Healthy 60yo had a heart attack and didn’t know it.
Posted by 3p1taph@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 244 comments
I share just to warn people. If you’re feeling like something might be stuck in your throat or maybe it’s heartburn from too much beer, and maybe you’re a bit tired too, you might be having a heart attack. I didn’t feel too bad really and wouldn’t have gone to the clinic if my wife didn’t insist. My pain level was at a 2 out of 10. They did an ekg and sent me right to the ER where they did another test and called the ambulance and med flight. I can easily see how people might live with this for days or weeks until they suddenly die without ever recognizing their predicament. No history of heart disease in my family and I didn’t ever have high cholesterol until now. Active mountain bike rider… it’s weird being the same age as old people.
genxeratl@reddit
Yep never hurts to be cautious and careful. Had chest pain a few years ago but no other symptoms (and recent ecg was clear) Immediately went to a cardiologist and they scheduled a bunch of tests - DECT with nuclear and stress test, full bilateral ultrasound, etc. No issues whatsoever with my heart and not a single blockage or narrowing anywhere in my body. Come to find out it was just my blood pressure would spike too high.
violentbowels@reddit
Honestly. I feel like I'm ready. If I go, I go. I'm not going to hand all my money over to the billionaires running "health" "care" in this shit hole country. I'd rather my family gets it. I'm 100% not going to the doctor with the symptoms you've described. My experience tells me that they would give me an antacid and bill me $5000.00
Forever_Forgotten@reddit
This happened to my father in 2024. He thought he had “bad indigestion” for 2 straight days before he finally went to the doctor. He was 76 and both parents had heart disease and he has both high cholesterol and hypertension.
He lived but it did enough damage that he can’t even walk across the street to the mailbox as back without becoming winded. This is a man who, when he worked, walked a minimum of 5 miles a day over the course of a 10 hour day where he was constantly on his feet, 5 days a week.
Bork60@reddit
What is the best prevention? 65M. Walk 5k at least 3x a werk. I get bloodwork done every 3 months(type 2 diabetic), take a treadmill stress test at my cardiologist. It was annual but he changed it to bi-annual after I lost 50 lbs and took an alcohol break. My Dad passed at 51 with a heart attack. Grandada had one also, along with his 7 brothers. Has me constantly wondering if I am doing enough.
SheriffBartholomew@reddit
Same. My paternal side all dropped dead early. But they also lived way harder than I do. So idk if I'm heading for an early grave, or if their lifestyle choices led to their demise.
JayMac1915@reddit
What does your cardiologist say about aspirin therapy?
Just2Breathe@reddit
You’ve made it this far, and you’re doing what your doctors advise. Good job! I hope you get another thirty years, if you want them. Live clean, eat healthy, be active, be social. I’d suggest 30+ minutes moderate aerobic exercise 5x week and some hand weights or resistance training 2-3x a week for maintaining upper body strength (sarcopenia affects the heart, it’s bidirectional).
Vagabond3210@reddit
Several years ago, I felt like I was having a heart attack. Sweats, chest pain, dizziness, heart palpitations, anxiety. Went to the ER 4 separate times (twice by ambulance). Every time I got to the ER they did an EKG and said I was fine. I know myself and knew these episodes were not anxiety attacks (I was plenty familiar with those...lol). On the 4th visit, a curious and somewhat concerned ER doc decided to admit me for further testing. They ran a battery of tests and they all came back fine. He said he was going to discharge me but at the last second, decided to order a stress test. Thats when they discovered the issue. It was PSVT. Periodic episodes where my heart rate would sky rocket out of nowhere to over 220 bpm due to a faulty electrical signal in my heart. (It often resolves itself in 5-10 mins which is the reason they wouldn't catch it on the EKG upon my arrival to the ER) The stress test induced a PSVT episode and they finally caught it on the EKG. Even the nurse was like, "See? You're not crazy!" I was like, not in the way you're thinking, anyway 🙃. So, trust your gut and advocate for yourself when you know something is wrong.
wifijanitor@reddit
6.5 years ago, Thanksgiving day, I was 41.
Felt pressure in my shoulders, like a too tight backpack. Tried to lay down and couldn’t get comfortable. Started to get hot and sweaty. This is what triggered me to get a ride to the hospital.
Had a 100% occlusion of the Left Anterior Descending, the one they call “the widow maker”.
I was in the cath lab for a stent, and in my room watching the Bills beat the Cowboys within like 2 hours.
0/10 would not recommend
Caribgirl2@reddit
Would not recommend what? Getting a stent?
SheriffBartholomew@reddit
Watching the Bills and Cowboys.
wifijanitor@reddit
The heart attack
Ilovemytowm@reddit
Holy s*** you are so lucky to be here the Younger You Are the more lethal heart attacks are
CaroCogitatus@reddit
Same for a mysterious ache in your right shoulder. Mine predated my heart attack by several hours.
2PlasticLobsters@reddit
It's also possible to have no symptoms at all.
I got an ECG as part of a preop exam in 2021. I was stunned when they told me it showed a past myocardial infarction.
After that, I read up on silent heart attacks. They're alarmingly common. IMO, the ones like OP describes should be called quiet heart attacks. Some people have noticeable symptoms, like what seems to be heartburn or back pain. They only realize later what was really happening, or it shows up in their autopsy.
Others feel nothing at all. I read one account from a guy who had a heart attack while getting an ECG. He had no physical sensation the whole time. I have no idea when mine happened. I only know it had to have been after 2019, when I had an ECG for an earlier surgery.
Born_Joke@reddit
Oh my, thanks for this! Just made an appointment with my GP for tomorrow am. I couldn't sleep last night as I had pain in my left shoulder blade and all the way down my left ribs with that lump in the throat feeling. My son is a cardiac nurse and he advised the same (as well as going to ER but our ERs have 9-12 hour waits). May as well stay comfortable at home unless something more happens (pain is gone now and was able to sleep after a couple hours last night).
jkreuzig@reddit
Walk into the ER and tell them you think you are having cardiac issues and/or a heart attack. I have paroxysmal Afib and have walked into the ER and told them I’m dealing with a bad afib incident. They basically put me in the front of the list.
Don’t mess with cardiac issues. Go to the ER.
Born_Joke@reddit
Ok, my son is picking me up and will be heading to the hospital.
JayMac1915@reddit
Let us know how it turns out, if you can. Sending good thoughts your way!
Paperwife2@reddit
So glad you’re going. Keep us posted on how you’re doing.
Just2Breathe@reddit
I’ve lost two relatives to “I’ll wait til after the weekend.”
alargepowderedwater@reddit
Possible cardiac issue will bypass any ER wait time, FYI. You will be seen immediately if you report those symptoms when you check in.
Individual-Trick3310@reddit
Yeah. I went to the ER with a torn chest muscle, left side of my chest no less, and before I could explain the pain was outside of my ribcage, I felt things start to wind up real fast. The nurses' eyes widened and they reached for phones.
axl3ros3@reddit
Do not wait bc of ER wait times
3p1taph@reddit (OP)
They didn’t even let me sit down in the waiting room.
