I just Had a Heart attack in August of this year at the young age of 34. How do I deal with all this?

Question

Im 35 now.I just turned 35 in september but in August of this year I had a heart attack. I had 4 blocked autries and so therefor I had to have a bypass done. I cant believe at 34 years of age I had to have open heart surgery. My question is How do I go on knowing that at anytime I could have another heart attack. I came so close to dying that it was unreal. Im suffering from deppresion because of it so I would love to hear from anyone that has some advice.

Answer 1

It is very rare for an individual to have significant coronary disease and require a bypass surgery, like you have, at such a young age. No wonder you are anxious about the whole matter.

First a word about cholesterol - It doesn't help to have crackpots talking about cholesterol conspiracies and such. I have no doubt the person who wrote that believes it and means the best for you, he's just misguided and doesn't understand enough to know what he doesn't understand. And yes, I visited the web links he had. I largely agree with the assertions that are made. It is just not the whole story. (Like you can eat absolutely anything you want if you eat a 1000 calorie diet per day and your cholesterol levels will be great...but truthfully most people don't do that) You also have to ask yourself why these guys are so desparate that you buy into their theory and why they need to type in CAPITAL letters?

Cholesterol lowering medications HAVE been shown to reduce the formation of new arterial plaquing, stabilize plaques that already exists, and with intensive enough treatment, even reverse plaquing, which in sum reduces the incidence of additional acute cardiac events. Each case is individual and treatment is best tailored to the patient's needs. I have seen first-hand many patients that have benefitted from optimized hyperlipidemic treatment.

Cholesterol that is typically measured on routine lab studies are MARKERS for the components that actually comprise plaques. Specialized tests can be run to evaluate sub-particles that are the actual components...and treatment can be tailored to address those abnormalities if they exist. Usually you can use the marker test to quickly evaluate rough cholesterol status.

I have taken care of a lot of people after they have had an open heart procedure. It is very common that depression sets in after the procedure. It is often a combination of things that causes this - including your body healing, the time it takes to recover, the realization of your mortality and plenty of other factors - but it is real. If you are not being treated already for depression then you probably ought to be.

Finally the last piece of advice I might offer is to review your lifestyle. I might be willing to bet you have all of the risk factors for coronary disease - diabetes (and probably therefore overweight), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, positive family history, and smoking. It has taken 30 years for you to adopt the lifestyle you have. It will not be easy to "unlearn" it all, but it is possible and by the way your life depends on it. I believe that if you get serious about improving what you can improve, take your medications and stop smoking (if you do), then your risk profile and therefore your likelihood for future disease is greatly diminished. It is not an easy job, but it is do-able. Good luck.

Answer 2

OK..First of all heart attacks can happen at any age, a guy in high school, suddenly dropped to the ground it class, and that was it, at age 15, so do you have heart disease in the family? He was born with a condition he was unaware of. So please believe me, what happened to you, may have been a blessing..you survived and if it did not happen and the surgery was not done, you could have just dropped dead anywhere, but the Doctors FIXED the problem, with proper diet, mild exercise at first, then walking up to an hour daily will keep all your organs in the best working shape possible. Do not dwell on having another heart attack, the chances are way to low. You keep a close relationship with your cardiologist. you will be OK, trust me. And keep your weight to the right one for your built . you will be alright.

Answer 3

It could happen at any age. Heart Disease. Especially if it runs in your family. Also, if you don't eat health and excersise, it could happen too. Just thank God you're alive and you went through surgery to save you. A friend of mine died 2 weeks ago, 43 of a massive heart attack. No chance whatsoever to be saved. With the depression, lean and talk to all your family and friends. Try to laugh at least 3 times a day, a good laugh, eat healthy, and enjoy life one day at a time. Watching old I Love Lucy shows help you laugh alot. Praying that you see your 100 birthday some day.

Answer 4

I have been there, i have been going through the same thing this past year i was 33 at the time of my operation. and even though it has been a year i still have depression problems. I deal with it by talking to friends and family and by keeping a journal. every time that i get to feeling down i set back and think of all that i have to live for and how my family needs me and i write down all the feelings that i am having.it helps me. try to get in a support group that may also help but most of all don't forget that there is always someone who loves you out there and that you can not allow yourself to dwell on what has hap pend and what could happen, just live life one day at a time and live it to its fullest. good luck and remember that i am thinking and praying for you.

