NordenBladet – Finnish businessman Toivo Sukari, the founder and largest shareholder of Maskun Kalustetalo and Ideapark, recently opened up about his health struggles after a heart operation. Sukari, who is 68 years old and also owns the shopping mall chain stores Masku Koti and Sukarin Lomarakennus, was diagnosed with sepelvaltimotauti (coronary artery disease) last December during a routine health checkup.
Businessman Toivo Sukari, 68, recently opened up to Helsingin Sanomat about his health struggles after a heart operation. Sukari had a heart procedure called pallolaajennus (balloon angioplasty) on January 11th, which went well and he was able to return home to recover the same evening. However, just two days later, Sukari felt well enough to go for an eight-kilometer walk. Despite feeling good after the walk, the next morning he woke up feeling dizzy and with high blood pressure. He took a couple of sprays of nitroglycerin and soon lost consciousness. His wife Nadja Eerola called an ambulance and he was rushed to the hospital.
“My values changed instantly. My businesses vanished into the horizon as soon as I realized this was serious,” Sukari said.
A week later, on Monday, Sukari had to undergo a second pallolaajennus. “As far as I understand, it’s quite exceptional for someone to have two balloon angioplasties within a week,” he said.
Sukari has sepelvaltimotauti, which was diagnosed during a routine checkup in December. According to Helsingin Sanomat, the disease did not show any symptoms. Sukari requested to have an angiogram to check his coronary arteries.
However, Sukari’s struggles did not end with the second pallolaajennus. He experienced pain and discoloration in his hand, which was a side effect of the operation. He also received counseling while in the hospital.
“But I have someone at home with whom I can talk,” Sukari said. He also reflects on what could have happened if the disease had not been detected in December. “Would I have died on a walking trail? Or would I have lived happily thinking I was healthy and fit? Did I bring this on myself?”
Sukari, who comes from a Laestadian family and has seven siblings, is the founder and largest shareholder of Maskun Kalustetalo and Ideapark, as well as the owner of the shopping mall chain stores Masku Koti and Sukarin Lomarakennus.
Featured image: Toivo Sukari (NordenBladet)
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More info about balloon angioplasty:
Angioplasty is a procedure to open narrowed or blocked arteries caused by deposits of plaque. If the blockage is not major, the problem may be corrected by inflating the balloon several times to compact the plaque against the arterial wall, widening the passage for the blood to flow through. Typically, a device called a stent is placed within the coronary artery to keep the vessel open.