Godiva74@reddit
They will do an ekg right away at the ER to see if you can afford to wait
SkepticalMisanthrope@reddit
What I’m not seeing is how many people who experienced a heart attack were actively monitoring and managing their risk factors with their Dr.
I’m at high risk genetically, but have been on Repatha + statins with annual advanced lipid panel showing excellent numbers for years. I write this not to brag, but I read all of these stories of “healthy guy, runner, etc” than BAM!
I just wonder if my non-athlete but well monitored and treated self is at more or less risk.
Blue_Plastic_88@reddit
I think some of these “they were an athlete, super healthy, no symptoms, then dropped dead” people might have actually been having symptoms or risk factors that weren’t checked out or picked up on in the healthcare system for whatever reason.
This thread is making me nervous! I do have reflux and globus sensation and have for years so don’t know how I’m supposed to tell the difference between that and a possible heart attack coming on.
Zestyclose_Car2269@reddit
Its a hard statistic to track as there are soo many variables and soo many unknowns. You're being monitored for the classic culprits but you could have a PE (pulmonary embolism) tomorrow and die of arrest or failure. You'd have the same symptoms and likely be listed w/heart attack as CoD w/o an autopsy. There's no reason to the throw the baby out with the bathwater and you should absolutely stay the current course I'm just trying to answer your question (albeit with a somewhat non-answer) after over 2 decades in hospice....
DianaPrince2020@reddit
Pain for a day in my shoulder and then radiating down my left arm that I thought was caused by how I had lain in bed reading the night prior. Drove myself to do errands and everything. That night around 2 am pain became unbearable so I went to the E.R. Found out I was having a heart attack, had 100% blockage imto bottom right of heart. Called in specialist and whisked into OR for a stint where I briefly flatlined and had to be shocked back.
Women, especially, should know that heart attacks present very differently for us. Google it, read it, and do not “wait and see” like I did. It was almost the last bad decision that I ever made.
ZarinaBlue@reddit
Unfortunately that is one of menopause symptoms. Left shoulder pain and racing heart rate. Hot flashes, nope, (ok well maybe, but I don’t sweat usually so no one is sure), my eyesight eventually becomes shit, and I suffer from severe fatigue when it gets too bad.
I started off using the estrogen spray. Let me tell you, the day I used it and every single symptom including a 6 out of 10 arm pain that Rx painkillers would touch, just freaking vanished. I was sooooo pissed.
Three ER trips, a dozen doctor appointments, and one excruciating nerve conductivity study later, and I needed estrogen. That's it. (And getting that was a whole 'nother adventure.)
CianGal13@reddit
Is it a heart attack, the beginnings of dementia or menopause? So much fun being a woman
kerill333@reddit
Just remembered another symptom. My grandfather had been getting really short of breath in a hot shower, apparently the steam drives some of the oxygen out so a struggling heart struggles more. He went for a check up, was rushed straight into surgery and his aorta ruptured while he was on the operating table. They did a triple bypass and he lasted many years afterwards.
New_Sun6390@reddit
Okay, I've had the palpitations, EKG, Holter monitor for days, and 3D ultrasound. All good.
I have the occasional heartburn/stuff stuck in throat type of thing. But it is short-lived (a few minutes) and happens just once every few months.
Am I cooked? Should I mention it to doc at my annual PE?
BadGuyBusters2020@reddit
Always tell your doctor everything because it’s better safe than sorry.
OF_PROMO_ALERT@reddit
I went through all that as well (ekg, etc) because I had chest tightness and felt like my throat was closing. Everything came back fine.
It ended up being unprovoked panic attacks. I could be talking on the phone, in a good mood, and it would come out of nowhere. I was convinced I had heart issues.
GrizeldaMarie@reddit
Sometimes the feeling of having something stuck in your throat is from reflux. Either way yes, you should get it checked out. Untreated reflux can lead to esophageal cancer.
Individual-Trick3310@reddit
Goddammit, I'm just going to die.
Ok-Street7504@reddit
September of 24 at the end of a Thursday afternoon I thought I had just pulled a chest muscle, right across my collarbone and my trapezius muscles were sore. I work in shipping and receiving some moving boxes as part of my daily regimen so I thought nothing of it. By Saturday my sore muscles were still sore so I decided to have a friend take me to the ER and which I lit up the EKG machine like jackpot winning slot machine. I thought the little nurse guy was going to have a fit he started freaking out called a code in the radio and said get in the chair we're going for a ride. Coming up on 2 years down 100 lb haven't felt this good since I was in my twenties and working out 3 hours a day, not quite the same but considering how s* I felt the last 20 years pretty close. Moral story don't ignore your body if you can afford it or have health insurance go get checked out.
spacetstacy@reddit
Thank you for posting this.
I also want to remind women that our symptoms are often very different: shortness of breath, cold sweats, stomach pain, nausea, and fatigue. These can last for days and not feel like "a big deal", especially when you're of a certain age and think fatigue and cold sweats come with the territory.
For everyone, it's better to be embarrassed at the ER than dead at home.
StormFinch@reddit
And women can have symptoms completely different from men. Pain in the upper neck, back and jaw, severe indigestion and/or nausea, extreme fatigue, chest pain or pressure may be entirely absent and it's possible for symptoms not to cluster.
Zestyclose_Car2269@reddit
Our problem at work (I do hospice) is men often ALSO have atypical symptoms and are tell us....oh, I didn't think that was part of the symptomology for men. Its a slippery slope and all symptoms should just be symptoms. We wish the AHA would advocate that if you feel off enough that its worrisome (and once a man tells you, its generally worrisome) be seen, regardless of age, family hx, gender or your own prior hx.
spacetstacy@reddit
Thank you
Celeste_Seasoned_14@reddit
Add to that lower back pain that doesn’t ease with massage, and jaw pain. My best friend of 30 years died of a heart attack. She was only 35.
spacetstacy@reddit
Thank you.
Relative-Accountant2@reddit
My (late) husband had 2 heart attacks (unknown) before the big one. Came out of it. 2.5 years later, was the one that killed him. And I miss him.
BlownCamaro@reddit
I am very sorry.
Relative-Accountant2@reddit
Thank you ❤️
Blue_Henri@reddit
❤️
Pigeonofthesea8@reddit
What symptoms made your wife’s antennae twitch?
3p1taph@reddit (OP)
Others will know better but in general I think pain in your chest area can often be mistaken for throat or back pain when it’s your heart. I think she could also tell that I didn’t feel well in a general, non specific kind of way.
ContestBulky@reddit
I’m at the age where I can’t tell if I’m tired, dehydrated, or dying.
Pogonia@reddit
Or have gas.
Optimal-Ad-7074@reddit
I'm at that age where comments like this make my day. so recognizable I get an instant giggle.
