• Breaking out in a cold sweat

• Feeling tired and/or lightheaded

Women may have other symptoms as well, including:

• Upset stomach, nausea, vomiting

• Pain in the shoulder, back or arm.

Smolens said anyone who has symptoms of a heart attack should call 911 immediately. The faster you get help, the better. “You want to go to a designated cardiac center.”

Rollins is glad he wound up at the one in Florence – and wishes he’d taken action earlier.

“I realize now that maybe I wasn’t that tough. I was just that stubborn when I should have been going to the doctor,” he said.

He’s back at not only O’Reilly Auto Parts but also the Darlington Raceway, where he and his wife stay busy.

“I do a little bit of everything for Darlington. She runs a museum, gift shop, hall of fame and does all the merchandise. So she’s full time. I’m on staff. I love it.”

He also plans to keep taking medication for his heart, eating healthy food and staying as active as he can.

“I’ve got a sense of my own mortality now. I know that there’s a finite number of days we’re given, and I want to get as many as I can. Thanks to the good Lord and the people at MUSC, I’m here.”

Contact the writer: gene.crider@lee.net or 803-533-5570.

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