Why did my dad pass away of a heart attack?

Question

My father passed away of a massive heart attack over a month ago. After the fact I tried looking up some information about it but I'mnot sure I understand it. So please, do not copy/paste information.
My dad had diabetes & high blood pressure. He stopped smoking over 10 years ago. He also had a large belly ( but his legs and arms were tiny). I know those all increased his odds of having a heart attack.
He has been eating really well for the last few years and had low cholesterol. So am I right to assume that his arteries were not blocked? He did not have a control on his diabetes...
He also passed away in the shower. Did that make a difference?
How long does the massive heart attack last before someone passes away?
I would appreciate any help I can get

Answer 1

The same thing happened to my father. He was too fat and this is one of the main causes. I feel sorry for you, hugs.

Answer 2

I'm sorry for your loss, I'll pray for your father.

He may have stopped smoking, but that doesn't mean he never did, and the damage that had been done wasn't reversed, it just didn't progress when he stopped. So that's 10 years of damage to his body he lived with, not counting all the years he smoked. A heart attack is basically when blood supply to a part of the heart is stopped. The lack of oxygen from the blood damages or even kills the heart tissue. You say he did not have a control on his diabetes. Diabetes is definitely a risk factor for heart attacks, so that may just have been what caused it. Also, previous heart attacks or strokes are able to cause later heart attacks. Another risk factor is high blood pressure. I understand he's been eating well, so his cholesterol was low, which is good because that most likely prolonged his life, or postponed the heart attack [so that he did not have it earlier than he did, meaning he was alive longer]. I wonder if your dad was under any stress, which is also a risk factor. Old age is definitely another risk factor.

I don't think him being in the shower had anything to do with it...and I don't know how long the heart attack lasts.

Hope I helped, though..

Answer 3

The pain can be minor in a minor blockage, or for a major blockage, tremendous pain. If the blockage does not clear up, the heart is starved for oxygen, its tissue is dying, and the heart may stop beating right then.

I had a little heart blockage for a real but minor heart attack. I also had mammoth angina which dissipated with nitroglycerin after about 30 minutes, while on vacation. I came home two weeks later, and they did an emergency triple bypass for two near total blockages. They said 99% in two of three main arteries in my case, and I was lucky to be alive. I never smoked, was slim, and exercised in anticipation I would have a heart attack as my father did.

Smoking damages the internal lining of the arteries, which initiates the plaque "repair" and eventual large blockages where they occur. If he ate badly for decades, likely his blockages were nearly as bad as mine. I can't eat anything with fat, or I get angina. Sometimes within minutes, sometimes lasting for days. But my regular exercise gave me an out. I had well developed collaterals, which did save my life.

I hope he was happy the last few years as he bought more time for you and your family. The changes he made were all he could do at that time, most of the damage was already done, as was mine. My arteries are still blocked. Improvement is only estimated to happen to 2/3 of patients at a rate of only about 5% a year at best.

You and any siblings do know that with a low stress lifestyle, and a great diet, you can avoid the heart disease that took your father. My kids know they need to do this, too. But there are many things I can't do, so I'm crippled on the inside, but ok on the outside. What he went through can save you from the thing. His legacy can be what not to do, and you'll live a long time. I hope he'd like that.

Answer 4

I'm sorry for your loss. Unfortunately, if the conditions you mentioned were untreated, it really isn't a surprise that he had a heart attack. First heart attacks are fatal in about 30% of cases and 50% of heart attack victims don't have elevated cholesterol.
Being in the shower would not usually bring on an AMI. The timing from onset of symptoms to death varies with the individual and the circumstances which brought on the attack. A person can actually have symptoms and either not think they are indicative of a heart attack, or not severe enough for them to seek medical treatment. It is possible to have symptoms and not have an attack and it is also possible to have an attack with no symptoms whatsoever. That's why high blood pressure is called the silent killer.

Answer 5

Sorry about the sad news.
The very warm water from the spraying caused the inelasticity of blood vessels; BP jumped and so heart must work very hard for a blocking plaque and triggered a massive heart attack because of lack of oxygen from the steam. It must happen too fast to get a fresh air! Source from few books of Dr Dean Omish, and others.