ContestBulky@reddit
Same… same.
due_opinion_2573@reddit
Anyday I'm still 6 feet above earth is a good day.
ContestBulky@reddit
Upright and unsupervised is my daily goal. 😂
More_Ship_190@reddit
This 💯
VanillaHuel@reddit
Drink some pedialyte zero and take a long nap. Then see if you wake up.
They-Call-Me-Taylor@reddit
This is the first time I’ve read that a feeling of something being stuck in your throat is a heart attack symptom. Do you mean like it was hard to swallow, or it literally felt like your airway was blocked?
3p1taph@reddit (OP)
Neither exactly. Kind of like a lump in the throat. Obviously it’s a displaced sensation so it’s pretty vague.
AccomplishedIgit@reddit
How can you tell if you feel it or not? I had trouble swallowing a few times the past week and I’m really tired, but that seems so vague..
3p1taph@reddit (OP)
I don’t know but I would ask someone right away.
Agent7619@reddit
I went to the ER a few years ago with some chest pains. I have never seen a team of people move so fast as when a 50 year old man walks in the door and says "I'm having some chest pains." Luckily mine was not life threatening (PVCs). Glad you are still here too.
ooomellieooo@reddit
Imagine walking in there as a 37 year old female and telling them it's your heart. Then imagine the panic on their faces when they finally get around to an EKG nearly 90 minutes later and discover your ass is literally about to drop dead. That's when they start moving lol
happyvector@reddit
They often think it’s anxiety in women until proven otherwise
Swampcrone@reddit
Have you considered losing weight?
happyvector@reddit
Have you also considered that it’s just perimenopause? Also, have you tried losing weight?
AmbitiousSquare8222@reddit
More women die of heart attacks than men!
Zestyclose_Car2269@reddit
Men have more heart attacks and once hospitalized complain about every single thing and thus receive far more aggressive treatment. Women have babies and/or are built to have babies. We get to the hospital and figure: Oh, we're here now we're all set. When something bothers us we see the person taking care of us (generally another woman) and we automatic think: Oh, she's busy, I'll letbher know! ....and we all know how that works out!! Tell your nurse or Dr alll your symptoms as you experience them!
ziggy029@reddit
A few years ago my wife had some strange pains below the clavicle area which turned out to be a cartilage strain. But because of the location, when she pointed to where the discomfort was, boom, instant trip to the ER. It turned out to be a very expensive ECG plus other tests which revealed her heart was strong and healthy, but better safe than sorry.
Grouchy-Poetry-7927@reddit
I had that too, really bad costochondritis. It was shockingly painful, and after a couple days I went to the ER, and same thing, they whisked me right back
Zestyclose_Car2269@reddit
Costo can 100% mimic an MI. My son, a drummer, was 16 when we were horsing around in the living room one night. I grabbed him on either side of his chest to tickle and he doubled screamed: MOM THAT HURTS!! ....and laid down on the floor on his back. Well, it hurt and scared him enough that his EKG was off. They sent us to Boston and did an echo just to get to the Costo dx. This is a kid who drums to this day a decade later and still has flareups here and there but at least now we know why. He's been told by me and Docs though that he has to be careful and closely watch for other symptoms now!
Mugwumps_has_spoken@reddit
People always complain about the wait time in an ER. But seriously, you NEVER want to be the person they outright run for.
Zestyclose_Car2269@reddit
....until you need that
Sea_Voice_404@reddit
I had the same thing literally a couple of months ago. Freaked me out but yeah as soon as my husband drove me to the ER and I told them I had chest pain I was taken back so fast. Same thing too, PVC which I didn’t even know was a thing until then.
pepperandbonnie@reddit
A few days ago I took my first ambulance ride. 50F, was walking the dogs, Started feeling dizzy, nausea, rapid heartbeat and sweats. Walked into the house and dropped. Called 911. Ended up being dehydrated, but wasn't taking chances. Ekg came out fine.
jrsixx@reddit
As a mechanic, I’m used to having odd pains at various times. Chest, back, arms, etc.
6 years ago I was watching Sunday night football. Got up to get a drink, took a sip and felt like it went down wrong, you know, that feeling like you’ve got an air bubble in your esophagus and it hurts till it goes down? Yup, like that. Took another sip, still there. Ignored it and it subsided. My left arm was sore, mehh it’s always some pain, right? Then I was sweaty, like really really sweaty. So I googled heart attack symptoms (family history). Chest pain, check. Left arm pain, check. Sweats, check. Nausea, dizziness, rapid heart beat, nope all good. So I continued to ignore it, as I sat on my leather couch without a shirt, in November, so I could kind of cool off. Then I had to pee. Immediately puked, hmmmm, well, I had been drinking a bit, no big deal. Then I got dizzy…well, duhh I just puked and had been drinking, again, whatever. Still couldn’t get cooled off and my arm pain and chest was getting a bit worse. Well shit, probably is a heart attack. So I went to wake my wife, who wasn’t happy, or very awake until I told her I thought I was having a heart attack. Then she sprung into action. What can I do? Did you call 911? No honey, that’s your job, I’m just gonna sit here and relax and not die.
Sure enough, heart attack, one stent placed, 2 days in ICU, 8 weeks of being completely freaking exhausted and weak, and back to work like nothing happened. Genetics and stress. Not overweight, get good exercise, good diet, don’t smoke. Nothing that would’ve been a marker for it.
Almost 7 years later now and I’m thankful every day. Get checked out people, they may not see anything, but you never know.
ChemicallyAlteredVet@reddit
I’m sorry dude and glad you’re still here. How old were you if you don’t mind? And stress can be the one thing that gets you. Healthy, perfect labs, no smoking but constant stress.
jrsixx@reddit
I was 54. November of 2019. Went into 2020 saying “well this year is gonna be much better, after the year end I just had”… oops.
ChemicallyAlteredVet@reddit
Thank you for replying. I’ll be 48 this summer, Woman. But I had my first heart failure after birth of my youngest at 23, second heart failure at 26 weeks pregnant with my son, we lost him but I survived. It was rough. 2 heart failures by 26. I dud well for about a decade but became very ill and at 36 the VA put me at 100% Totally & Permanently disabled. My heart gets checked every year and I have to really watch my stress levels. It’s rough.
jrsixx@reddit
I’m sorry you’ve had to go through all of this. Glad you’re still around though.
Old_fart5070@reddit
Yup. Same happened to me. I was interviewing a candidate and had to cut it short because of my lightheadedness. I woke up in the ER.
MaryLMarx@reddit
I don’t feel so bad about going to the ER for vertigo now. I was so dizzy and nauseous. Thank goodness it turned out to be positional vertigo, easily dealt with once I found out how, but I felt pretty dumb about calling paramedics when I found out. I have good insurance, luckily. (US)
Hedonistic_Yinzer@reddit
Over the many years that I was a paramedic I never understood why people went to MedExpress, quick med, or whatever day clinic with life threatening illness symptoms. Those places are good for pre-employment drug testing and CDL physicals. Beyond that, they ship almost everyone out to definitive care which is a hospital ER. Once they've collected your co-pay and have figured out how to build your insurance. Chances are they've already submitted to your insurance before you're out the door.
