The Young and the Restless star Melissa Claire Egan has shared news of a recent health diagnosis in a post on social media.
Egan revealed that she was diagnosed earlier this year writing on Instagram, “I wanted to share that in late January I was diagnosed with Coronary heart disease.”
She reassured fans that her prognosis is positive, writing, “Thanks to early detection, and medicine, I will be okay!”
Egan said she chose to speak publicly about the diagnosis to raise awareness. “I’m a private person, but this seemed TOO IMPORTANT NOT TO SHARE. Especially for women.”
She explained that additional testing revealed plaque in a major artery. “My brilliant doctor of 20+ years @drthaisaliabadi sent me to a wonderful cardiologist @ghalichimd when some bloodwork came back high, and through a Heart calcium scan he found plaque in my LAD artery (known as the “widow maker”).”
She said the condition was caught early. “It’s mild so far and tends to be genetic, but rare for a 44 year old woman. This could have caused the plaque to chip off and cause a fatal heart attack or stroke any time over the next 5-10 years, maybe even sooner.”
Egan also reflected on the emotional impact of the diagnosis. “Later that night after I was diagnosed, I laid with my sons, putting them to bed, feeling so grateful to God and my doctors that I found this early.”
She said the experience motivated her to raise awareness. “But I couldn’t stop thinking about all the other women(and men) that might have this disease and not know it. It is under-tested and under-recognized.”
Egan encouraged others to prioritize heart health. “We all are so good about getting our mammograms every year, but we don’t check our heart health. It is imperative that you do! Cardiovascular disease is the Number 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year.
Tell your doctor you want to be evaluated for coronary heart disease risk. A takeaway from my situation, for your blood tests ask your doctor to specifically look for Lipoprotein(a) and ApoB levels.”
She concluded by encouraging fans to stay proactive about their health. “Let’s all band together, focus on our heart health, and live longer!!!❤️”
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Egan joined the cast of The Young and the Restless as Chelsea Lawson in 2011, following the cancellation of her previous soap opera home All My Children. For her work on The Young and the Restless the actress has been nominated three times for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the Daytime Emmy Awards.
The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS with episodes streaming weeknights on Paramount Plus.