Answer 6

You know all the answers already except one.........Your question is did he suffer before he died......I have had seven heart attacks and five bypasses.Actually the pain isn't as bad as you would think,during a heart attack there is pain,but there is also weakness to the point of relaxation( inability to resist).If it were a massive attack it was probably very quick that's why he didn't have time to get out of the shower.My father had uncontrolled diabetes and I think he suffered more than I have during any of mine

Answer 7

I am sorry to hear about your dad and I lost my dad several years ago due to MI, blockages, etc. Diabetes has its own set of complications which include kidney problems, ulcers, eyes, etc.
I dont know what meds he was on so here it goes...If he was on cholesterol lowering meds that kept his cholesterol in check with the acceptable numbers...You still have the cholesterol factor everyone does.
Bits and pieces will emerge over time from people who may let out the info about your dad.
I know people who died just like your dad, suddenly...
I am sure he got help that could be rendered.
My prayers are with you so you may get through this time without much hurt.

Answer 8

You know I ran across your question and i see that you are trying to make some since of your fathers passing. Don't beat yourself up so hard on trying to see if your DAd could have done something different to stay alive. Sometimes it's someone's time to go and leave this earth. God tells us that everyone has a time to die pretty much. Maybe your Father didn't do anything wrong, maybe he did. I cannot say nor, can you. I'm so sorry about your DAD. I am dreading the day my DAD n Mom passes. It must be so hard on you. Try to understand that we all must die one day. I didn't know your Dad but, I hope that he did not suffer a lot when he passed. I am not sure what a massive heart attact does but I have heard it makes a person go fast. I know you will see your DAD one day in heaven. I believe this. It tells us in the Bible to cry when someone is born into this world and celebrate when someone dies. Now this sounds hard for us to understand but if this is the case then maybe God knows something that we don't? So sorry for your loss of your DAD. I am going to pray for you so that you can start to heal. God Bless You and please be ok. Ask God to help you to understand this. He will. Your father might not be here in the body wise but his spirit went back to God.When someone dies it tells us that the body goes back to dust for which it was made of and the spirit goes back for which it came, from God. So maybe if your Father is with God then he might be in a different formbut yet he still lives. And one day you might see your DAD. So be happy that you will see your Father again because God loves you and he knows that death is hard on ud down here for sure, He would have to know., He made us and put us here. God knows everything. God knows the times and dates also. There will be a date when we will all see our loves ones and this is what I think anyway. So while your having it hard then try to imagine a better place that your DAD might be in? Your Father did good by living his life out on this earth. Now he has payed the ultimate prize. He has died for his sins and now he is washed free of his sins. I can only imagine the good spot he is in now. Although no one is in a big hurry to die, when we do die then we are promised if we believe in God and his Son Jesus Christ, Then we will have everlasting life. I know your DAD believed so be happy for him and time will heal your heart to. God Bless you!

Answer 9

I am very sorry for your loss. I cannot however answer your question the way you may like. When we are ready to go Home we just go....it's our time. Try to feel good about where your dad has went. God needed him to go Home, your dad had fulfilled his lessons, his journey here on Earth. Everlasting life...death is just the beginning of his eternity. I would believe that your dad did not suffer....even if it takes time for the body to die, the spirit leaves immediately, therfore there truly is no suffering.
I would encourage you to talk to your dad..he really is with you and you may sense his precense around you,....maybe his smell...or your electronics go crazy....he may send you a bird or a song that reminds you of him....usually the spirits will come when we are sleeping...if you wake up say between 1-4am it may be that your dad's spirit is in the room...the same way we wake when someone is staring at us or walks into the room while we are sleeping. If your dad comes to you in a dream ask him your questions....make a mental note before you go to bed that if your dad comes to you in your dreams you want him to answer whatever questions you have.
Again, I am sorry for your loss.
God Bless!

Answer 10

Unfortunately dear, when it's someone's time to die, there's not much anyone can do to prevent it. It sounds like your Dad had lots of health problems. Heart attacks are caused by a number of things so it's hard to say what caused your Dad's heart attack or how long it took him to die after it occurred.

My beloved Mom passed away on August 2nd from lung cancer. She was a smoker for a long time but quit 20 years ago. It isn't fair but it still happened.

Your Dad would want you to be a happy successful person. Try to deal with your grief as best you can. Best of luck to you! I know what you're going through.