Whenever a new heart patient comes to the hospital, it is routine to ask if the patient smokes, exercises, eats right, takes good care of his or her diabetes or blood pressure. It seems that these questions may somehow make the patients feel guilty; guilty of bringing the problem on themselves.
Against this background, I wonder if there is a stigma attached to heart disease. And if this stigma prevents some people from seeking medical attention.
If you have had heart disease, here are my two questions:
- Did you feel like people made you feel like you single-handedly brought it to yourself?
- Do you think a perceived stigma attached to heart disease may have delayed your seeking medical attention?
2006-09-22 14:37:00 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
Eh, when I still thought that it was a heart attack, and that I had brought it on by years of smoking, drug use, bad diet, etc, yes, I was ashamed to some extent. That didn't delay my seeking medical treatment.
When I was eventually diagnosed with Sarcoidosis, PAH and CHF, I wasn't quite as ashamed. It's funny because I still have the same history of bad stuff, but I also got dealt a chit hand in the autoimmune department (also have Lupus and APLS) so I wallowed in the "why me" pool for a while.
Now I just wait to clock out I suppose. People will always see a person my age carrying an oxygen tank and assume that I did something dreadful to myself to cause it. I suppose I played a part, but I won't be ashamed about it anymore.
2006-09-22 21:45:13 · answer #1 · answered by Sister Di 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is NO so-called stigma when a human being has a heart attack.
I can't believe U even asked this F.U. question. There are all ages of people
that have heart defects....and it isn't their faults. MOst of the time they aren't
even aware of it. My Grandfather just passed away a year ago, he was
taken from us due to a sudden heart attack. My boyfriend has had to have
open heart surgery. It really doesn't matter whether these souls did the right
thing or not. They were struck with something they didn't want, just like cancer. Can we absolutely stop cancer, can we gaurentee we won't ever get
any disease ??? NO. So, don't down someone just because they haven't
done EXACTLY what the doctor said. We are all gonna go someday.........I'm
sure people want to live life to the fullest, while they ARE here !!
2006-09-22 14:56:29 · answer #2 · answered by CraZyCaT 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I never have an heart before, but my answer well be NO, why should i be ashamed of having a heart attack it's not the doctor's or the patient's fault , illness just happen. And too bad if the patient knows they're ill and doesn't stop smoking, nor not eating right, nor not exercising, and i don't think it's ashamed of asking these questions. Just doctors doing there job
Best wishes and good luck
2006-09-22 14:57:15 · answer #3 · answered by sherry 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not! 99% of people who end up in the hospital with a heart related condition didn't even know the heart was the culprit until their doctor informed them. So I guess this answers part 2 also!
2006-09-23 09:58:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Excuse Me mutually as I destroy my own coronary heart this night - Whiskeytown. kind Hearted female Blues - Robert Johnson Pardon My coronary heart - Neil youthful Heartbreaker - Led Zep broken coronary heart Blues- John Lee Williams ( Sonny Boy a million )
2016-10-17 11:44:23 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I couldn't have been more ashamed.
2006-09-22 17:06:55 · answer #6 · answered by S K 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