Community Chat

[hyacinth003]

Was in the hair salon and reading "People" magazine while my color did its thing.

I read an article about Susan Lucci having a "heart scare."  I'll say she did!  A few months ago, she experienced chest pain while exercising and was advised to go to the hospital.  Very fortunate that she did.  She had 90% blockage in one coronary artery and 70% in another, and was treated with stents.  She has atherosclerosis.

The reason I am posting this is because she does NOT seem like a person you would expect to have severe heart disease.  Since my first love in nursing is coronary ICU, it always interests me.

She is very fit and exercises a lot.  She is very slim, and follows the "Mediterranean" diet.  Her blood pressure was on the low end of normal.  So, ANYONE can have this happen.  I sometimes feel certain people think that we can control EVERYTHING about our health if we just eat the right things and exercise.  But, some things STILL remain out of our control.  I wish some would just enjoy life more!

Turns out Susan Lucci's father had a heart attack in his 40's.  So, things we CANNOT control EVER are our age, our gender, and family history.  The older we are, the higher the risk.  Men are at higher risk until women reach menopause age, then they start to catch up.  Family history is beyond any control, other than being aware of it.  Perhaps more testing if we know a certain disease runs in the family.

Things we can control are obesity, smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol, exercise, some stress levels. 

Susan is about 72 years old.  So she did fare much better than her father!  But it's a great lesson for all of us.

Hyacinth

[SunValley]

I had a heart attack and nothing in my medical history or lifestyle would have predicted it. If you experience symptoms, go the ER. 

[Nightowlz]

So true just because you are doing the right thing eating right & exercising does not mean you have any guarantees. 

It does have a lot to do with family history. My dad's side of the family the men have heart disease. So far 2 brothers have had surgery. Cancer runs on my moms side. Been there done that.

[esmerelda]

  I thought I read recently it’s a family history thing. In her case. 

[Katcat1]

Family  health issues play a big part in our health issues.  When I developed an auto immune disease the first question was did anyone in your family have this?  You would not expect Susan to have health problems because of the way she looks.  It goes to show that you have to pay attention to symptoms.

[SouthernBee]

@Nightowlz : Yep. My dad and his brother had massive heart attack. My only brother had heart surgery but died a few years later of lung cancer. My mother and her mother had stomach cancer. I survived breast cancer and no one else in the family had breast cancer. Southern Bee 

[LindaSal]

@SouthernBee    Me too!!!  and no history of breast cancer at all in my family.......and I come from a big family.  Though I did learn from my surgeon that it's actually only 10% hereditary, unless you carry the BRCA gene.  Sometimes you just cannot tell what your genetic makeup is going to put you through!!!  Enjoy each day my friends.

[SouthernBee]

@LindaSal : Thank you. Yep- I have many health issues and very slow. I am Blessed and determined to keep moving.

Determined to enjoy each day and being positive. Southern Bee 

[LindaSal]

@Souther Bee  That is half the battle, a positive attitude!!!   You've got a good thing going,

Godspeed!

[RedTop]

I know more than a few people who are fooling themselves with their obsession with healthy habits, when there are genetic issues out of their control.