Heart Attack Symptoms In Men

My first heart attack occurred on October 31, 2008. I was 37 years old at the time. Yes you read that right, 37 years old. So how did I come to have a heart attack at such an early time in my life? Well this is my story. I want to tell you what happened, what I felt leading up to the big H.A. and how it has affected my life since. Before I get too deep into the story, I want to share a little about myself so that you can fully understand that this could happen to any of you.

I have always been a very healthy and energetic person. I am the type that rarely sat in one place for more than 30 minutes. There was always something to do, somewhere to go and someone to see. I had a very active life. I felt great all of the time and had rarely ever been sick. Besides getting the chicken pox when I was about 29,

I really did not know what it was like to be sick. I had a promising career doing something that I absolutely loved to do. I was a firefighter. Being a career firefighter was living my dream. I loved my job. It was a real rush for me to charge into a burning building and 20 minutes later walk out victorious in saving someones homes.

I was a strong and confident man and I thought that nothing could ever bring me down.

Then I had a heart attack. This definitely changed my life. I just couldn't understand how this was happening to me. Even though I felt the pain and an overwhelming sense of doom, I was having a very hard time believing the emergency room doctor as he explained what was happening to me. This is something that happens to old guys, not to young and strong firemen!

I had warning signs that I ignored. I had warnings signs of my impending heart attack that I just didn't want to believe were warnings.

** Note about the photo, this is an actual picture of me fighting a fire that was taken by someone at the fire department.

So much change for me after my heart attack. I had to face the fact of mortality. I had never thought about dying before. I had never thought about what would happen to my family if I was gone. I had not made any plans for them. Before my heart attack, I lived in the moment, was happy and so enjoyed my life. After my heart attack I was afraid of everything it seemed.

I was afraid to go to sleep. Any pain, indigestion or other odd symptom from something totally unrelated to my heart would worry me. I found myself being emotional over things that I would not have been emotional about before. There is so much more to recovering from a heart attack than just the physical recovery.

I needed some help and I found a book that really helped me understand my heart disease. It helped me learn to deal with my emotional issues and helped me to recover emotionally as well as physically. If you have had a heart attack or know someone that has, I highly recommend this book.

Back to Life After a Heart Crisis: A Doctor and His Wife Share Their 8-Step Cardiac Comeback Plan

For about 9 months before I had my heart attack I started to notice that I was having a lot of "heart burn" or indigestion. I had a bottle of antacid tablets at home, a bottle in my truck and one at work also. I didn't go anywhere without them. I had also noticed that I was getting tired much more easily even with only mild physical exertion. I also had frequent headaches. Then it all started to get worse.

One evening while I was taking a walk I had pain in my chest that was similar to the "heart burn" I had been experiencing but it was much worse. The pain came on suddenly and took my breath away for about a minute. I stopped and bent over resting my hands on my knees. The pain seemed to be migrating into my neck and jaw as well.

This scared me just a little but the pain went away in about a minute or two. Since the pain went away as quickly as it did, I decided to not give it much more thought. I felt kind of tired after that episode but I continued my walk as usual and didn't say anything to anyone when I got home. I had convinced myself that it was just a fluke by the time I got home.

Some time later I had the pain again when trimming some tree limbs with a hand saw in my front yard. This time the pain was a lot worse. I climbed down the ladder and sat in the shade for 5 minutes or so until the pain let up. It was a hot, sunny day and I once again convinced myself that it was not chest pain but just a muscle cramp from dehydration. I went in the house and drank some Gatorade and went back outside to finish my work. I had to have help from my son to finish the job because I felt tired and weakened.

Again I experienced the pain, each time getting worse, every time I was mowing the yard. I would have to stop, sit down in the shade and try to catch my breath. Then I would drink some water or Gatorade because I was still telling myself that it was just cramping from dehydration. I was starting to get quite worried at this point but I refused to believe that I was having chest pain. I refused to believe that something bad was happening and that I may need to see a doctor.

I noticed also that I would have this same pain and loss of breath if I got into an emotional situation where I felt anger, fear or anxiety. Still I ignored the symptoms. I lied to myself and said that nothing is wrong although by now it scared me half to death every time I had chest pain. I still didn't tell anyone.

The spring and summer passed. We were well into fall. By now I was tired everyday. I never felt like I could get enough sleep. I had a persistent headache that would only seem to let up for an hour or two at a time every 3 or 4 days. The chest pains were worse and more frequent. My job performance was suffering. I had little energy for my kids, my wife or my hobbies. Still I refused to seek any help. I had convinced myself that whatever is happening would soon be gone and that I was o.k.

If you are experiencing anything similar to this, please see your doctor right away. If the pain is combined with a shortness of breath, the pain is radiating into your neck, jaw or arm it is serious, go to the emergency room. Do not ignore this, the alternative is much worse.

Yes, you will likely need to change your diet after having a heart attack. I love to eat and I was afraid that I wouldn't enjoy food as much after my heart attack. I was resistant to my wife's plea to change how we eat, thinking it just won't taste good. I didn't want to eat bland food. I was in for a surprise, she found this cookbook from the American Heart Association. We started trying the recipes and found out that we liked the recipes as much or more as our old ones.

This book is huge with 720 pages. You won't run out of things to try. Almost everything we have tried we liked.

The New American Heart Association Cookbook, 7th Edition

We really enjoy this cook book also. We like this cook book when we want to make something quick and easy. Instead of grabbing burgers or other junk food on the way home, cook some of these meals and stay heart healthy. We found that it takes about the same amount of time to cook these meals at home as it does to fight all the traffic and people grabbing burgers on the way home.