BiffSlick@reddit
People hope to avoid the huge bills and long waits at the ER, and don’t know how useless those quick clinics are because they almost never go there.
Hedonistic_Yinzer@reddit
I know it's a compound problem. The ER is over capacity with people who should have gone to the clinic.
Powerful-Bug3769@reddit
Thanks. I am 48f. Been having heart palpitations for a while now. Doc attributed to perimenopause, but my partner (45m)was just diagnosed with a bicuspid aorta and needs open heart surgery to repair. I just made an appt with my doc.
Thanks for the reminder. It’s so easy to just ignore the little things, especially as you get older and there are always little things.
BiffSlick@reddit
There are always little things, and big things that don’t threaten life.
OurSpeciesAreFeces@reddit
Curious what your cardiac calcium score is to see if it would have been predictive.
Pogonia@reddit
Yeah me too. History of heart disease with my father, and my cholesterol was borderline by my early 40's so I have been taking statins for 15 years as a preventative measure. I had a CT calcium score done about two years ago and it was a lovely zero...but still curious as to how much predictive power that has.
AlfaNovember@reddit
Yeah, fellow member of the score-zero club. I wish they’d told me something like “you’re a 3.14159 but we round any score under 5 to zero”, because just saying “zero” sounds like something malfunctioned in the test. Fellas, did ya tap the glass to make sure the needle is’nt stuck?
3p1taph@reddit (OP)
I’ll have to ask.
ZarinaBlue@reddit
My dad was in the Marines for 20 years. Was thin from exercise but smoked.
Had a widow maker on the side of a mountain with a survey team, made his way down the mountain somehow, ambulance got lost, finally showed up and according to everyone there my dad says, "Real glad to see you boys" and fell over dead. They brought him back.
He is still with us. But only had 30% of his heart. Apparently it started to regenerate. So... there is that.
wifijanitor@reddit
Tell your dad I said Semper Fi
Mental-Blackberry-72@reddit
That was a ride! I nearly had a heart attack from the rollercoaster ride of reading it! Glad he’s still with you
LayerNo3634@reddit
Years ago a friend (healthy 43yo, no history, thin) was not feeling great. Not bad, just not great. His buddy was a first responder, took one look at him and told his wife to take him to the ER. The rest of us were scratching our heads - he looked ok to us. Heart attack. To this day, I have no idea what the buddy saw.
FarmerMom1943@reddit
This is my fear. Silent heart attack.
WallflowersAreCool2@reddit
Reading all of this makes me think cardiac scans should be done annually, just like a mammogram. If a third of us will die from heart disease, but one in eight women will get breast cancer, why aren't we more able to get preventative cardiac care?
Vioralarama@reddit
My PCP used to have a program called Heartwise in his office. He got rid of it for some reason. Probably too expensive with little usefulness? But it involved blood draws, an ultrasound of the arteries, and a treadmill stress test. I checked out great, just a little bit of calcification starting in the arteries. I had it twice in one year too, I'm like his guinea pig. Dont know how he got the insurance to pay for it. Anyway that was during covid so it's been a while, I want to do another one because my tryglicerides are high even being on a statin but I don't really want to see a cardiologist. Eh. It's time, I guess.
ChemicallyAlteredVet@reddit
These scans can’t predict every heart attack. They can find certain arrhythmias and some blockages but they can’t pin point that you are definitely not going to have a heart attack. Many people have died of heart attacks that were active, non smokers and “they just had their annual physical last month and all blood work was perfect. EKG was good”.
Realistic-Manager@reddit
I get an EKG annually at my physical. There is a CT scan that you can get for heart disease but there is a risk/reward on the radiation from that one.
Old_Goat_Ninja@reddit
Glad you’re here with us to tell the tale. My brother died last year, 46, heart attack. He was watching his daughter while home “sick” then laid back on the bed and died.
Zestyclose_Car2269@reddit
So sorry
Away_Amoeba5554@reddit
That’s really sad. I lost my brother when he was 46, too.
Old_Goat_Ninja@reddit
Sorry to hear. My 40’s really made me appreciate what a gift the 50’s are, not everyone makes it this far. Too many people I’ve known since I was a kid aren’t here with me, lost too many along the way.
Away_Amoeba5554@reddit
Yeah. They start to add up.. 😢 ever day is a gift
Confusion-Advanced@reddit
I’m so sorry for your loss.
TylerDurdenEsq@reddit
Reading these comments is making me feel lightheaded, nauseous, and weak lol
Zestyclose_Car2269@reddit
If you're not writing this from the ER you missed moral, Atty. ;)
ContestBulky@reddit
Hang tight… I’ll go fetch the Geritol tonic! 😂
Foolishkushin@reddit
Well, I guess that's how my husband (60yrs old) died last October. When I got home from work I found him dead in our bed. It seemed like he didn't feel good and went to bed. No family history of cardiac issues and he was healthy. Our gp told me this happens more than we think. Anyway, I wish I would have been home because I would also have send him to the ER. So especially for the males here, when you feel something is off get yourself checked out!
Felicity_Calculus@reddit
I am so so sorry for your unexpected loss. How utterly heartbreaking and traumatic. It’s one of my nightmares 💔
Ilovemytowm@reddit
💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔
JEFFinSoCal@reddit
My condolences for your loss. I can’t imagine losing my partner that suddenly. I hope you’re getting the love and auppprt you need from your family and community. Consider this a hug from an Reddit stranger if that’s okay.
Queasy-Security-6648@reddit
I am very sorry for your truly unexpected loss.
AssignmentGreen4257@reddit
Fully convinced this is how I die. I will 100% drop dead of a heart attack because I’ll think it’s just heartburn or gas.
RevToy@reddit
Heart attack at 42. Not much chest pain, just a little, and had pains in both elbows. Figured it was something with the fact I’d just gotten done running a couple miles (morning routine at the time) and didn’t think much of it. My wife told me to call my doctor, and my doctor said I should go to the ER. EKG looked a little funky so I got a Trip to the cath lab and they discovered a 100% block in the second marginally obtuse artery. It’s a tertiary artery that was too small for a stent so a ballon catheter was used to open it back up.
How little was the pain? I brought my garbage can back up from the curb before driving myself to the ER about 25 minutes away. Drove myself home about 28 hours later when I was released (they were NOT happy about that). Cardiac rehab a few months later and my wife changed my lifestyle. I go to the gym 3-5 times a week now, and eat way healthier. I’ve been cleared for scuba diving (certified in March), to go skydiving, riding my motorcycle, whatever I want to do now.
Definitely don’t ignore the signs. It DOES make a difference.
Snogafrog@reddit
“my wife changed my lifestyle” - was that a typo? I chuckled regardless. Sounds like you have awesome hobbies, enjoy!
