Toni Braxton likely avoided a 'widowmaker' heart attack by going to a doctor appointment she almost skipped because she 'felt fine'

• Toni Braxton told Today she recently had a stent placed in her heart to prevent a "widowmaker" heart attack.
• But Braxton didn't suspect she had heart trouble, and almost skipped a potentially life-saving doctor's appointment.
• Women, such as Braxton, often miss subtle symptoms of a heart attack. 

Toni Braxton revealed she almost skipped a potentially life-saving doctor's appointment because she felt "fine."

The Grammy-winning singer, 55, told Today that doctors recently discovered blockage in the largest artery of her heart — which could have led to the most deadly type of heart attack, called the "widowmaker," had they not "immediately" inserted a stent. 

But prior to the appointment, Braxton did not suspect she had heart trouble. She had chest pains, but said she figured grief from the recent loss of her sister was to blame. 

"I just thought it was just sadness," Braxton told Today. "It turned out to be much more serious, and I just dismissed the signs ... and a lot of people tend to do that."

Braxton said she even considered skipping the appointment because she felt "fine." 

"I would have had a massive heart attack and would not have survived," Braxton added.

Braxton has lupus, an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack healthy tissue. She told Today that lupus was putting stress on her heart, which led to the blockage in her artery.

Braxton is one of many women who miss subtle signs of a heart attack, often because symptoms such as nausea and indigestion might seem unrelated to heart issues. But getting familiar with the symptoms can save lives, as Johns Hopkins has found heart attacks are rising among women aged 35 to 54.

The singer told Today she's sharing her health scare to remind others not to skip their doctors appointments, especially if they have a chronic disease like lupus. 

"You've got to get those screenings done," she said. "It's very important."