American Heart Association Meals in Minutes Cookbook: Over 200 All-New Quick and Easy Low-Fat Recipes

Please consider making a donation to the American Heart Association. Your small donation, even a dollar, can save lives and further research into cardiovascular disease. There are many ways to donate. You can make a Memorial Donation to someone that lost their fight with cardiovascular disease. You could make a Tribute Donation in the name of a friend, relative or colleague. Or just make a General Donation to show how much you care about winning the fight against cardiovascular disease.

This link takes you directly to the American Heart Association Donation webpage.
Make a Donation to the American Heart Association

This link shows the many other ways you can contribute to the American Heart Association
Other Ways To Give

On the evening of October 30, 2008 I was using my computer. I was always up later than my wife, she was fast asleep in our bedroom on the other end of the house. I sat there in my office probably writing an article or two until just after midnight. My eyes were heavy and I decided it was time for bed. The October nights were unseasonably warm so I decided to step out on my front porch and smoke a cigarette before I went to bed. The cool air felt nice.

I lit up my cigarette and had two, maybe three puffs on it when I noticed that chest pain coming on. I stopped for a minute thinking how weird this was because I was doing nothing physical at all. I was just standing there looking up at the stars. I suddenly began to feel a little nauseated. The pain kept increasing, it felt as though a giant was behind me with its hands around my chest crushing it inward.

I threw the cigarette on the ground. An incredible sense of fear and doom overcame me. This feeling of fear was horrible and unlike anything I had ever experienced before. The pain went up into my neck, into my jaw and down my left arm. I could barely breath. I felt like I was going to fall and I was struggling to stay on my feet.

I went into the house and made my way into the bedroom. I woke my wife and told her that I needed to go to the hospital right now. I told her I was having very bad chest pain. She was quite alarmed because she knew that I never complain and that whatever was happening must be serious if I was asking for help. Luckily she is a nurse and has dealt with emergencies for years. She didn't panic but quickly dressed and drove me to the hospital.

Photo is courtesy of Russell Weeler at http://sxc.hu

In the emergency department I was met by nurses and doctors that I had become friends with over my years in the fire department and our frequent visits to the hospital with sick and injured patients. I sensed the doctors concern immediately as he rushed to do tests and diagnose my symptoms. When he came into my room with the results of blood tests and an EKG, he said that he had called for a helicopter to transport me to a hospital that specializes in cardiac treatment.

The events after that happened fast. I was flown to Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita, KS. Shortly after arriving my heart stopped beating adequately and I was given powerful medications to correct this situation. I was immediately rushed into surgery for a heart catheterization where it was discovered that the main artery that feed my heart with much needed oxygen and blood was 100% blocked. The artery was opened and a stint placed in the artery to keep it open.

I was alive for now. What damage had been done? Time will only tell. Will I make a full recovery or will this change my life forever? Time will only tell. The rest of my story is a bit further down on this page if you wish to read it. Please read the other articles on your way to my story continued to learn more about the symptoms of a heart attack in men.

Photo is courtesy of Deewebs at http://sxc.hu

Well last night (Oct. 30, 2009) marks one year since I had my heart attack. I have been fortunate to have a second chance at life and I am living it to the fullest! It would be appropriate at this time to look back on the last year and talk just a little bit about my recovery.

Having a heart attack is a life changing event, that goes without saying. There are quite a few changes you will make and new habits you need to get into. You will learn to take medicine daily and how difficult it can be to remember to take your pills. You will also have to learn about your diet, healthy eating and maybe how to safely loose weight. You will also find out that even if you were in good physical shape before your heart attack it will take time and effort to get back to that condition.

First, I had to learn to take medications on a daily basis. At first I took several different medications at 3 different times throughout the day. As I got stronger and my health began to return to closer to what it was prior, my doctor took me off some of the medications. Now I only take a blood pressure medication and aspirin in the morning, a cholesterol pill in the evening. I rarely forget to take my pills now.

Diet, healthy eating and some safe weight loss all work into your plan of recovery. I have found that whole grain foods actually taste good once you get used to it. Now I don't like eating anything else. Instead of eggs, bacon, biscuits or pancakes for breakfast I eat cereals, fruits or trail mix. Portions are also important. It didn't take long until I was used to smaller portions. Now if I eat larger amounts like before I just don't feel good. I wasn't very overweight before the heart attack, really only about 10 pounds. With nothing more than eating right and mild exercise like walking I have dropped 6 pounds.

Exercise is a key to a healthy heart. I am not yet able to work out like I could before but I am getting there. I was always very active, enjoyed walking and jogging and sports. Today is my first day at Pickleball. We have a new Pickleball club here in town and I am joining. It seems like it will be the perfect sport for me to get back into better shape.

If you do not want to return to the hospital with another heart attack soon, you will have to make changes in your lifestyle. It can be a little difficult at first but in no time at all it just becomes the way you live. Don't take on too many changes at once. It can be hard to change the way you eat. You have to learn a new way to shop for food, new ways to prepare foods. Just take it one thing at a time and in a year you will be much healthier, feel better than you ever have and be able to celebrate your new lease on life.

I am not one to ask for help but since October 31, 2008 I have been hospitalized 3 times because of my heart disease. I now have to take six different medications on a daily basis. I also have to make frequent visits to my doctor for check-ups and lab tests. As well, my wife broke her leg in February 2010 that required surgery, several medical devices and several return tips to the orthopedic surgeon for check-ups. Our medical bills have well exceeded $100,000 at this point. I have used all of my savings and now use a substantial portion of my monthly income to pay my medical bills.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Any products you may purchase from this lens or other lenses I have made will allow me to make a small percentage. I have also decided to put a donate button on this page. If you have found the information on this lens useful please consider a small donation. If you cannot donate I understand. My main goal is to help as many others as I can with my story so at least pass this lens along to your friends and family, you never know who's life you may save.

Thank you in advance for any help you can give and for passing along this lens to your loved ones.

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