This past Tuesday, I went to the funeral of a coworker's husband. He died from a massive heart attack. He had a heart attack a week ago Sunday, was taken to the hospital where they put in stents. He was too weak for OHS. He was doing fine during the week but last Sunday he had another heart attack and they could not save him. He was 49.
He had a 99% blockage in the main artery in the front wall leading to his heart. He also had some other blockages. He had a lot of other risks.
I had an 80% blockage in the same artery. If my PCP had not found the AFib and sent me to the cardiologist who found the severe mitral valve regurgitation and strongly recommended surgey, there would have been no reason to do an angiogram. That blockage would have probably gone undiagnosed until something drastic happened. I had no symptoms. I was not a high risk... do not smoke, no high blood pressure, cholesteral borderline,ate halfway healthy, definitely not overweight, not diebetic...
It makes me wonder if some kind of test to check your heart should not be part of your yearly check-up, especially after 40. Many people die from a heart attack that could be prevented if the problem was diagnosed early.
He had a 99% blockage in the main artery in the front wall leading to his heart. He also had some other blockages. He had a lot of other risks.
I had an 80% blockage in the same artery. If my PCP had not found the AFib and sent me to the cardiologist who found the severe mitral valve regurgitation and strongly recommended surgey, there would have been no reason to do an angiogram. That blockage would have probably gone undiagnosed until something drastic happened. I had no symptoms. I was not a high risk... do not smoke, no high blood pressure, cholesteral borderline,ate halfway healthy, definitely not overweight, not diebetic...
It makes me wonder if some kind of test to check your heart should not be part of your yearly check-up, especially after 40. Many people die from a heart attack that could be prevented if the problem was diagnosed early.