Dolores Catania, known for her role on *The Real Housewives of New Jersey*, has shared an encouraging health update following her recent heart surgery. The 54-year-old star, who also appeared on *The Traitors*, took to Instagram to discuss her journey with atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that necessitated a cardiac ablation procedure.
In May, Dolores revealed her diagnosis, explaining that AFib is characterized by an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm. This condition can lead to serious complications, including strokes, if left untreated. The Mayo Clinic describes the ablation procedure as a method to block the faulty electrical signals that cause AFib.
On June 20, Dolores posted a vlog detailing her surgery and recovery process. She invited her cardiologist, Dr. Robert Altman, to stress the importance of heart health and encourage viewers to listen to their bodies. Dolores recounted how her symptoms began about six months prior. Initially, she dismissed them as ordinary aches, but they became increasingly concerning.
“I was driving when I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my chest that radiated down my arm,” Dolores recalled. “As women, we tend to ignore aches and pains, brushing them off as part of everyday life—but this felt different.” She went on to describe how she experienced frequent flutters in her chest, which sometimes disrupted her sleep. Ultimately, the fear of her symptoms prompted her to seek medical advice.
Dolores was familiar with the ablation procedure due to her boyfriend, Paul “Paulie” Connell, having undergone a similar surgery for Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, a congenital heart defect that can cause rapid heartbeats. “I’m sharing this because I want you to listen to your body,” she urged her followers. “That racing or fluttering in your chest during simple tasks—don’t ignore it! AFib increases your risk of stroke or heart attack.”
She expressed her gratitude for her medical team, stating, “I’m not six weeks out and back to myself! I’ll be off all medication soon, and I haven’t had any episodes since the procedure. Please don’t wait. Your heart health is not something to take lightly. If you need recommendations for doctors, I was truly in the best of hands. Take care of yourself; you deserve it!”
In addition to her heart health update, Dolores recently discussed her weight loss journey on *SiriusXM’s Jeff Lewis Live*. She candidly shared her struggles with weight gain while on the weight loss medication Mounjaro, stating, “I’m having a really hard time right now. My Mounjaro stopped working, and I gained 20 pounds.” As she prepared for her heart surgery, she had to stop taking the medication, but now she hopes to see better results moving forward.
Dolores also hinted at potential changes in her television career. Reports suggest that she could make an appearance on Bravo’s upcoming *Real Housewives of Rhode Island*, although it’s unclear whether she would be a full-time cast member. “If we are going to mix this up a little bit or at all, I would take anybody who has been on the show in the past,” she mentioned, indicating her openness to welcoming former cast members back to *RHONJ*.
As fans eagerly await more updates from Dolores, her commitment to health awareness and her candid discussions about personal struggles continue to resonate with audiences. All previous seasons of *The Real Housewives of New Jersey* are available for streaming on Peacock, allowing fans to catch up on Dolores’s journey and the show’s dramatic moments.
Dolores Catania’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of listening to one’s body and prioritizing health, especially in the fast-paced world of reality television.