Lessons of Heart Disease

Coronary Heart Disease has become a big issue lately in The United States. In America 16 million people are patients having Coronary Heart Disease.   Half a million of these patients die from it each year.   

Mr. Orr a recent heart attack survivor wanted to change his life style after his first heart attack.  He did not want to be known as a patient who had suffered.  Mr. Orr began exercising on a daily basis and lost up to 45 pounds.  He wanted to surprise his doctor at his next appointment and show that he is in a lot better health now.  Mr. Orr decided since he was exercising that he shouldn’t have to take his aspirin any more, which helped with thinning his blood to prevent clots.  On February 6^th Mr. Orr went for his workout (a week before his check up).  He had just finished his chest workout and went to do his cardio.  He felt a tightening in the muscles in his chest.  He assumed that they were just sore from his workout.  He started feeling nauseous, and the pain had begun to escalate.  He had his friend take him to the emergency room to see if there was anything wrong.  As soon as his friend had told the doctors he was having chest pains they rushed Mr. Orr to the electrocardiogram where they could see what was causing the chest pains.  They then took a straw like object and inserted it from his groin into his artery.  They saw that there was a giant clot blocking Mr. Orr left anterior descending artery, therefore there was not enough blood getting to the heart.  In order to remove the clot they had to open the artery with a balloon and insert a stent.  The balloon did shatter the clot and they were successfully able to insert the stent.  Dr. Pande who was the cardiologist said that Mr. Orr was extremely lucky to have had a heart attack and was able to have to further problems after the surgery.

            Cardiologists say how Mr. Orr was extremely lucky to survive, since he had made so many mistakes on how to deal with his chest pains.  They say that most Americans who have signs and symptoms of a heart attack generally act like Mr. Orr and ignore them thinking they will eventually go away.  Doctors say this generally happens because of how Hollywood displays heart attacks.  They say symptoms can be slight nausea and becoming cold and clammy.  Female’s symptoms are not as severe as males though, but doctors say that even if you think you are having symptoms call 911.   When Mr. Orr called his friend for a ride to the hospital, his friend could have got stuck in traffic or his car could have broke down while Mr. Orr’s life was a ticking time bomb.  It is essential to call an ambulance if you are have these symptoms, the doctors treat a heart attack the same as if it were a gunshot.  Mr. Orr’s heart attack could have been avoided, but he had stopped taking his heart disease medication, which is the main reason why he had his heart attack.   After patients have a heart attack they are prescribed aspirin to thin their blood to prevent further heart attacks.  As soon has he went off of this medication his blood got thicker making him more susceptible to another heart attack. 

            Since there are so many Americans now that have Coronary Heart Disease, doctors want to inform them that exercising and taking your medication is vital in order to prevent future heart issues.  As well if you think that you are experiencing symptoms of a heart attack call 911, even if the symptoms turn out to be false.  If it is a heart attack the doctors generally only have an hour to open up to the arteries or else there can be further complications.  Patients have to be aware of the seriousness of their heart disease in order to save their life.



http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/08/health/08heart.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1

Friday, August 31 2012