RevToy@reddit
Nope, wife changed everything. She improved our diet (not that our diet was that bad before but she planned it so upped the vegetable quotient and added more fish) , and signed us up p at a CrossFit gym (I’m still going almost 5 years later), had me see my doctor more than once every 5 years, etc.
Snogafrog@reddit
Love to hear it, kudos to her
RevToy@reddit
100%. If not for her who knows where I’d be.
Slow_Description_773@reddit
Time to move to an ebike man, there is no reason to push it.
eastern-cowboy@reddit
Exercise is good for bringing cholesterol down.
Slow_Description_773@reddit
what is hast to do with the ebike ?
eastern-cowboy@reddit
You don’t get exercise with an e-bike. The motor does the work for you. That’s cutting a lot of existing exercise out. He needs that.
3p1taph@reddit (OP)
I hope to work back up to the analog bike after rehab and a little weight loss. Our trails are pretty steep for climbing and descent so I can get some exercise even with an e-bike.
Grobbekee@reddit
I suppose you can turn down the pedal support to where it's still sport but have easy hills etc
Slow_Description_773@reddit
Are you a cyclist ?
JimTheJerseyGuy@reddit
True but for some people statins are the only way to go. I had a friend back in college who was a pretty athletic guy. Competed in judo at a very high level. Healthy eater and healthy lifestyle.
He was about 23 when he went to get a required physical done for the first time ever. A week later they call him back in saying there seems to be something wrong with his blood test, they need to do another. There was nothing wrong with the test. His cholesterol was over 500.
Turns out there was a genetic component. His father had died of a heart attack quite young and when, on his doctor’s advice, his four other siblings got tested three of them came back with cholesterol levels just as bad or worse.
iftheygivinitaway@reddit
Unless you're like me, and statins kill your liver. I got to one stage before cirrhosis. They blamed my eating habits (which were totally healthy). New doc took me off statins, and liver function dropped down to normal within a week. Luckily the liver regenerates. 3 years later and my liver is almoat back to being healthy. The kicker is that all my current docs agree my cholesterol levels never warranted being on a statin in the first place. I filed a complaint on the original cardiologist. We'll see if that ever amounts to anything.
JimTheJerseyGuy@reddit
That's crazy! I guess it never hurts to get a second opinion.
3p1taph@reddit (OP)
Bought one yesterday. For the rehab….
Slow_Description_773@reddit
Well done. It'll do good to you. Long time cyclist here.
GroovyGmaIvy@reddit
I was a pacemaker technician for six years ending in July 2020. Your story is not rare.
ROBOT_KK@reddit
Glad you are ok. So, what was the cause, arterial blockage or something else?
3p1taph@reddit (OP)
It was aortic artery 99% occlusion
Buddy-Lov@reddit
The toughest, nicest guy I ever knew lived with these symptoms for four days. On the fourth day he dropped dead in front of his brother. He was 61…..and single. It killed him. Thank God for your wife❤️
DrumsKing@reddit
That's kinda how I was. Terrible chest pain...just thought I needed a few burps. It solved it....for a week. Same pain came back a week later...it felt worse....called 911 and ambulance to ER. Went into Vfib in the ER (flatlined 5 times). Got the "Widowmaker" version. Age 52. Mostly healthy.
Huckleberry-hound50@reddit
Cholesterol medicine is so important.
Steerider@reddit
A relative woke up with what felt lime terrible heartburn. Woke his wife and said "you need to take me to the doctor." Yep, massive heart attack and a free helicopter ride.
A friend of the family in her 70s woke up feeling sick. Went to the doc and discovered she'd had a heart attack a day before. She passed later that day.
swissie67@reddit
Yeah. My husband had a majorly serious heart attack the end of February while home alone when I was at work. He's felt lousy all winter, but he had been sick and it was a lousy winter and he always feels like crap when its cold and awful out.
He called 911 for the first time ever on himself, and he still isn't entirely sure why he did, except he finally felt like he should, and he felt like an idiot doing it.
He only had had a 10% chance of survival. I'm so glad he made that call. He was rushed to the hospital and immediately into surgery.
Fee_is_Required2@reddit
Thank god he was sensible!! Sometimes men can be way too “manly” for their own good. Just tough it out mentality can be fatal -
swissie67@reddit
I was thinking of Kyle Busch and how he died at freaking 41 because he was trying to "tough out" pneumonia, I guess. Such a stupid reason to die so young.
We were lucky. I was at work with the car, so I wasn't home to talk him out of it or drive him somewhere, and he couldn't drive himself. As it is, he was taken immediately to the nearest high level cardiac center by ambulance. Otherwise, I might have lost him that day.
No family history. No personal history. He's in pretty good shape. Doesn't smoke. Rarely drinks. Exercises. Normal weight.
LuckyAd2714@reddit
I wonder about this for myself all the time ,, I hope you are well
Solid_Association_49@reddit
My dad had his first ever ecg at nearly sixty. The dr then asked him how old he was when he had the heart attack as it was not on his records. He witnessed a horrific accident in his early 40’s where three of his co workers were killed and thinks that’s when, figured it was a stress/panic reaction and never really worried about it. Just felt tight and stressed which was an understandable reaction to the situation
PerfectAd9944@reddit
Everyone experiences such different symptoms ahead of time that it's so hard to keep track but let me do my part by telling you what I felt (and ignored).
For 2 dats, my breastbone felt bruised like I have been punched all the way across it.
Then my gums started watering you know like when you're about to throw up. I ran to the bathroom but I did not throw up. Then both arms felt weird, very slightly tingly.
911 called. Rushed to hospital, 2 stents put in.
Life was really weird and surreal for the next 8 to 10 months. But its been just over 2 years and im back to normal, with changes.
I eat way healthier
I am super-aware of every single thing I feel in my body now.
Zestyclose_Car2269@reddit
This is why (after doing hospice 2 decades and being in healthcare almost 4) as soon as you have to make excuses for symptoms you know you need to be seen!
PerfectAd9944@reddit
I did make an excuse for the best bone pain. I am not a drinker at all like maybe 1 a year tops. 2 days before the pain started I had an extremely stressful situation to where I drank too much and then I had to force myself to throw up like five times. It was awful so I attributed that breastbone pain to my violent heaving.
The gums watering was weird but then when I felt my arms I was like oh yeah something is really freaking wrong.
sleebus_jones@reddit
Had a physical lately. He asked if I had an EKG lately (56M). Nope. Got it done, showed possible LVH. Hm, interesting. Got scheduled for nuke stress test and calcium scan. Cardiologist does another EKG, sees LVH, sends me for ultrasound. Confirmed but minor. Put on pills to help. However EKG there shows some potential blockages (which is why nuke test was ordered). Get nuke test, surprise, I've already had a heart attack. No clue it happened or when. Waiting for calcium scan results.
Tl;Dr get yourself checked out. I've been on statins and BP meds since 2012.
