My Dad's Heart Attack
Type A Personality Vs. Atypical Criteria
Type A Personality
When my dad had a heart attack, he didn’t fit the classic criteria
of a Type A personality. He was only 45
years old, and rather slender in statue. My dad was in a cab when he
discovered his
heart attack. He alerted the driver of
his symptoms and was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital. Not only did
my dad have a heart attack, he
had 1 artery that was 50% blocked and another 90% blocked. My mom was
on the next plane to California. This was her first time visiting the
state,
but it would be no vacation for her. My
dad underwent angioplasty surgery which at the time was risky since it
was a
new procedure. Why am retelling a story
of my father’s past medical history? The fact is – you don’t need
medical history in
order to fit the profile of have a heart attack patient. Major attack
or minor attack – they are all
damaging to the heart muscle. Heart disease does not happen overnight,
it is
progressive. The heart attack is the
result.
When I think about it, my dad was lucky. His heart attack while shocking was a
warning. Just like those tremors before
an earth quake – there are signs and signals before the “BIG ONE” happens.
The Recipe:
With a little bit of chest pain, hypertension, high fat-diet,
a dashing high stress lifestyle – This combination is a strong recipe
for a
heart attack. Actually, the medical term
is a “myocardial infraction.” When you
use the word “infraction” – it kind of softens the blow of a real heart
attack….or
does it? I mean, “Accidents” do happen.
Dad always said: “When you have an accident, get up and try again.” The
same school of thought holds true for many heart attack patients.
Especially
for the guys that survive one. Men have relatively
the same symptoms. Such as, crushing
chest pressure, like an elephant sitting on your chest. This is how my
dad
described it. He had no typical “arm
pain.” My dad had a heart attack that
changed his life forever and for the better. His heart is still going
strong. He will be 70 years old next month. Many people do not get a
2nd chance at life
to make change happen. They do not heed to their bodily warnings, before
the
“big one” hits. Do not let warnings fall on “deaf ears.” Make healthy
changes
in your life starting today.
SYMPTOMS:
MEN are from MARS – WOMEN are from VENUS
First, listen to your body signals. What is normal for you, maybe abnormal
for someone else. Men are from MARS. It is easier to for a guy to detect his own
heart attack symptoms. Women are from
VENUS. Pain for women is more atypical. Some jaw pain, neck pain, undiagnosed
hypertension, or vomiting could all be signals. Heart attacks are the #1 leading cause of
death for women and it out ranks breast cancer. Remember, you don’t have to fit the profile to
take a heart attack – but you don’t have to be a victim either. On my 45th birthday I will be
celebrating life and my “atypical” odds of beating heart disease.