Answer 5

Thank God you are alive. You must have something important to do for Him. I work with heart patients every day almost. From heart attacks to heart transplants when I am not in the ER. I know they get depressed. Watch what you eat first so your arteries don't get blocked up again. Ask for a nutritionist to help you with your meals. Ask your cardiologist for the best exercises in his/her opinion to do. And love your family and friends, they will be your support group.

Take care

Answer 6

Sorry to hear about your Coronary Heart Disease.

Whatever you do DON'T fall victim to the cholesterol SCAM


Keep an eye on HOMOCYSTEINE, BLOOD SUGAR (hopefully you are not a diabetic) WEIGHT, STRESS

Also when the time comes consistently excercise, but discuss with your doctor what type and what intensity.tec

Statins might be beneficial for someone in YOUR situation because of their anti clotting anti inflamatory properties.NORT because of LDL lowering
I
Cholesterol does not cause CHD. Read here


www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol.htm

www.theomnivore.com


I suggest you read all the 18 Clinical Dietary Intervention Trials in Colpo's boook which show NOE BENEFIT to replacing saturated fat with polyunsaturated

Your atherosclerosis was FIBEROUS SCAR TISSUE SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS MAINLY.


It is NOT "wads of fa"t NOR "wads of cholesterol"


THIS is a LIE


Human atherosclerosis contains very little cholesterol. It also contains very little fat. Like I said earlier it is 90% FIBROUS SCAR TISSUE, SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS. IT RESEMBLES A SCAB


Out of the SMALL percentage of fats that they do contain 80 percent IS POLYUUNSATURATED NEXT IS MONOUNSATURATED . Satuares make up the LEAST



Keep the stress LOW.

Daily excercise ( light to moderate , whichever you are able to do

Wtach BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS


Watch C-Ractive protein levels and HOMOCYSTEINE


Best of luck!

Answer 7

Usually there will be other risk factors (i.e. familial condition of heart attack at young ages, uncontrolled hypertension, obesity, etc). But yes, heart attacks are getting more common in young people and the risk can be decreased with diabetic control.

Answer 8

Hello Payton,

You've gotta look at his as a new lease on life. You are through the worst part, being the surgery. Now that you are aware that you have a predispositin to heart disease, you need to adopt a strategy to prevent it from recurring until perhaps you are a ripe old age. And with diet and liftstyle modicfications you can do just that. Dr. Dean Ornish has done extensive research on preventing and reversing heart disease, and he has published several books on the subject. He claims that heart disease can be prevented, and in many cases slowly reversed. He has many clinical studies to back up his claims. He is basically advocating a very low fat (less than 10%) no cholesterol vegetarian diet, regular moderate exercise, and finding ways to control the stress issues in your life. This is not easy to do, but it can be done. Most people do not have the will power to make such dynamic changes in there lives for the long term, which is why this plan is not prescribed by many physicians. One of the previous posts indicated that cholesterol was not a factor in heart disease, which is incorrect. Cholesterol is just one of many contributing factors that contribute to CAD, so it should be controlled.

As adults, we are all walking around with some degree of blockages in our coronary arteries. CAD starts in childhood and progresses as we age, faster in some individuals than others. At this point and time, you are starting with a clean slate, and can rest assured in the knowledge that you have survived a bypass operation and can now reap the benefits, being remarkably better blood flow to you heart. Millions of people are walking around with cad and don't even know it. Your much better off than them, as you are aware of your cad and can now take the steps necessary to improve your cardiac health. Knowledge is power. Educate yourself. Read the Dr. Dean Ornish books. Adopt what he advocates into your life. You absolutley can go on to live a normal life span if you are willing to make the sacrifices to do so. It's well worth it. You can do it!

By adopting this lifestyle to manage your CAD, you will take charge of this disease. You will be in control, not the disease. It will empower you to take back control of your life, and lose that dreadful sense of impending doom that I believe you are feeling.

Please feel free to email me if you would like further input. This is a subject that is near and dear to my heart and I would be glad to provide you with assistance if I can.

Answer 9

just take 1 day at a time. i went through the depression state after my 2 open heart surgeriess @39, i still get depressed and its been 4 years but i just thank gos for modern technologies and that they were able to fix what was wrong

Answer 10

Worrying about it is not going to help; going around bummed out all the time is not going to help.

Realize that in spite of your health problems, you could easily end up living well into your eighties. Many people with severe health problems from birth live long lives in spite of predictions.

Keep your doctor appointments and follow your cardiologist's advice to the letter.

Look around you at all the people in your family, and all your friends who would be devastated at losing you, and try to live for them if you can't find the fortitude to live for yourself.

I hope this was helpful!