When Pride Becomes a Matter of Life and Death: The Shocking Truth Behind Embarrassment
As a scientist who teaches evolutionary medicine, I spend much of my time thinking about why bodies fail. I did not expect mine to fail so suddenly.
“Better embarrassed than dead,” I said to the mirror. I was dripping more from sweat than the shower, my head was crippled with pain, and the ache in my chest was unable to mask my heart’s palpitations. I dressed, descended the stairs, and said words my wife, Caroline, never expected to hear: “I need you to take me to the emergency room.”
This Saturday morning episode was not my first. The first struck Wednesday night and was followed by episodes Thursday night and Friday afternoon. I had rationalized the others away—even leading two hikes on Thursday—but on Saturday the pain left me unable to play with my children. That’s when I knew I couldn’t ignore it.
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