Heart Attack for the Seemingly Healthy - Part 2

Yesterday, I started sharing about my husband's recent heart attack. After he became a vegetarian he was in fairly good health. He suffered from some gastro-intestinal issues which causes some slight pain and bloating. He tried to catch a falling 40 lb. computer monitor and tore up his elbow almost a year ago and he was still having some pains in his left arm from that. Other than that all of his blood work and blood pressure indicated that he was in good health. Well, reality hit us full in the face very early Tuesday morning.

My husband started complaining that he must have done something to his back because it was really hurting...that was Monday morning. I picked him up from work that evening and he said again that he really needed to get to the chiropractor because his back was really hurting and if he couldn't get in that night we HAD to get him there the next morning before work.

He was also complaining that the spot just below his rib cage was really hurting. He has been dealing with that pain for the last couple of years. His gall bladder had been taken out because the doctors believed it was causing his pain but a few months after his surgery the pain came back.

At approximately 1:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, my husband woke me up and said that I had to take him to the hospital. The pain was much too intense for him to handle anymore. We still didn't realize that it was a heart attack because the pains were all located in areas that he deals with almost daily, just much more intense this time. Now we are wondering if the pains he has been experiencing over the past several years have more to do with his heart than gastro-intestinal issues and work injuries.

My husband didn't have any pains directly over his heart until he was actually at the hospital. The doctor asked why we waited so long but when we described the symptoms he was having she understood why we couldn't make the determination as to how serious this was.

My husband had a stint put into the large main artery on the front of his heart. They also ballooned a smaller one that branched off of the main artery. After hearing what my husband’s normal diet is, there were very little changes made. As a matter of fact, we got tickled at the dietician when she told him to cut red beef down to two or three times a week. We don't eat red meat but once every 2 to 3 months. He was also told not to add salt to his food. We can still use it for cooking but he can't add any additional. He only adds salt to french fries and baked potatoes.

I wanted to share this information with you so that you are aware that even if you seem to be in good health you never know what is happening inside your body. There are more factors influencing your health than just diet and exercise; genetics and stress to name a couple. Make sure you are aware of the signs of a heart attack and realize that you can get pains other places that directly over your heart and shooting down your arm.

Realize that even though you eat well, exercise, go to the doctor regularly and have great blood pressure and cholesterol levels, you can still be a candidate for a heart attack.

This is not to scare anyone but just to make you aware. Remember to let your family and friends know how much you love them each and every day. God Bless You!