(ContentDesk) July 13, 2006 -- Heart disease is the leading cause of death, but that is not stopping 24-year-old Nang Duong from telling his story. Back in 2004, Duong came home from work and was experiencing chest pains. He called his family physician the next day was able to make an appointment to see his doctor. His doctor performed an EKG and echo. After the test, it was discovered that the young 24-year-old had a hole in his heart.He went to a cardiologist where more tests were to be performed on him.

Duong had a heart catheterization done on him to measure blood pressure in the heart and how much oxygen is in the blood. The cardiologist told Duong that he will be needing heart surgery to repair the hole in his heart and also a valve which was leaking.The day before his surgery, he met with the surgeon to find out how the surgeon will perform the heart operation. Duong was afraid to find out that the doctor is going to temporarily stop his heart in order to repair the hole in his heart and that the doctor will also repair his leaking valve.On the day of the surgery, Nang admits that his knees were shaking when he first walked through the hospital doors because he has never had surgery before. Lucky for him, he was greeted with friends and family members who gave him some comfort before the surgery. He put on his hospital gown and cleaned the incision area and talk to friends and family members before his operation.A nurse came in the room with a wheel chair and told Duong that it was time to have his heart surgery.

He sat in the wheelchair and said goodbye to his friends and family members. Duong was wheeled into the operating room and was told to lie flat on the table. The anesthesiologist came in and told Duong that he will be injecting some fluid to knock him out for the operation.After the operation, Duong woke up in ICU with his mother sitting near his bedside. He had all sorts of tubes sticking out of him and admitted that it wasnt comfortable having all those tubes sticking out of him. The next day, he was taken out of the ICU and was glad to have the tubes removed from him.

After the tubes were removed, he was moved to a recovery roomDuong took his first steps walking a day after being in the recovery room. He says that it was painful walking and hard to stand up straight because of the incision. He walked up a down the hallways with his mother coaching him as he walked. A few days later Duong was discharged from the hospital and was able to go home and recover from his surgery at home. Duong continues to visit the clinic to get a check up on his heart.

His doctor says that he is doing quiet well. Duong has his own website IamNang.com where he writes about his on going heart treatment and how he is doing. He says no matter how young you are, or how old you are, you should go to the doctor and get a check up..