Taiwanese Star "Blackie" Chen Transferred to General Ward After Heart Attack, Cites Sleep Deprivation as Key Factor
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago3 MIN
Summary
Taiwanese celebrity "Blackie" Chen Jianzhou was transferred from intensive care to a general ward on September 17, two days after suffering an acute myocardial infarction while watching a P.League+ basketball friendly match. The 51-year-old underwent emergency surgery to install a cardiac stent and revealed that chronic sleep deprivation averaging only 3-4 hours nightly for over six years likely triggered the cardiac event. His wife singer Fan Fanchi has been by his side throughout his hospitalization while Chen has taken to social media to warn the public about the dangers of neglecting rest.
Key Points
- Chen Jianzhou experienced chest tightness on September 15 while attending a PLG basketball friendship match prompting immediate medical evaluation that revealed acute myocardial infarction requiring emergency cardiac catheterization with stent placement .
- After two days of intensive care observation Chen was moved to a general ward at approximately 12:40 PM on September 17 marking his first public appearance since the health crisis with his condition described as steadily improving .
- Medical assessment found Chen's blood vessels were completely blocked which the patient himself described as a frightening experience that nearly cost him his life prompting his gratitude to National Taiwan University Hospital .
- Chen disclosed that since founding the PLG basketball league in 2020 he has been averaging merely 3-4 hours of sleep daily often responding to messages at 2 AM before waking at 6 AM to take his children to school believing himself to be an iron man capable of enduring such rigors .
- Physicians attributed the cardiac event primarily to prolonged sleep deprivation explaining that insufficient rest elevates blood pressure causes vascular inflammation and disrupts autonomic nervous system function thereby overworking the heart even in non-smokers and non-drinkers .
Why It Matters
This incident serves as a stark reminder that cardiovascular emergencies can strike even those who maintain active lifestyles and avoid traditional risk factors like smoking or heavy drinking. Chen's public acknowledgment of his near-death experience and his doctor's warnings about sleep deprivation provide a compelling health message for workaholics and busy professionals across Asia who routinely sacrifice sleep for career advancement. His message to fans that work can wait and games can be rescheduled but health has no overtime underscores the irreversible consequences of chronic exhaustion and the importance of prioritizing rest before a medical crisis occurs .
This incident serves as a stark reminder that cardiovascular emergencies can strike even those who maintain active lifestyles and avoid traditional risk factors like smoking or heavy drinking. Chen's public acknowledgment of his near-death experience and his doctor's warnings about sleep deprivation provide a compelling health message for workaholics and busy professionals across Asia who routinely sacrifice sleep for career advancement. His message to fans that work can wait and games can be rescheduled but health has no overtime underscores the irreversible consequences of chronic exhaustion and the importance of prioritizing rest before a medical crisis occurs .