Heart disease is very common in the United States, and the way in which it is treated is remarkable. There are techniques to put in stents, perform bypass surgery, even replace one heart with another, and so much more. We also know a great deal about diet and conditions that lead to heart disease.
I am fortunate because I come from a family that has no heart disease in any form or in any generation. Throughout my life, my cholesterol, blood pressure, weight – all my numbers – have been right on in terms of being healthy. I also have a 90 year old mother who recently passed a stress test with flying colors.
What I didn’t realize is that there are exceptions to every rule, and I am one of them. For at least two years I have been feeling somewhat sluggish, but wrote it off to a busy schedule. In recent months, there has been tightness in my chest, and an occasional numbness in my hand that came and went. A much younger friend recently passed away from a sudden heart attack, and I’ve been much more aware of health/heart issues. Despite the fact that I overlooked several months of chest discomfort, I finally went for a stress test. Failing this, dye was injected in my arteries, and sure enough, I had 98% blockage in the artery leading into my heart. I was whisked off to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where they put a stent in the artery leading to my heart.
As a single male, I was in denial right through the procedure that there anything wrong with my heart. I am sure that I dodged a bigger bullet by having the stress test, which led to an incredible experience at Maine Medical Center. When you hear that your health is everything, that is certainly the case. If you’ve survived a heart procedure, you know what I’m talking about, and if you’ve never had anything wrong with your heart, be sure to listen to your body. Don’t take anything for granted by all means. Do the right things to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and always listen to your heart.
Peter Geiger is the Editor of the Farmers' Almanac. 
If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1910, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.
4 comments
heart problems are very bad it could lead to other problems or death
Being uninsured, the cost of having those tests is too expensive. If I did need surgery, my savings, which I am dependant upon, would be wiped out. And then where would I end up? On the street?!? I think I’d rather enjoy life while I can and hope the big one takes me quickly!
i seen this artical and it blew me away !!!! its nothing to fool around with. i just had a quadrupla bypass this past March 7th 2012. so trust me. anytime u feel strange anywhere @ or around the chest .. seek medical attention! i had alot heart attacks, every sence the 1st week of Jan 2012
Well said… I’m glad that you and the doctors were able to catch the problem and react to it before anything worse happened.
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