COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – November is Men’s Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to encouraging men to take charge of their health, get screened and talk openly about medical concerns they often ignore.
For former WIS anchor Len Kiese, the message hits close to home.
In 2024, at just 45 years old, Kiese suffered a massive heart attack — a life-threatening event he says forced him to reexamine how he lived, worked and cared for himself.
“It was the scariest moment of my life,” Kiese said. “I just knew something was wrong — that this wasn’t normal chest pain. I Googled the symptoms, and everything I read… I was feeling.”
Kiese spent years working in broadcast journalism, waking up before sunrise and managing constant deadlines. He believes that lifestyle contributed to his heart attack.
“I spent lots and lots of years in television news, doing the early morning news,” he said. “My sleep pattern still hasn’t recovered from that. So it’s just a mixture of everything. And to that point, I know the rigors of working a strenuous job — especially working in TV news, of course.”
Doctors told him the heart attack was likely the result of years of stress, poor sleep and unhealthy habits catching up with him.
Kiese said the experience forced him to slow down and rethink what matters most.
“I was kind of forced to sit down and take a hard look at my life,” he said. “If it’s not affecting my family, I try not to stress about it anymore — because it’s just not worth it.”
Today, Kiese prioritizes regular exercise, healthy eating and adequate rest. He sticks to a weekly workout routine and watches his sodium and sugar intake during the week, but still allows himself a few treats on weekends. He said moderation — not deprivation — has helped him stay committed.
After leaving television news, Kiese now works in communications and hopes to use his experience to encourage men to take their health seriously.
“You’ve got to make yourself a priority — because you can’t pour into anyone else if you’re not here,” he said.
Dr. Cedrek McFadden, a men’s health physician at Prisma Health, said Kiese’s experience is part of a concerning trend. More men are developing significant heart issues at younger ages.
“The heart attack you see at 60 or 70 didn’t start then,” McFadden said. “It started in your 20s, 30s and 40s — with diet, stress and lifestyle choices that build up over time.”
He urges men to be proactive rather than waiting for a medical emergency before seeing a doctor.
“It’s about being proactive. See your doctor before there’s a problem — not after,” McFadden said.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In South Carolina, it accounts for roughly one in every four male deaths.
As Men’s Health Awareness Month continues, Kiese hopes his story serves as a reminder that health cannot be taken for granted — and that prioritizing it could save a life.
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