Naperville Mayor Pradel recovering after heart attack

Naperville Mayor George Pradel said Friday he was resting comfortably at Edward Heart Hospital after suffering a mild heart attack a day earlier.

Pradel, 72, had two stents inserted Thursday to correct blockages in coronary arteries. The blockages were discovered during testing early Thursday morning after Pradel, who has served as mayor since 1995, admitted himself to the Edward emergency room with chest discomfort.

"I'm doing very well and I'm going to be fine. The doctors are happy with my progress," Pradel wrote in a statement released by the hospital. "It's important people get the message - be like President Clinton and me and if you have any symptoms, get them checked out. I speak from experience and knowing that we're really blessed to have Edward here for heart care in Naperville."

The mayor's daughter, Carol Pradel, said he complained of discomfort and that "something just didn't feel quite right."

She said Pradel woke his wife Pat about midnight, saying he should go to the hospital.

"They went to the ER and the hospital staff did some testing," she said. "They decided to keep him overnight for more testing, and doctors elected to go in with a camera, where it was discovered he needed two stents put in."

When putting in the stents, Carol Pradel said, doctors discovered the mild heart attack.

"The good news is the heart attack did not do any permanent damage," she said. "But he needs to take his time coming back and rest."

She said the Pradel remains in intensive care at Edward, but is sitting up and eating. She said doctors expect the mayor to be released Saturday or Sunday.

"We were teasing him that he had the same surgery (former U.S. President) Bill Clinton had on the same day at the same time," she said. "He's in good spirits and is doing very well. He was not nervous because he knew he was in the best of care and has the highest respect for all of his doctors."

Edward doctors first placed a stent in Pradel's heart in 2006 to open a blockage in one of his arteries. He also underwent open heart surgery about 16 years ago.

Carol Pradel said her father intends to take a little time off to recover, then will slowly start to get back to work.

"We really do appreciate everyone's concern," she said. "Rest is the biggest thing right now, but he's doing great."