RHONJ’s Dolores Catania Reveals Scary Health Update: ‘Had a Heart Procedure…’

Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dolores Catania is sharing some news about her recent health scare. Earlier this week, Dolo took to her Instagram to post an emotional account of what she’s been going through. “Hey everybody, it’s been a minute since I’ve been on here to talk to you, but a little update,” she wrote on May 6. “I had a heart procedure.”

She explained that she had been dealing with Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), which is an irregular and often rapid heartbeat. It’s a very common type of arrhythmia, where the heart beats irregularly. AFib can result in palpitations, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. It can also increase the risk of stroke and heart failure.

“I’m going to talk to you all about it because I want everyone to take care of themselves and take care of their body,” she concluded.

RHONJ’s Dolores Catania gives a health update (May 2025)

On May 1, Dolores was a guest on Two Ts in a Pod, where she shared what led up to her diagnosis. “So my heart was beating out of my chest,” she said. “You know, sometimes you feel like you have a flutter. It feels like a butterfly, it goes away. Well, it started to come more frequent.”

One day she felt a persistent pain from the middle of her chest to her shoulder that wouldn’t go away. When she decided to see a cardiologist, he diagnosed AFib. She also learned that AFib could cause a stroke. “You’re a walking stroke,” she explained.

Due to the imminent risk, her doctors performed surgery to help her heart get back into a normal rhythm. “They went through my groin, which is really sore, and into my heart,” she recounted. “They kind of shock your heart and cauterize it. And then they’re like, ‘Wake up, heart. We’re doing it this way.'”

Currently recovering at home, Dolo’s “taking it easy” for a bit. Fortunately, RHONJ is on an indefinite hiatus, so she’s got lots of time to recover. But in the meantime, she’s warning her fans not to ignore the signs if they AFib might be happening.

“I’m telling everybody, if you get those flutters in your chest, go see a doctor,” she said. “So many people just ignore that.”

Meanwhile, the RHONJ cast member and her boyfriend Paulie Connell are still going strong. “My heart is not broken,” she added to her Instagram Story. “Paulie and I are together, as strong as ever. We are very happy together.”