Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dolores Catania is on the mend after a recent heart procedure—and she’s using the experience to urge others to take their health seriously.
The Traitors alum first told fans in May that she had been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, or AFib, a condition that causes a rapid, irregular heartbeat. The diagnosis led to a cardiac ablation surgery to correct the issue.
Dolores Catania has advice for fans
In a June 20 Instagram post, Dolores, 54, walked viewers through her journey from diagnosis to recovery. She even brought in her cardiologist, Dr. Robert Altman, to help spread awareness about heart health.
Dolores shared that her symptoms started about six months ago. “I was driving when I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my chest that radiated down my arm,” she said. “As women, we tend to ignore aches and pains, brushing them off as part of everyday life—but this felt different.”
She admitted that after that moment, the symptoms worsened. “I started experiencing frequent flutters in my chest, sometimes waking me up at night,” she said. “Eventually, I got scared enough to call my cardiologist.”
He had her wear a heart monitor. “Within hours, he called to tell me I had AFib,” Dolores explained. She was then referred to an electrophysiologist who confirmed the diagnosis.
Luckily, Dolores was already familiar with the ablation procedure. Her boyfriend, Paul Connell, had undergone it for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, another heart condition.
Now, Dolores is encouraging fans to pay attention to warning signs. “I’m sharing this because I want you to listen to your body,” she said. “DON’T IGNORE THIS. AFib increases your risk of stroke or heart attack.”
She added, “I’m not 6 weeks out and back to myself! I’ll be off all medication soon, and I haven’t had any episodes since the procedure.”
In the meantime, Dolores is also dealing with other health struggles. Earlier this month, she opened up about weight gain while taking Mounjaro. “I’m having a really hard time right now. My Mounjaro stopped working, I gained 20 pounds,” she said during a SiriusXM interview.
Through it all, Dolores remains focused on feeling better and living fully. “Take care of yourself – you deserve it,” she reminded fans.
With the surgery behind her, Dolores is hopeful for what’s next. That includes a rumored potential appearance on The Real Housewives of Rhode Island. As for whether The Real Housewives of New Jersey will ever return? Unfortunately, it seems to still be up in the air.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey streams on Peacock and Hayu in the UK and Ireland. The Real Housewives of Rhode Island will likely premiere later this year.
TELL US – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON DOLORES’ EXPERIENCE WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND CARDIAC ABLATION SURGERY?
