventing a potentially life-threatening stroke when he experienced slurred speech during a family dinner.

Keep on reading to learn more.

Heather Dubrow recently shared her immense gratitude as her husband, Terry Dubrow, survived a shocking medical emergency.

"The Real Housewives of Orange County" star, 54, shared a photo of her and her husband on Instagram, reflecting on Terry's ordeal with a mini-stroke known as a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) on August 3.

In the caption, she wrote, "I love this man with my whole heart. I'm beyond grateful that Terry's ok, this could have gone very differently." she added, "If you see someone having stroke-like symptoms, get them to the Hospital. You have 5 hours to get them treatment."

She acknowledged the medical team at Hoag Hospital for their vital role, saying, "I wanted to say a HUGE thank you to the doctors, nurses and techs at Hoag Hospital and everyone involved who helped us during this very scary time."

Heather concluded, "Thank you for your kind messages, Terry and I are overwhelmed by your love and support."

Earlier this week, Terry revealed to TMZ that his wife played a vital role in preventing a potentially life-threatening stroke. The episode took place at The Ivy in Los Angeles, where the "Botched" star experienced a brief episode of slurred speech during a family dinner with Heather and their son Nick.

Despite the episode lasting less than a minute, Heather took swift action and called 911, though Terry claimed he felt fine and was irked by her decision.

Paramedics cleared Terry's vitals, but Heather, unsatisfied, insisted on hospitalization. In response, an embarrassed Terry ordered a ride home. During the ride, Heather called several of Terry's "doctor buddies," after which he reluctantly agreed to go to the hospital.

Subsequent medical tests identified a transient ischemic attack (TIA) - a brief, stroke-like attack that "occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is briefly interrupted," underlining the importance of Heather's quick thinking.

In an interview with E! News, Terry shared his profound insights following the alarming incident. Terry emphasized the critical importance of recognizing stroke symptoms and acting swiftly, citing a five-hour window for medical intervention.

"If you or anyone around you shows possible signs of a stroke, time is critical. You have five hours to get to a hospital to save your life," he said.

He also advised frequent movement during travel to prevent blood clots, adding, "If you have traveled recently, make sure you move frequently to keep blood flowing to prevent clots." Lastly, Terry discussed the prevalence of PFO (Patent Foramen Ovale) and highlighted that TIAs and strokes can affect "anyone at any age."

The plastic surgeon advocated for open communication with loved ones and the value of heeding their concerns. "Listen to your partner. If they are concerned about something don't argue, don't ignore it, and get it checked out right away. What they see may be very different than what you perceive," he advised. 

"Be grateful for those who love you. I love my wife, thank God for Heather and her persistence and insistence. She truly saved my life."

Terry is not the only celebrity to encounter a PFO or TIA scare. Last year, Hailey Bieber faced a transient stroke and underwent a PFO procedure. While speaking with E! News, Terry highlighted the contrasting symptoms, mentioning, "The difference between me and Hailey Bieber is the right side of her face was paralyzed and she had numbness and tingling, so she had more physical symptoms," alerting even her husband, Justin Bieber, to the severity of the situation.

While prominent symptoms like slurred speech and facial paralysis might be glaring indicators, Terry emphasized that people need not panic if they have PFO. "We don't want to freak people out and tell them they all need to have an echocardiogram to see if they have PFO," he explained, "but they need to understand the number one cause of death in this country and in most industrialized countries is cardiovascular disease and the number one cause of death in that group is stroke."

In terms of prevention, Terry recommended individuals with heart murmurs assess the possibility of having PFO. He also advised precautions during long journeys, suggesting, "If you're going to go on a long trip, wear compression socks. Get up on the plane every hour and walk around in the cabin. We are constantly being showered by little blood clots, but if you have PFO and a little blood clot gets to your brain, it is no joke."