Thread: Would you know if you were having a heart attack?

Originally Posted by V8Ian

How about a Cessna 208, Barraman?

With floats? Sounds good although I suspect its min' trolling speed might be a tad high for a Barra lure...

Cheers

Heart problems can put people in hospital very suddenly, (or worse) I've seen two cases in colleagues and both times they just thought they had flu!

The 1st was a guy called Pete and he went home at lunch one day feeling ill, the next day he was back at work, luckily his wife thought that was unusual, as he'd never come home early from work and booked a doctor's appt for the next day, and actually came to work and fetched him, the doc listened to his heart and straightaway dialled an ambulance!

The 2nd was about 60-65 but fit as a trout not an ounce of fat on him, turned out he had high cholesterol but didn't know. Both resulted in double bypasses IIRC and retirement shortly thereafter.

Only a few weeks ago I had a stress test with my cardiologist, and he told me he does not want to see me for two years (he did an angiogram two years ago, no stents needed). But I am still aware of the symptoms and watchful.

Unfortunately, it is unlikely that an ambulance could get here in under two hours, but this is something that you live with when you live in nice places like this - and one way of minimising the risk is to be aware of the possibilities and symptoms - and see the doctor!

Been there done that, got my stents!

I was a fit guy from walking kilometres around the backcountry hills NZ stalking the trout in our rivers.

My normal critical thinking ability deserted me when I should have questioned my doctors diagnosis of indigestion. This diagnosis and lack of questioning increased my powers of denial that reached idiotic levels a few years back.

A combination of work stress and high blood pressure, poor diet and high likelihood of cardiovascular disease via genetics led to a period of unstable angina mistakenly diagnosed as indigestion. This in turn led to increasing levels of intuition-ignoring denial and ultimately a series of heart attacks and two stents end to end in the left anterior descending artery (called the widow-maker by my cardiac nurse).

Very lucky my denial didn't cost me more than two stents. I rate my lack of listening to what my intuition was saying as the stupidest thing I have ever done. I have done some stupid stuff but this ranks way way more stupid than anything else.

I think I would.

I suffered Atrial fibrillation for several years and grew to feel if my heart had an irregular rhythm.

I have not had an attack now for several years so think I am over it at 71.

One thing I do is a "stress test" of sorts every few days where I warm up for my weights on an elliptical trainer set to 16 of 24 for 5 minutes and rate of about 10Kmh. My heart rate goes up to 130-135 , and then I go slowly for 2 minutes to see my recovery rate.

This follows recent studies by a UK University where they claim that the 5 minute stress plus 2 minute evaluation is a good predictor of mortality as well as potential for athletic performance.

The rule of thumb is 39 difference -younger than chronological age or high potential to be an athlete
less than 15 -you will die soon.

I get about 28-30, although my recovery is probably higher as I keep going wheras the university study participants then rested.

I had a suspected TIA several years ago so am on Eliquis to prevent clots so that is extra protection. My arteries were found to be normal including my Carotid artery.

Regards PhilipA

One thing I do is a "stress test" of sorts every few days where I warm up for my weights on an elliptical trainer set to 16 of 24 for 5 minutes and rate of about 10Kmh. My heart rate goes up to 130-135 , and then I go slowly for 2 minutes to see my recovery rate.

Is that really a "stress" test? For the last stress I did for my pilot's medical, my heart rate was pushed to 200 for several minutes! I checked that the defibrillator was nearby!

Is that really a "stress" test? For the last stress I did for my pilot's medical, my heart rate was pushed to 200 for several minutes!

You are indeed unique . max rule of thumb is 220-age.

Your maximum heart rate deceases with age . AFAIR the maximum heart rate for over 70 is on average 150 for a male from recent reading.

My blood pressure medication also reduces maximum heart rate..

my resting rate is 55-60.

Originally Posted by PhilipA

I think I would.......

I wouldn't, but pro'ly don't have to worry about it has I have really low blood pressure, not low enough to make me pass out as can happen to my brother. The 1st time my doc took it, he put the cuff on and wound open the valve a full turn or whatever he normally does, and said "Wow, that hasn't even started yet".