Plastic-Sentence9429@reddit
I (55m)woke up the other day with symptoms like these. Part of me was like "it's an anxiety attack" despite never having had one before, because I've been under a lot of stress lately, but I just felt so off. But I couldn't stop thinking about my friend from high school who, despite being in great shape, had these type of symptoms for two days before going in and being told that he'd been having a heart attack.
So, I went to the ER, they checked me out immediately and...things were fine. By the time I got out, I felt better, but given my history of high blood pressure, and mild atherosclerosis, I wasn't going to risk it. Took the day off work and chilled out.
cserskine@reddit
Better to be safe than sorry! It’s good that you went to get checked out.
LonesomeBulldog@reddit
I am an avid mountain biker and former college athlete. At 44, I had 90% blockage on the widow maker and another vessel. My cardiologist said “you can’t out exercise bad genetics.” Everyone over 40 should just pay the $100 to get a heart scan for calcium buildup before they have a cardiac event.
FlippingPossum@reddit
I just had a check up eith my doctor and he always asks if I've had any chest pain. I have asthma and occasional heartburn. Leads to me describing said pain and him asking all sorts of questions.
He gave me an ekg and sent me for a heart ultrasound when I first started having asthma problems. Then, I got to go to the pulmonologist.
I can sure understand why it could be missed. I just found out I had a uti during a routine urine sample at my gynecologist appointment. My dumb ass thought my symptoms were because I was in perimenopause.
Givemeallthecabbages@reddit
I have learned that in and after menopause, getting UTIs is much more common. It's also apparently more subtle symptoms and at the same time bad enough to mimic dementia. Eek.
Turbulent-Mango6569@reddit
My husband had chest pains when we were hiking the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. Luckily there were three doctors in our group and they did a few “in the field” tests to confirm it wasn’t a heart attack. I don’t know what we would have done if it had been. Two of my friends husbands have had the “widow maker” heart attack, luckily both survived and are doing well. It worries me for sure: we love to hike in the backcountry and this keeps me up at night.
StreetFriendship1200@reddit
Pls tell your husband to request a Coronary Calcium Score cardiac CT from his dr now that you are back in the U.S.
SkepticalMisanthrope@reddit
This is great advice. I’ve had two. First one was very worrying. 10 years later with heavy, advanced statins and weight loss (not enough, but…) I’ve made solid improvements. What I don’t think people realize is that your body can clear out the calcium buildup over time if you address the cause.
ROBOT_KK@reddit
If they survived “widow maker” heart attack, then they didn’t have one.
NavierIsStoked@reddit
It’s refers to a complete blockage of a specific artery, Left Anterior Descending (LAD), because it supplies line 50% of the heart’s blood flow.
If you have a partial block of that, and get it treated, you’ve survived a widow maker heart attack.
CrispityCraspits@reddit
I think you have prevented one, not survived one.
ROBOT_KK@reddit
Thanks for clarification.
SnooLentils6677@reddit
Healthy and fit. At 46 had massive twinge in the middle of my back and then 16 hours of indigestion and pain. Fully believed I had a rib out or muscle spasms because of the type of exercise I do. Felt like I had an ice cube stuck in my esophagus. Couldn’t lay down at all without pain. But not dizzy or out of breath.
Called triage after I asked my dad if I should go to the chiro or the clinic. Triage told me to call 911. My dad drove me to the ER. EKG was normal. Did the blood test. Results were obnoxiously high. Put on the drip of nitro and heparin. Tested two hours later, because I was still waiting for a hospital bed and transport. Blood levels increased by a lot. Ambulance driver was astounded I wasn’t dead. And worked to relieve pain.
Angiogram showed cardiac artery dissection. Enzymes revealed a heart attack. It is a vulnerability for me forever now. Cardiologist said it is more likely in healthy and fit women. So, ladies, don’t hold your breath if you do any heavy lifting or push ups. You could split an artery wall. 😳
Nerdy-Meta-Mind@reddit
Damn
omegared138@reddit
My grandfather walked around for a few weeks with back pain, the feeling of indigestion and just being tired, when he finally got it checked out he had massive blockages. Another few days and he would have died.
Difficult-Future-450@reddit
Being of "that age" even though I do all the right things - workout, eat fairly well, not overweight, quite smoking in my 20s, is scary. Family history tells me it will happen: dad had his HA at 49, my cousin passed a few years ago at 49 from HA, my maternal aunts passed before 66 from HAs. My first visit to a cardiologist was at 54, and that was a joy, one test led to another which led to AAA that is just a millimeter shy of "we need to fix this shit". Walking time bomb - enjoy the time you have.
sbb214@reddit
thank you for posting this.
I lost my very active cyclist brother 3 years ago to a heart attack. He was 52. From what his friends told me, he was complaining about his heart in the weeks/days before he died. He is the one you're talking about - he did not understand what was happening to him.
I'm glad you listened to your wife. She's a mensch.
RepairGloomy7684@reddit
My father had "back pain" between the shoulder blades for years that would happen when he walked too fast. Until one day he left work early due to his back pain and actually let my mom take him to the ER. Turned out it was a heart attack and needed a quintuple bypass surgery.
weight22@reddit
It's crazy how silent these symptoms can be - shoulder pain, indigestion, back pain, heartburn. Very scary because you never know.
HighBiased@reddit
On the flip side, you can also have a weird pain that comes from the heart area. Growing from subtle to sharp in like 10-20mins and won't go away from hours... but it's NOT a heart attack, it's weird heartburn. Doesn't feel like a burn in the throat or stomach. But pain in the heart area.
Source: me. I had one of these and was in enough pain and worried enough to call an ambulance to the ER. Got all checked out. Wasn't a heart attack. Glad I went and got it checked out. Also glad it's wasn't something worse.
Stay vigilant
flashingcurser@reddit
I have the same thing. When it happens, if I quickly drink some cold water, then I'll burp and I'll be fine again.
Grobbekee@reddit
They day if you can point where it hurts, it's something else. Heart pain shows up somewhere else as a referred pain.
ooomellieooo@reddit
I've had multiple heart attacks, one of which was a widowmaker and I always felt like I was being impaled through the center of my back to the center of my front by a telephone pole. No pain anywhere else.
Grobbekee@reddit
I've had that sensation at times also but nothing special to see in the blood or on the EKG.
HighBiased@reddit
Good to know. This also radiated to my left arm and neck, which got me even more worried.
Loki12626@reddit
This totally freaks me out. I have chronic severe neck pain due ta a car accident neck injury from 36 years ago and subsequent surgery 19 years ago. I also have bad left arm pain often as a result of that surgery. I’m nearly 59. High bp controlled by meds and same with cholesterol. Think I’m going to bring this up with my new doctor
BravestBlossom@reddit
I wouldn't say that's necessarily accurate. Source, myself, female cardiac patient. I've had three different issues and they all felt different. If you are feeling off or weird in the upper body, and are unsure what's going on, go to the ER.
