Silent Bob says weed stopped a common killer in its tracks.
In February, the 47-year-old director most notably recognized for his role in “Clerks”, suffered what doctors called a “massive heart attack” after performing a comedy show in Los Angeles.
While promoting his upcoming comedy special ‘Silent but Deadly’ on the Late Show, Smith recalls the terrifying brush with death that started when he began to feel sick shortly after stepping off stage. Clearing his dressing room, he started sweating heavily and had trouble breathing, then threw up as he lay on the floor.
“They got me to the hospital and they wheel me into the emergency room and the whole time I’m chill. Like, the guy said, the paramedic, he goes, ‘You’re being real calm, that’s going to get you through this,’” Smith told host Stephen Colbert on Tuesday (May 1).
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“And there’s a dude behind him [that] goes, ‘That’s what’s going to save his life.’ And I’m like, ‘What does that part [mean]?’”
Further examination revealed a 100 percent blockage in his LAD artery, commonly referred to as the “widow-maker” because it claims 80 percent of its victims. He appears on the show sporting a hockey jersey with a heart crest made to commemorate his survival story.
Smith, who posted a selfie from the hospital detailing the scare, said initially he was worried smoking too much weed earlier in the day had prompted the heart attack, but was shocked when the doctor said the joint is what kept him alive.
After the first show this evening, I had a massive heart attack. The Doctor who saved my life told me I had 100% blockage of my LAD artery (aka “the Widow-Maker”). If I hadn’t canceled show 2 to go to the hospital, I would’ve died tonight. But for now, I’m still above ground! pic.twitter.com/M5gSnW9E5h— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) February 26, 2018
“He said, ‘no, quite the opposite. That weed saved your life,’” he says, adding that it was the calming effect of cannabis that increased his chance of survival.
“And I was like, “I’m putting that on a t-shirt!””
Smith has been on a noticeable health-kick since being removed from a Southwest Airlines flight in 2010 for being overweight but says he’s been taking even better care of his body since the heart attack.
I’m officially down 20 pounds as of this morning! 20 pounds in 13 days & my blood pressure is amazing. How did this happen? @pennjillette & his book “Presto” turned me on to @RayCronise and his program at https://t.co/ktvv6VBbub My Doc said lose 50 pounds. 20 down, 30 more to go! https://t.co/n0iuJNdLWp— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) March 22, 2018
Watch the full interview below.
