July 8, 2013
Heiress Teresa Heinz Kerry, wife of Secretary of State John Kerry, was in critical but stable condition in a hospital July 8. She had shown symptoms that appeared to be some sort of seizure, a person in contact with the family told the Associated Press. Symptoms occurred July 7. Heinz Kerry, 74, and her husband had been on vacation on Nantucket Island. She was taken first to a hospital on the island. Then she was transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Doctors have not released details of her condition. Heinz Kerry was treated for breast cancer in 2009. She is the widow of U.S. Sen. John Heinz, heir to the Heinz ketchup fortune. She is also chairman of the Heinz family philanthropies. Heinz died in 1991 in the collision of a helicopter and a small plane. His widow married Kerry, then a U.S. senator, in 1995.
By Howard LeWine, M.D.
Harvard Medical School
What Is the Doctor's Reaction?
Heinz Kerry, wife of Secretary of State John Kerry, was vacationing on Nantucket Island. She lives in Boston. Yesterday afternoon, she developed symptoms worrisome enough for an ambulance to be called. According to a family acquaintance, the symptoms were consistent with a seizure.
She was taken to the emergency department at Nantucket Cottage Hospital. She was later transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, close to her home.
Whatever the event, most likely Heinz Kerry was not able to provide details of how she felt before it happened. She also might not remember the event itself. This often happens in medical emergencies. So it's important that anyone with a person who is ill take written or at least mental notes on her behavior and how she felt leading up to the event.
Observers should also note what happens when the medical event occurs and how quickly the person becomes aware of his surroundings afterward. If what occurs is a seizure, doctors will want to know:
Most seizures stop on their own within a few minutes. Unless a seizure does not end, the only danger is injury. So, if you are present, move the person to the floor and take away any hard nearby objects. Do not try to put anything in the person's mouth.
In the emergency department, the doctor will make sure that the seizure has stopped. If not, intravenous (IV) medicines are given to stop it.
For someone having a first seizure as an adult, the doctor will want to know what medicines the person takes and the doses. Another question will be about anything eaten or swallowed. This should include over-the-counter drugs, herbs and supplements.
Blood tests are done to make sure there is no chemical imbalance that could trigger a seizure. Urine and blood tests may be done to look for toxic substances.
An MRI or CT scan of the head is a standard test in an adult who has not had seizures before. The scan can detect an abnormal looking area in the brain that could be the reason for the seizure. Depending on the appearance, the doctor may order further tests.
What Changes Can I Make Now?
Heinz Kerry's situation is a reminder of how important it is that doctors have as much information about you as possible if you have a medical emergency when traveling. You cannot be certain the doctors in the emergency department will have access to your medical record. So it's important that you carry a list of your ongoing medical problems, your medicines and doses, and your allergies.
You should also let the people travelling with you know where they can find the list if you are not able to talk.
This is also a good reminder about the importance of having an advance directive and health care proxy in case of a life-threatening event. This is true whether you are traveling or at home.
What Can I Expect Looking to the Future?
We will likely have an official statement from the Kerry family or hospital later today or tomorrow.
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