Family's History of Heart Disease Remembered on National Wear Red Day

My family has a history of heart disease. My dad has his first heart attack in 1959, and I remember going with him weekly to get injections for blood thinners. If we had the technology that is available today I would not have lost him in 1966, he was only 51 years old. In 1963, my mom was 48years old when she had her first heart attack, with medication, and diet change and pure luck we had her still in our lives until 1992 when she also passed on because of a massive heart attack, During my history as a child I became well aware of the symptoms and the warning signs of an on coming heart attack. When I reached 48 the age my mother was when she had her first heart attack, and I was doing well, I thought that my life life style changes had helped me overcome a hurtle that I felt for sure that I would also succumb to. My next goal was to make it past 51. the age my father was when he had his final heart attack. I reached that age and still no heart trouble, I felt grateful and blessed.

Then around two years ago when I was 54, I was having a very difficult time at work, everything was stressful. My blood pressure was getting to a point that it was uncontrollable. I wasn't eating well, I wasn't exercising and I wasn't taking care of myself. I knew my risk because of my family heritage yet that just added to the stress in my life. On October 16th my birthday, that evening I felt horrible. There was a tightness in my chest that I tried to pawn off as indigestion. But it was persistent. I tried to stand up and walk around and found myself to be be dizzy I thought I was going to faint. Then my breathing became more difficult, I was gasping for air and the pain was getting worse. My son gave me a Bayer aspirin, then called 911. The paramedics were there in a flash, they had a EKG monitor and they determined that I was in the midsts of a mild heart attack. If that was mild I would hate to see what a massive heart attack was.

They took me to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, there the cardiologist determined that they were going to perform an angioplasty surgery, where they insert a balloon into the arteries and when they come upon the blockage, they inflate the balloon to remove the blockage. I was extremely lucky, there was only one passage that was blocked. I went to CCU for three days, and rested. I felt like I had been kicked around and beat upon I was so very tired. However I felt so much better after the balloon surgery that I could actually breathe/

Today, I am more aware of how life is so short. I watch what I eat, I avoid cholesterol, most salts,watch my sugar and fat intakes. I have become aware that we are all mortal and I want to be around to see my grandchildren. I want to enjoy my retirement years. I want to live the rest of my days with husband beside me. There is so much that I want to do and I can do most of everything that I want as long as I do not over tire myself . I am under doctor's care, I watch my blood pressure and assure that it is well in the good range. I don't let things bother me anymore. I have changd my life style and I would strongly recommend other women to slow down, don't let the little things bother you, watch your diet and that of your family, keep a healthly outview on life. Take long walks with your husband and enjoy the sunset.