PSA: Recognizing a Heart Attack

highslice said:
Well sir, you can take solace knowing I didn't have a heart attack.

Thanks for all the kind remarks guys.
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Welll, I did have a heart attack, sad to say. Apparently the asthma was the trigger, but I had a heart attack none the less. We have been friends with a cardiologist for the last 5 or 6 years. Never thought I'd need her. So now I'm sitting in a hospital getting asked 3 times an hour if I have chest pain, on a fucking heart healthy diet, waiting to have a cardiac cath in the morning. Fun times.
 
Nater Potater said:
Yeah, but you're alive, and (hopefully) in good hands.
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There you go looking for the positive. I agree, actually. I just want to put it behind me. I couldn't ask for a better team. My cardiologist is a bulldog, and will not let a stone go unturned. We skipped the stress test step entirely because she said I already know you had a heart attack, why try to give you another one? So the most likely worst case is I get a late start on the 4th weekend. Worst case would be a bypass, I don't want to even think about that.
 
highslice said:
There you go looking for the positive. I agree, actually. [/QUOuE]
A positive attitude will keep you healthier than running around with a dark cloud over you. I have stage 4 prostate cancer than has spread throughout my body. It will never go away and will be with me until the day I kick the bucket.

It would be easy to be in a sour mood all the time, given my circumstances but I choose to be in a good mood, smiling every day, hit the gym every other day, walk every morning and I'm just damned happy to be on the green side of the grass.
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Mike, don't get me wrong. I am thrilled to be alive and still boating. And I'm glad you are still kicking. When I was sitting on my boat barely breathing I was sure I was going to die. But I didn't and I am eternally grateful. I was frustrated because I spent the last 6 months working my ass off to lose 46 pounds to avoid a heart attack. I didn't. But I am lucky to have a friend who is a cardiologist. She cut through all the insurance bs and got me straight to a cardiac cath lab. I got to see all the images and my arteries are clean as a whistle. Absent another uncontrolled asthma attack, my chances of another heart attack are 0. I have an absolutely positive attitude and am determined to continue working out to improve my health. No black cloud following me. All positive.
 
I wonder if rapid weight loss is risky when it comes to heart attacks and strokes. One of my work colleagues has been overweight for years. He has that physique where its all gut and core where he carries the weight. Pretty athletic guy, but a huge gut. About 5 years ago he went on a rapid loss diet process and lost about 100 lbs in about a year. He looked great and felt great. Then on the golf course he had a stroke that stopped his heart. He would have died if there wasn't a doctor in the foursome behind them and if the golf course did not have a defib and got it to him on time. They put him in an induced coma at hospital for about 45 days while they sorted out the damage and assessed the risk of bringing him out. They weren't sure how bad the damage would be and told his wife there was a possibility he would be significantly affected. He got really lucky that the only significant lingering damage is the part of his brain that works his legs still is not 100% still after about 5 years. So he walks with a very slight limp and can't run because his brain can't get his leg to move in the right timing. He's put a lot of the weight back on, so probably trading one risk over another.
 
The one clear thing here is that we humans are complicated organisms and the best we can do is moderate our behaviors and live like tomorrow is not promised. There is a lot of good living that can be experienced in moderation. If we pay at least as much attention to our health as we do to keeping our boats in top shape we will have a good chance at longevity:)
Carpe Diem
 
I should have said I lost the weight over 2 years with a good change in eating habits. I have been working my ass off in the last 6 months to get back into shape. Absent the asthma attack I would not have had a heart attack. My cardiac cath couldn't have had a better result, all major arteries are completely clear. The heart attack was a result of oxygen starvation from the asthma attack. I'm just happy to still be here!
 
highslice said:
I should have said I lost the weight over 2 years with a good change in eating habits. I have been working my ass off in the last 6 months to get back into shape. Absent the asthma attack I would not have had a heart attack. My cardiac cath couldn't have had a better result, all major arteries are completely clear. The heart attack was a result of oxygen starvation from the asthma attack. I'm just happy to still be here!
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Tim….I hope you are feeling better.
 
“Heart healthy diet”. Keep in mind on average 10% blood cholesterol comes from diet.

There are world class athletes having heart attacks.

Cholesterol is a hormone made by your liver. So diet helps but there are a dozen other risk factors mostly family history, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes etc.
 
El Capitan said:
“Heart healthy diet”. Keep in mind on average 10% blood cholesterol comes from diet.

There are world class athletes having heart attacks.

Cholesterol is a hormone made by your liver. So diet helps but there are a dozen other risk factors mostly family history, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes etc.
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I have slightly elevated cholesterol, not enough for a statin, especially considering I had 0% blockage in any of my coronary arteries. My heart attack was a fluke and not from lifestyle.

I will tell you that it is the ultimate mind f@ck. I have had chest pains from reflux and occasional minor asthma flare ups and never thought twice about that. Now every little chest pain gives me pause. Is it happening again? Sucks. But I'll work through it.
 
highslice said:
I have slightly elevated cholesterol, not enough for a statin, especially considering I had 0% blockage in any of my coronary arteries. My heart attack was a fluke and not from lifestyle.

I will tell you that it is the ultimate mind f@ck. I have had chest pains from reflux and occasional minor asthma flare ups and never thought twice about that. Now every little chest pain gives me pause. Is it happening again? Sucks. But I'll work through it.
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Wait a minute.

Are you saying you have definitively been diagnosed with a myocardial infarction and you have no coronary artery disease?
(MINOCA)
please clarify
 
El Capitan said:
Wait a minute.

Are you saying you have definitively been diagnosed with a myocardial infarction and you have no coronary artery disease?
(MINOCA)
please clarify
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Carpediem44DB said:
@highslice explained earlier in the thread that he had a heart attack caused by his severe asthma attack, not linked to cardio vascular disease.
CD
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Carpe is correct. A severe asthma attack that did not respond to repeated usage of my rescue inhaler caused my heart to be starved of oxygen. That led to a myocardial infarction. That's the working theory of the 2 cardiologists I have seen. I know 1 things for sure, I had an asthma attack and I had a heart attack as evidenced by my increased troponin levels. A subsequent cardio cath confirmed no coronary artery disease.
 
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