39 years old and I just got home from a heart attack

[MattBaggins]

20 years of smoking, diabetes, overweight, and tried to personally keep McDonald's in the black.

If you fit into any of the above categories; don't think it being young will protect you. I had quit smoking and started a biking class for New Years but it was a bit too late.

Yes I'm going to be one of those annoying ex-smokers that wags his fingers at everyone else.

[Arugula Latte]

1. Wow! Glad you're still here!

Keep up the healthy lifestyle; the benefits far outweigh anything you'll miss putting in your body.

[graywarrior]

2. Hey, some of the healthiest people I know are heart attack survivors who

decided to turn their habits into healthy ones. Good thing you are still here and I wish you the best in getting back into shape. I'm a reformed smoker, too, and a pain in the ass.

[MattBaggins]

4. I have a 3 year old and a 6 year old both daddies girls

I plan on being around for a while.

[Tikki]

7. Nothing like little ones to bring home.....

the message.

Congratulations on the better health and habits...my doctor told me the first
sign of a heart attack is often death...

After running outside every hour or so to grab a quick smoke and shutting the door behind on my
toddler grandson...I realized that I was making a choice that would go on
forever if I didn't stop.

My son (his father) and I quit smoking 5 years ago. My grandson will never remember
either of us as smokers. And that is just the way we like it.


Tikki & son

[applegrove]

3. Glad you quit smoking. That is a big one. Keep up the biking. Loosing

some pounds may help with the diabetes.

[bluesbassman]

5. Glad you came through it, and are on the road to better health.

One step at a time my friend. :hi:

[Shell Beau]

6. Glad you are ok! Good luck to you with your lifestyle change.

I have a feeling it will be the best thing you ever did!! :hug:

[mykpart]

8. I wish I had quit smoking at a younger age.

I waited until I was 53; that's when my heart attack happened. Both my sons were already grown and both are smokers. I worry about them constantly, as they are now in their 30s and will be at risk for heart disease. I will always wonder if they would have become smokers if their mother had not smoked and predisposed their lungs with secondhand smoke. Your children will grow up with a different attitude toward smoking.

Be sure to do Cardiac Rehabilitation, if it's available. A wonderful way to ease back into exercise and not worry.

[supernova]

9. Wow, glad you survived! Two groups for you

:pals:

You might be interested in two groups that I frequent.

Exercise and Fitness Group http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=295

Weight Loss/Maintenance Group http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=337


We are very caring, giving lots of support and encouragement. :-)

[davsand]

10. Yep, you were high risk all the way. Kevsand used to have pretty bad habits too.

He was 51 when he had his heart attack. We were in the dugout coaching our daughter's softball team and he turned to me and said, "I think you better take me to the ER." He refused to let me call 911 because he thought that would freak out the kids "too much" so I drove him into the ER (a thirty minute ride) WHILE he was having a heart attack.

NEVER again.

They put four stents in that night while I sat in a hospital waiting room and contemplated what life would be like without him, telling our daughter her father was gone and single parenthood.

Happily, he suffered minimal damage and came home to us. He quit smoking and began to exercise by starting with cardiac rehab a month after his heart attack. We had reformed our diet a great deal in the year prior to the heart attack, but we made a few tweaks after to comply just a bit better with the sodium levels his docs wanted him to observe.

I'm gonna give you "the lecture" and I hope you take it "to heart":

You have people who love you and you have GOT to take this event as the wake up call that it was. The days of smoking have got to be done and if you pick up a pack of smokes ever again you are, essentially, signing those people who love you up for a lot of sadness and misery that you can do a lot to prevent.

This was not "life ending" for you, but it was a pretty strong message from your heart to you that you need to make a few changes.

Lecture concluded...

If I can make a couple of suggestions? Read up on the impact of fish oil and CoQ10 for cardiac people. Make sure your doc knows you are taking them, but DO consider incorporating them into your routine.

There are a lot of studies out there that show that fish oil, in particular can do a lot to head off further heart attacks by helping prevent not just the blood clots that form, but it also works to prevent sudden cardiac arrest. A lot of the old school cardio guys don't mention it, but it is a VERY worthwhile food supplement. If you can do that much in addition to what the docs tell you you may find you feel better now than you did prior to the heart attack.

Take care.


Laura

[av8rdave]

11. Glad you're still among us!

And congrats on making the lifestyle changes. They will pay big dividends!