Pay attention to what your body is telling you (I know this is not normal for men!) but this time it did save my life. Waking up at 2 am with indigestion I took some Pepto Bismol and moved to the recliner for a bit then back to bed only to repeat the same indigestion.

The next day during a dental cleaning appointment, it came back with jaw pain. “Hmm. This is not good.” After taking a baby aspirin, I went to my primary care doctor who sent me for a chest x-ray.

HERE IS THE LESSON –  GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FIRST WITH ANY SUSPECTED HEART ISSUE

After a stress test and heart catheterization, it was determined I had a 98% blockage in the descending artery. This artery is often called the widow-maker because usually the first symptom of a problem is death.

After my ordeal when people find out what happened to me, they tell me their story of someone that did not survive. It usually goes like this, “Playing basketball in the driveway and just dropped dead. Or “He was a runner, thin and healthy.”

For me, it was a quadruple bypass with a six week recovery until I went back to work. But let me tell you, it was a full year until I was feeling confident with myself. By the way, I was 51 years of age at the time.  I’m 62 now and doing fine.

By Dan Lamley, member of the InsuranceExperts.team

When it comes to a pending heart attack, there’s not one warning signal that applies to everyone. Men and women share some symptoms like chest pain, indigestion and dizziness.  Shortness of breath also applies to both sexes, but in men it often feels like one can’t get enough air even when resting.

However, there are some symptoms that appear to manifest differently by sex.

Symptoms common in men are:

• upper body discomfort or pain that includes arms, left shoulder, back, neck, jaw or stomach
• rapid or irregular heartbeat
• breaking out in a cold sweat

Symptoms more common to women are:

• anxiety
• sleep disturbances
• unusual fatigue lasting for several days or sudden severe fatigue
• jaw pain or pain that spreads up into one’s jaw
• upper back, shoulder or throat pain

The most important thing for you to know is what’s normal and abnormal for your body. Even if you’re not sure any of these symptoms are warnings, get emergency care right away. The best way to recover from a heart attack is early intervention, regardless of sex.

The evolution of cardiac surgery has dramatically lessened the risk of going under the knife. These days, some hospitals specialize in heart health only. However, it took a lot of steps to reach this point. Here’s a brief history…

1893 – The first successful surgery on the heart was performed in Chicago.

1925 – A young woman was successfully operated on when the surgeon opened a chamber and inserted a finger to find and feel her damaged valve.

1952 – A congenital heart defect was successfully corrected and the first cardiac surgery under local anesthesia was performed.

In 1967, the first human-to-human heart transplant was performed in South Africa by Dr. Christiaan Barnard.

By the early 1990s, surgeons began to perform off-pump coronary bypass. This means the heart continues to beat during the procedure but is stabilized to be almost still while bypass vessels are sown in.

Today numerous procedures can be performed with small incisions instead of wide openings that create that “zipper look” scar down the chest. It’s possible that in the future, the term “open-heart” will become obsolete.

 

When it comes to heart disease prevention, little has changed. High cholesterol is still a factor, as are smoking and obesity. Now when it comes to keeping your heart healthy, think of these four words – sleep, activity, diet and stress.

Let’s start with sleep. Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Adequate sleep helps keep your blood pressure, weight and blood sugar under better control.

Stay active! Exercise has many benefits including strengthening your heart and improving circulation. Like sleep, it helps you control your weight, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. It also lowers your cholesterol.

Eat a healthy diet. By limiting saturated fats, foods high in sodium and added sugars, it’s easier to maintain a healthy weight, lower cholesterol and keep your blood sugar level steady.

Manage stress. Traditionally, common ways to cope with stress include smoking, overeating and consuming too much alcohol – all of which work against your heart. Instead, meditate and focus on things that make you calm. Again, this keeps your blood pressure lower, maintains a healthy weight, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Do these four things and you’ll not only stave off heart disease, you’ll enjoy each day more!