Xavelle@reddit
I had severe left side pain and was taken by ambulance to the ER. It was pancreatites and I had to have my gallbladder out. I really thought I was having a heart attack.
MissDisplaced@reddit
My dad had a heart attack caused by a myocardial infection in his heart age 58. He thought he had a bad cold and let that cold go on too long. It caused a lot of heart damage and a pacemaker. He did live for quite a number of years afterwards, but eventually the damage was too much and he died age 71 because his heart just couldn’t pump enough anymore and basically shut down. Don’t let things go people!
TommyTaps@reddit
Im same exact age. Has a HA this past Halloween same as you lm very active and healthy. my symptoms a bit different, I had the indigestion but what ultimately made me go to the urgent care was felt like tiny champagne bubbles in my right arm then down my leg and up my neck. The previous day, I did have a very out of character hey wait a minute, let me catch my breath moment after carrying heavy items up and down the staircase 10 or more times. But I only required literally a 15 second break for the feeling to subside. That night took my nightly baby aspirin and went to bed. In the AM I didn't feel my typical 100% I felt around only 85% . So I made the grown up decision to go to urgent care to find out what was going on. They did the EKG and the nurse and the EKG results told me to go to the ER. yeah... I didn't take the "recommended" ambulance ride, instead I drove myself. parked across the street and walked up all the steps to ultimately walk into the ER front door. I Never felt so calm the entire time knowing that I was in the right place with the right people that can handle my "indigestion" I figured if it was "my time" there was no better place to be. Moral of my story is don't ignore what your body is trying to tell you. It definitely didn't come over like a Fred Samford "Elizabeth I'm coming" feeling. It was very suddle and could have easily be ignored.
More_Ship_190@reddit
Reading all of this makes me wish I didn't do so much cocaine. Now in my 50's I am like a ticking time 💣
MissDisplaced@reddit
I hope you stopped. Our bodies can’t handle cocaine at this age. I shudder to think what all I did in my 20s
D05wtt@reddit
56M. That’s scary. A few years back I was going to bed and just as I was climbing into bed, half my body felt tingly. I thought I was about to have a stroke. Drove 5 mins to the ER immediately, which actually was stupid of me. They did all sorts of tests on me. Found a bunch of things…like I had scars from a mini-stroke in my past that I had no idea I had. High blood pressure. High cholesterol. Prediabetic. The thing is for 50+ years I’ve never had a full checkup. Last 25 years I didn’t even have insurance. Ate and drank what I wanted. So a few years ago, it all caught up. Now, I have checkups every 3-6 months. I have to exercise. I have to eat healthier, which means I have to cut out all my favorite foods or eat it in moderation. I’ve had to write out a will. I have yet to do my first colonoscopy, my shingles vaccines, etc. On medications including statins. At this point just trying to play catch-up with my health.
If any young kids are reading this, my advice is to take your health seriously. I know we all feel indestructible when we’re younger. I was one of them and now, I’m paying for those decisions. Eat healthier. Exercise. Go for regular checkups to catch those problems before they get worse.
Grobbekee@reddit
(And don't smoke)
Temporary_Second3290@reddit
I'm almost the age my mom was when she had a massive heart attack. I try not to think about it too much. My goal was to quit smoking before I hit that age and I actually did quit.
moooeymoo@reddit
From one quitter to another, WAY TO GO!!!! No one realizes how freaking hard it is to not only quit but to STAY quit.
steady_sloth84@reddit
Proud of you quitting smoking, so sorry about your mom ❤
Temporary_Second3290@reddit
Thank you.
VanillaHuel@reddit
This is scary, as I've been dealing with high cholesterol for some years now. But my blood pressure is good.
Emergency_Rooster664@reddit
Statins.
VanillaHuel@reddit
Am already trying to lower blood sugar not to get diabetes. 😞
MinimumBrave2326@reddit
Insulin resistance can actually increase your cholesterol and cardiac risk, so statins are probably a good idea.
You can always trial coming off of them later once the a1c comes down.
Emergency_Rooster664@reddit
Fair point.
TheLawOfDuh@reddit
Was just put on em last year and they brought my numbers in line quickly. Small pill, low dose, super easy fix.
Emergency_Rooster664@reddit
I’m hopping on them.
Recordeal7@reddit
Right there with you OP. I had a classic “silent” heart attack in 2019. I MAY have felt a slight twinge in my left arm. Lasted about 2-3 seconds and that was it. Then over the course of 2 days I kept getting tired, fatigued, and my heart rate dropped to the mid 60’s…and it usually ran high. My wife convinced me to go to the ER.
I’m lucky to sill be alive.
RDUBiker@reddit
Hopefully you'll now feel even weirder when you reach the same age as elderly people! Good save, glad you're here.
snap802@reddit
It's weird, I work in an ER and see patients all the time who I would have thought are way older than I am but turn out to be my age or younger. Some of these folks just have a lifetime of chronic illness I'm fortunate enough to not have. I've also seen many time why it is so important to take care of your body while you can.
RDUBiker@reddit
1000%. Wife and I retired early and focus most of our non-teenager time on health. Gym, two walks per day, blood tests, and supplements. And everyone reading this thread ought to go get a heart CT scan, asap. Mine found minimal but non zero calcium in the widowmaker artery so now I can be watchful and adjust using diet. Doc suggested a statin to lower cholesterol but I said not yet, going to try it myself with diet only and after 2 months of modifications I dropped total C from 220 to 156 and vastly reduced LDL. Go get the data and then form new habits to adjust for it.
eman_on_1@reddit
My ex father in law had a heart attack in his early 40’s. His back/shoulder and left arm were hurting for a week. He attributed to the physical labor he did, and took Vicodin and OTC meds for the pain. Finally went to the hospital when the pain wouldn’t stop and needed a triple bypass. Part of his heart did die as well otherwise they would have done a quadruple bypass. They said the Vicodin probably helped save his life by thinning his blood enough to keep it moving through the body. He never went to the doctor for much of anything so no way to know for preventative measures.
My mother had a heart attack at 62 with symptoms similar to yours - upset stomach, feeling bad, “heartburn”. She had no insurance, and my sister had to force her to the hospital. Luckily, 2 stents were able to help her. She did go to the doctor regularly prior to no insurance, and we know heart problems run in our family. That’s probably why my sister was so adamant about bringing her in right away.
Dragonslayer-5641@reddit
If you feel this AND jaw pain or numbness in extremities, go to ER 💯
MazW@reddit
My sister died this way at 64. She thought she had the flu.
Potential_Stomach_10@reddit
53 with two blockages. One pretty old as it had started to make its own bypass.
DasArtmab@reddit
Found out I needed a stent in a similar fashion. Went to my annual physical. Bad cholesterol was good. Good cholesterol was too high. Got a calcium score which was quite high, shrug. Went for my daily walk, came back winded. Doc ordered a stress test. Pretty much needed a stent the next day
freedom781@reddit
How high was the calcium score?
