Thank you, thank you...THANK YOU!
heart attack, motivation, prevention
|
The feedback from my last post and email regarding my dad and his heart attack was nothing short of
overwhelming. The most effective way to answer all of the comments and questions, I feel, is to post
one more time as a follow up.
But first thing is first.
Thank you God for sparing my dad from death…once again!
Thank you to the outstanding and skillful doctors who fixed the problem and the nursing staff who
took unbelievable care of him.
Thank you to my friends on FitConnect, Facebook and my subcribers for your thoughts, comments
and prayers. From the United States to Scotland, Australia and inbetween I am humbled, amazed and so
blessed to have relayed all of your words of encouragement to my dad. I read to him from my blackberry
every one I could and it lifted him…big time.
What happened?
My dad arrived at the local hospital on Thursday “just not feeling right”. He also had just a bit of
back pain in between his shoulder blades. When the EKG reading came out - BAM! Major cardiac event and
the team from Medflight was rushing him to Boston Medical Center.
One of the six stents, placed three in each of two arteries 28 months ago, had clogged enough to induce a
second heart attack. This was due to stopping a medication called plavix which helps prevent such an
occurence.
The doctors fixed the problem and placed a 7th stent in the affected area to help
prevent further issues.
Today, 4 days later, I drove my dad home from the hospital. The extent of the damage to his heart was
significant. Time will tell how much tissue died and how much will come back.
The lesson here is two fold in terms of science, fitness and application.
1.) A person can show virtually no symptoms and be in deep trouble.
2.) Without eating well and maintaining a fitness regim... read entire entry
|
|
|
on 8/19/2008
|
|
0 |
8.3
|
|
This post will save a life
consistency, human behavior, stress, heart attack, prevention
|
Why?
Because it is that important.
Because I care.
I’m a bit emotional right now so hopefully this post will be coherent.
Yesterday my dad had his second heart attack in two years. Why do you need to know this?
Because he has no family history of heart disease. His mom and dad lived into their 70’s and 80’s.
My dad’s two brothers do not have heart disease as determined by extensive testing.
He has cholesterol levels well within the normal range. He has Normal (actually great)
blood pressure. Virtually NO risk factors.
The first heart attack in the spring of 2006 was as a direct result of heart disease - most likely stress
induced.
Yesterday’s event was caused by the 10% chance that any of the six stints, 3 two different coronary arteries,
would narrow.
What I haven’t mentioned is that he has always been active. In fact after his first event he
my dad stepped it up even more and has been eating close to perfect and exercising more regularly than
ever before.
The silver lining in all of this is that all of the doctors concur - IF it weren’t for the physical
condition my father is in he would have not survived either event.
We still don’t know the extent of the damage done to his heart at this point. What the doctors do
know is that he is stable and was able to avoid open heart surgery for a bypass of the artery. We
do know that it looks like, God willing, he will recover and live a long and fruitful life.
Why do I feel compelled to share this on my blog, social networks and to my entire subscriber list all
over the World?
If just one person takes action and begins a consistent exercise program and regularly eats well - it will either
prevent something like this happening to them OR they will survive it if it does happen.
I praise God my d... read entire entry
|
|
|
on 8/15/2008
|
|
0 |
5.8
|
|
Tim Russert's Passing Part II
tim russert, lean, sexy, waist, heart attack
|
Below is an excerpt from an email I received from a fellow fitness professional Scott Colby yesterday. This will make you think. Which, by the way, is the point.
"On Friday, one of the most influential
people in broadcast journalism, Tim
Russert, passed away.
He died of a heart attack at age 58.
I was just watching Larry King and he
was interviewing a couple of cardiovascular
experts asking them about Tim Russert's
heart attack.
Tim had gone in for a stress test in
late April, but this didn't reveal that
he had heart disease.
Larry King asked one of the doctor's
how else could Tim have known he was at
risk for heart disease.
And the doctor said, his waist circumference.
The size of your waist is a very valid
predictor of your risk of heart disease.
I'm always talking about getting your abs
as lean and sexy as possible so you'll
look good on the beach.
But the reality is a flat stomach can
help save your life!
Here is a quick calculation you can do
to see if you are at higher risk for
heart disease.
This came from one of the doctor's on
Larry King.
Take your height in inches.
Measure your waist at the level of your
belly button (not the size pants you wear),
using a tape measure.
If your waist size is more than half of
your height, then you may be at risk
for heart disease.
So for example, my height is 73 inches.
Half of my height is 36 1/2 inches.
If my waist size is 37 inches or more,
I would be at a higher risk of heart disease.
Try the calculation and see what you
come up with.
If your waist is too big, you probably
know what you need to be doing. : )
Have an amazing day... read entire entry
|
|
|
on 6/17/2008
|
|
1 |
9.1
|
|