Getting To The Heart Of The Problem

As I looked towards the heavens, I felt faint and nearly lost my balance. The baby blue sky was blanketed ever so slightly with puffy white clouds. The sun was high over head. It was a blistering 99 degree day and the air was thick like soup. I had been walking around with a customer, doing an outdoor site-survey. Earlier in the day, I had noticed that it was difficult to breath. I was having to work at it. Not so bad that I felt there was a serious problem, just bothersome. I wrote it off in my mind that it was due to the heat, humidity and the fact that I hadn’t slept well the night before. Just a minor miscalculation on my part.

Don’t Cut In Line, Unless You Think You’re Dying

I left the customers site and drove myself to my Doctor’s office. I arrived to find several people waiting in the lobby. I walked up to the receptionist and asked if I could see my Doctor. She asked what was wrong and I told her. “It feels like someone is standing on my chest and I’m having trouble breathing.” She said, “Please have a seat and I’ll be right back.” In hindsight, I should have noticed the nurses alarmed facial expression. Totally oblivious, I went and grabbed a magazine. I had no sooner sat down, when the nurse called me and said to follow her. As I walked past everyone in the waiting room, I could feel the angry glares as I passed those who had been waiting for some time.

Heart disease caused 26% of deaths—more than one in every four—in the United States – Centers for Disease Control

Cold and Clammy

As I sat down in the observation room, in popped a nurse. She was moving quickly and had me roll up my sleeve. She started to take my pulse, when a bizarre look overcame her face. “You’re cold and clammy…”, she said. “Oh, okay”, I said. I’m thinking, “that’s better than hot and sweaty.” At this point, I’m thinking to myself how clever I am, when the nurse exclaimed “OMG, you have an irregular heartbeat!” Irregular heartbeat? What? She quickly left the room. I could hear her immediately state “He’s cold and clammy and he has an irregular heartbeat, I need an EKG.” EKG? What?

Blurrrrrrrrrr

The next four hours are a bit blurry. They consisted of blood pressure checks, two EKG’s, blood work, oxygen, blood hydration, Doctors, Nurses and lots of poking and prodding. Once they had stabilized my “condition”, my Doctor proceeded to give me a lecture. Apparently, I had no business going to the Doctor. I should have gone straight to the emergency room. Who knew? Seriously, I don’t go to the Doctor very often and I was light headed, as I said. I don’t think I was thinking clearly. Scratch that, I know I wasn’t thinking clearly. That mistake could have cost me, thankfully, it didn’t.

Over the next few days, I had two more EKG’s. My Doctor ordered an Echo Stress test. Talk about feeling like a hamster on a wheel. Ever done one? It was like being a human science experiment. I was all wired up with sensors, with an audience of nurses, watching, while I did the hamster speed walk on a tread mill. Fun, fun, fun!

Doctor, Doctor, Give Me The News

It was a long week, with daily trips to different Doctors and many, many tests. After much anxiety, my blood work came back along with the results of my Echo Stress test. Are you ready…drum roll please…NEGATIVE! All tests came back negative, with regards to any kind of heart problems. Not only that, I passed the echo stress test with flying colors! So, what then caused my irregular heartbeat? Not really sure. One contributing factor might have been too much caffeine. Hence my post, How I Released My Inner Caffeine Fiend. One thing I inconspicuously left out of that post, was that my Doctor had advised that I quit drinking coffee. Sorry, but at the time of that post, I wasn’t ready to talk about it.

I said that “All tests came back negative, with regards to any kind of heart problems.” Key words being “any kind of heart problems.” I wasn’t so lucky across the board. I did receive some very disturbing, life altering news. A diagnosis that could explain many of the symptoms I had experienced earlier in the week. A diagnosis that you are going to have to wait until PART 2 of this post to learn about. (because this post is already huge!)

American Heart Month

I decided to tell my story because February is American Heart Month. Since 1963 Congress has required the President to declare February, American Heart Month, in an attempt to raise awareness and get Americans to join the fight against heart disease. Due to my recent scare, I decided to get involved and try to help spread the word about this huge killer.

Heart Disease Facts*

• According to the CDC, the leading cause of death of both men and women in the United States is heart disease.
• 631,636 people died of heart disease in 2006.
• Heart disease will cost the United States $316.4 billion in 2010.

Heart Disease Risk Factors*

1. Conditions

• High Cholesterol Levels
• High Blood Pressure
• Diabetes
• Obseity

2. Behaviors

• Diets high in saturated fats, cholesterol and/or sodium
• Physical Inactivity
• Tobacco use
• Alcohol abuse

3. Heredity – Heart disease can run in your family

5 Heart Healthy Tips

• Get plenty of exercise
• Reduce saturated fats
• Stay Hydrated – Drink water
• Eat plenty of fruit & vegetables
• Maintain a healthy weight

My goal here today was to give you something to think about. I hope that I was successful. Do you or anyone you know have any heart problems?

For more information on American Heart Month, check this out:
http://www.cdc.gov/features/heartmonth/

* Source: Centers for Disease Control website

Tagged as: American Heart Month • Heart Disease • heart healthy tips