GArockcrawler@reddit
I am sorry to hear this but glad you mentioned calcium. I work in healthcare and spent 1.5 days last week with a cardiologist and PCP and their teams working on a project around calcium scan testing. It’s a quick (usually relatively inexpensive self pay) CT scan that measures the amount of calcium in your blood vessels. The calcium, I learned, is scar tissue from plaque buildup and can be a great noninvasive measure of how much and where potential issues are.
The cardiologist said people as young as 25 should get one and once you have one, if your risk is high, you won’t need another because then they know to keep an eye on you.
I came home and told my husband we need to get these done.
DasArtmab@reddit
I immediately gave my siblings an earful about getting theirs done. Diet and exercise are two components. You can see it in the mirror and feel it. However, genetics can be a bitch that hides
fastcatdog@reddit
Swelling in the ankles, don’t wait get checked. ✅
wolf19d@reddit
I had my heart attack at 38. I didn’t know it at the time. I only had one of the common symptoms. Five days later, I’m in the hospital with a 100% blocked,right coronary artery.
Mindless-Baker-7757@reddit
You just described my everyday existence.
due_opinion_2573@reddit
Same. Everyday since 35. Now I'm 53.
LadyNorbert@reddit
Glad you're doing better! If you'd like a chuckle (laughter being the best medicine and all), I misread your title at first glance and thought you were telling us that a healthy six-year-old was having a heart attack. I was very confused and should probably go back to bed.
CardinaLiz4@reddit
Has it ever been suggested to you to read the room? Just wondering.
nutellaisgross@reddit
I did too. weird
cheekiemunky13@reddit
My 43 about to turn 44 yr. old husband has been experiencing acid reflux and is constantly tired. There are other symptoms. I begged him to get a cardiac stress test from his doctor ASAP.
I'm praying everything is fine and he's just overstressed and exhausted from his horrible job...which I keep asking him to get into therapy about. I'm hoping he'll learn some coping mechanisms to deal with shit jon since he won't try to find a new job.
HistoryGirl23@reddit
My husband is the same way, it's stressful.
AAUAS@reddit
Heart failure in my case. Last year, age 58.
designer130@reddit
I went to the ER recently for a suspected heart attack. Woman, so symptoms can be different. I had level 2 pain in my left chest area for a couple of days accompanied by dizziness that was worsening. The worsening dizziness is what sent me. Luckily it wasn’t a heart attack, but they did say I was right to come in.
trUth_b0mbs@reddit
my dad's cardiologist said that 'mini heart attacks' happen more often than people think and those people have no idea it's happening/it happened.
apparently my dad had 2 mini ones but he/we had no idea! the only reason we found out was because he went for a test where they inject dye into the veins (forgot what the test is called) and the cardiologist saw the scar tissue on his heart. When he asked if he had a previous heart attack, my dad said no and he showed us on the image that he had 2 mini ones.
freaked us out.
r2b2x2@reddit
Watch feeling winded for no reason. I was 45 when it happened to me. CAD is no joke. If your chest aches from time to time, tell the doctor! Sometimes that's what a heart attack feels like.
marugirl@reddit
59F, I think I may have had a slight heart attack at work earlier this month. Got pain in my chest, lightheaded, sweating, hands were numb/tingly, heavy breathing. Just rode it out til it was over and went back to work lol. Must remember to make a doctors appointment and get checked out. Honestly would rather just a big one to take me out once and for all.
flea_23@reddit
Giiiiiirl. Get that appointment.
marugirl@reddit
Appointment made, for june 15th lol. First available.
BravestBlossom@reddit
Please get it checked out.
kerill333@reddit
Two of my female friends have had heart attacks recently. One was a ‘widowmaker’, she had no idea. Both survived. Neck/jaw pain and upper arm pain were symptoms.
Eulers_Constant_e@reddit
Just a PSA that many gastroenterological symptoms are similar to heart attack symptoms. If you are experiencing these symptoms and are cleared by the ER or your cardiologist that your heart looks fine, your next trip should be to see a gastroenterologist. Colon, stomach, and esophageal cancers can all cause symptoms similar to heart attacks. So if your heart looks good, please go get the endoscopy and colonoscopy. Early detection is key.
Eastern_Habit_5503@reddit
Yes, the 2 for 1 deal. Insist on having both endoscopy and colonoscopy at the same visit while you’re under the anesthesia. It’s the best nap you’ll ever have too.
Confident-Silver-271@reddit
My dad was a long distance runner, ate well, never smoked, thin, etc... went for an insurance stress test and the doctors rushed him in what turned out to be triple bypass surgery. Stay well out there, y'all
Dishwaterdreams@reddit
New fear unlocked. I take a medication that causes heartburn. Oh joy! At least my blood pressure is perfect thanks to disautonomia.
Ok_Possession4936@reddit
My bother dropped dead at 42. Walking on the beach, said he didn't feel right, put his hands on his chest, and just dropped dead. No known medical issues. Autopsy showed he had damage from a prior heart attack but he never complained of anything other than repeat heartburn.
Confident-Silver-271@reddit
I'm so sorry 😔
NeverEverMaybe0_0@reddit
Everybody. Get checked every so often.
CommanderPowell@reddit
I have upper GI pain,health anxiety, and chronic muscle pain in my left side neck, jaw, and shoulder. In other words I’m constantly telling myself it’s not a heart attack. My wife and I just call it “the scary pain”. I doubt I’d ever even notice that anything was different until it was too late. As it is the anxiety tries to tell me the current time is different than all the others every single time.
sorieno@reddit
Same here. When the pain becomes too much for my normal meds and I do go to the hospital they immediately treat me as if I’m having a heart attack and then the anxiety gets worse. Then everything just snowballs 😳
BellaFromSwitzerland@reddit
My GP said a new patient walked in with what seemed like stomach pain and he wanted to get a prescription and be on his way
The doctor insisted on a proper examination. Lo and behold the guy was having a heart attack
XanaxWarriorPrincess@reddit
Those symptoms sound like my everyday.
gunthersquirrel@reddit
I was thinking the same.
DisastrousEngineer63@reddit
Glad you're okay. I had a calcium test last week, just to see. Scored a Zero!
ContestBulky@reddit
“It’s weird being the same age as old people”
😂 GOOD ONE! 🤣
AKABrokenArrow@reddit
We’re the youngest of the old people!
_P4X-639@reddit
Bot account
Zen_Hydra@reddit
My younger brother died via cardiac event in his sleep two weeks after his 45 birthday. He lived with high blood pressure, and was medicated for it.
No_Act_2773@reddit
yip. 54 here. had one 9 years ago. much in the same way. shrugged it off for a day, pain in left would just not go, thought it was from lifting some 25kg bags of stones. hey ho. went to docs, off to a&e. shit happens to put life in perspective huh!
sunnyoboe@reddit
Yikes. Glad you are okay.