Alan Titchmarsh, 71, revealed the dramatic moment he was airlifted to hospital and was forced to undergo surgery. The star, who has a family history of heart disease, started suffering pains in his chest. Speaking after the ordeal in 2017, Titchmarsh said: “I hoped I wasn’t going to die, and I was hanging on in there, but the pain was so acute at one point I thought it might be a blessed relief.”
Titchmarsh revealed the pain lasted and was “absolute agony”. He added it was “every bit as agonising as a heart attack”.
He continued to The Sunday Post: “At first, I thought it was indigestion as I know that can give you chest pains — but it didn’t wear off.
“I didn’t know what was wrong and although I didn’t think it was a heart attack, because the pain wasn’t going down my arm, it was frightening.”
His wife, Alison, called the emergency services, and Titchmarsh was taken to the nearest hospital to his Isle of Wight home, St Mary’s.
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He was then airlifted to Portsmouth’s Queen Alexandra Hospital.
While Titchmarsh had feared a heart attack, he was diagnosed with gallstones and had to have surgery to remove his gall bladder.
Gallstones are small stones, usually made of cholesterol, that form in the gallbladder, according to the NHS.
In most cases they don’t cause any symptoms or need to be treated.
But very severe cases can be life threatening, particularly in people who are already in poor health.
The NHS says you’re more at risk of developing gallstones if you’re:
- Overweight or obese
- Female (particularly if you have had children)
- 40 or over (the risk increases as you get older)
A diet high in saturated fat and pre-formed cholesterol can also make gallstones more likely.
Titchmarsh said: “I watch my weight and am careful with my diet, and it was a rare treat that day to have home-made fish and chips followed by an Easter egg.
“Thankfully, after a straightforward operation, I haven’t had any more trouble.”
What are the symptoms of gallstones?
Gallstones often have no symptoms, but if the gallstone becomes trapped in an opening inside the gallbladder it can trigger a sudden, intense pain in the tummy that usually lasts between one and five hours.
This type of abdominal pain is known as biliary colic.
Some people with gallstones may develop complications such as inflammation of the gallbladder (known as cholecystitis).
This can cause:
- Persistent pain
- Yellowing of the sin and eyes (jaundice)
- A high temperature
To prevent gallstones, making changes to your diet and losing weight if you’re overweight is advised.
Opt for a healthy balanced diet and avoid foods high in saturated fat, including meat pies, sausages hard cheeses, cakes and biscuits.
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