Who’s the last person you’d expect to have a heart attack?
Me: Raises hand with confidence.
Universe: Not so fast…
And so here I am, 49, fit, strong, and healthy, now recovering from a cardiac episode. I had a heart attack. It still feels surreal to say, hear, and comprehend.
I’m an advocate for listening to your body, ‘tune into the whispers before they become shouts’ etc. but when my body showed signs of a heart attack at the weekend I didn’t listen, I thought “I’m too young, I’m fit, strong and healthy, I’m a personal trainer for goodness sake”. But when the whispers got louder and the symptoms were screaming heart attack, I had to take it seriously and go to the hospital, naively I went to the after hours clinic rather than ED, because I still didn’t think I could be having a heart attack. The ECG and subsequent ambulance transfer to hospital confirmed that this was something I should have taken seriously from the get go. 3 Days in hospital, blood tests, constant monitoring, chest x-rays, an echocardiogram and an angiogram and I finally had confirmation that I had experienced a Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD).
SCAD is a relatively rare condition where a tear forms in a blood vessel in the heart. This tear can slow or block blood flow to the heart, leading to a heart attack, heart rhythm abnormalities, and in some cases (thankfully not in mine), sudden death. The exact causes of SCAD remain unclear. It primarily affects women in their 40s and 50s, though it can occur at any age and also affect men. SCAD is most common in people with few or none of the typical risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, smoking, or obesity. It is the leading cause of heart attacks during pregnancy and the postpartum period, as well as the leading cause of heart attacks in women under 50, and post menopausal women, all times of significant hormonal changes. I’d never heard of it until a heart attack stopped me in my tracks.
SCAD happens suddenly and without warning. The signs and symptoms can include:
Chest pain
Heaviness or tightness in chest
Pain or discomfort in arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach
A rapid heartbeat or fluttery feeling in chest
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Sweating
Nausea and sickness
Extreme tiredness
Loss of consciousness
Because SCAD can be life threatening, call an ambulance or go straight to the emergency department if you’re suffering any of these symptoms – even if you don’t have the typical heart disease risk profile.
I’m back home now, resting and processing. Thankfully my tear is one that should heal on its own, and I’ll be an aspirin taker for life. I start a cardiac rehabilitation program in 2 weeks time with a view to safely returning me to exercise and to the me I’m used to. Exercise is part of my identity, it always has been, it’s my job, one of my life loves. Resting is not really something I do, but something I am being forced to do at the moment.
As a personal trainer and a passionate advocate for healthy living and exercising for longevity, I have to admit that I couldn't help but worry, "What will people think?" I felt embarrassed and wondered, "How could this happen to me? I do everything right and have none of the typical risk factors." The thought of telling people I'd had a heart attack was daunting. But in the end, I realized that being honest was the best approach. Since this type of heart attack is relatively rare, I decided it was important to share my experience and emphasize the crucial message of listening to your body. I now know that if it looks like a heart attack, even if you are fit and healthy, it probably is, and you should go straight to ED!
Health + Happiness
Jen
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