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One of the few threads that actually matters. Thanks for posting.
My old man died of a myocardial i faction at 59, and as I approach my mid 30's I will be particularly mindful of this advice.
Very good post.
Mrs tandemwarrior has been under the drs for 15+ years for high blood pressure, ME, 'womens things' and a host of other things. She always complains that life insurance and travel insurance is always far more expensive when she discloses these, but her argument is she is much more of a 'known quantity' when compared to me who has barely seen a doctor in my life, am never (touch wood) ill, but could be a ticking time bomb. And if it can happen to Steve Worland....
I think a visit to the docs for a health check is in order. Thank you for the kick in the butt.
Rob
Great post, thanks.
My docs brought me in for a well man test (full bloods, BP etc) at 40, and they were happy to do it again age 43. Just wanted to make the point that it's available on the NHS. Happily no issues for me.
However, about 12 years ago, when I was 5 stone heavier than I am now, I had a real scare when my arm and half my face went numb. Cue ambulance, blue lights, panic etc. ECG found nothing, and it just went away with no after effects. Was the wake up call I needed. Bought a bike (first of many 🙂 ) and now consider myself a sensible weight and just ran a 1:35 half marathon
As said previous, my Doc said they don't test for Cholesterol under the age of 40 but my Mate, who goes to a different surgery, has been tested and he's only 29.
I'm 36 so I'm either going to have to keep annoying them or has anyone ever been to somewhere like Lloyds Pharmacy to have it done ?
Really concerned now despite loosing 2 1/2 stone over a few years.
This is fair comment. I've had 2 people I know die from heart attacks in the last 2 weeks. Neither of them had any prior warning. My uncle 69 and a boy I vaguely knew who was 44 year old.
This is a great post and something well worth getting checked out. I'm 34 and until last year had never been checked out.
If you don't want to hassle the GP Sainsburys do a regular free walk in clinic every few months, I had mine done last year as a serial omelette and fried egg eater, along with my snack of choice being peanuts and cashews, thought it would be off the chart. Turns out cholesterol high eggs don't necessarily equate to high cholesterol.
So went for the checkup @ sainsburys and it was 3.5, it needs to be less than 5 for good heart health. (less than 4 is optimal)
After 6 months of intermittant fasting I returned and it's now down to 2.73!
Missus has a history of high cholesterol in the family, 6 months ago hers was 4.8 and docs suggested she start on Statins (at the age of 30!!) due to this (side effects for these are ridiculous!) she refused to, and hers is now 3.6 after 6 months of intermittent fasting.
One other good food for soaking up cholesterol laden arteries is porridge, I have around 2 bowls a day and have done for several years now.
This may be a stupid question but...I had my blood pressure taken several times before my snip and it was bang on every time. Perfect was the word used by one of the nurses.
Does that one simple test mean that everything blood-pumping related, ie clogging up arteries, is OK?
We'll done jack-muttley for posting this. Steve's death is truly shocking. I had a cholesterol check last year after another minor scare, my bad cholesterol was a bit high but my good cholesterol (the doctor's words not mine!) was good. Still room for improvement. This has been a real soberer and I'm going to look at my diet again. I'm fit and hardly drink at all but I could probably eat a bit more healthily.
definitely has got me thinking...
So can I just rock up at the docs and request a check. My GP tends to be a bit 'meh' when it comes to any kind of tests. Doesn'thelp I'm a total hypocondriac however.
Can it be done privately?
Probably the best opening post I have ever read on STW.
Can it be done privately?
Certain Lloyds Pharmacies will do the test, I'm going to ring my nearest one tomorrow, will let you know what they say.
Mods, is it worthwhile making this a sticky?
Off for a health check on Thursday, they took bloods last week but one. It was offered by the local clinic, so if you get a letter through your door. Don't ignore it !!!
I have just turned 48 BTW, so I'm curious to see what the results are
A couple of things of late have got me thinking about this. My uncle who's as fit as a fiddle had a stroke and then the threads on here of people who've looked after themselves being struck down.
Time to make some big changes.
+1 for making this a sticky
I don't know how Jock got on a bike three days after an angioplasty. For two weeks my balls were like this
That's because they went in through my radial artery rather than the femoral!
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It still blows my mind that this tiny little scar (the pale one about an inch above the freckle) is all that's left of the access point to my heart - ha I suppose you could say that they found the route to my heart. Will say that my arm did ache for about a week after the radial artery does get a bit stretched when they insert the catheter.
One small pointunfortunately the NHS treats all heart attack patients as if they are pensioners (which to be fair most are)
That's not true unless it's a left you in a really bad way.
Drac please don't get me wrong, my criticism is of one small part of the system NOT the standard of care.
I cannot fault the level of attention and care lavished on me by NHS staff at (for MI #1) Earlston Medical Practice, The Borders General Hospital, The Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, and for stent #2 Marine Medical Group in Blyth, Wansbeck General Hospital Ashington and The Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. The technical competency of the staff is above and beyond professional. Basically I would best describe it as like being wrapped in cotton wool.
The point I was making (badly) is that the NHS aftercare and drugs regime is (of course) based on years and years of study and experience with previous MI patients. These patients are predominantly male, aged 60+, tend to lead fairly sedentary lives with little exercise. So when a 37yo Adrenaline freak bounds through the door then the system just goes "does not compute"
Early onset MI amongst adrenaline sports participants is a relatively new phenomenon but it is on a steady rise in these last ten to fifteen years. BUT the advice is geared for pensioners or the chronically obese - they are statistically the bulk of the patients. After my second stent last year I was offered fitness coaching sessions at the local health centre by the regional cardiac rehab team, working on the principle that I always have something to learn and that these guys will tailor the exercise to me.
Walked into the first session and it is only a mild exaggeration to say that I was either half the age or half the weight of the other participants. The staff taking the session were slightly incredulous when I went to sign in "are you sure you should be here?" (I was stood there in summer lycra roadie kit having cycles down) "yup" says I "cardiac rehab" ... I lasted 20 seconds into the first exercise "walking very slowly round a gym hall" before I said nope not for me, the staff completely understood. I explained that I had been expressly assured that these sessions were ideal for me I got the response that "fit and active to a 65yo in SE Northumberland means being able to walk from the pub to the betting shop and back via the chippy!".
Anyway they were brilliant and they sorted out subsidised gym sessions complete with a trainer for 6 months which was brilliant, they said the funding was already there for rehab for me.
As I was saying the system is geared to the bulk of the patients they are seeing. The drug regime is predominatly prophylactic designed for the appropriate standard of fitness and medical condition of their "joe average" patient. Despite my blood pressure averaging 120/60 and my resting heart rate averaging 50 bpm since my MI ten years ago I was still prescribed medication to lower my blood pressure and heart rate.. because that's the STANDARD regime, its not the NHS systems fault I'm a statistical anomaly to the system...
What I'm reading from you guys is that the standard approach of the Medical Profession is to prescribe pills, the system (i.e. standard practice) does not take into account the fact that a patient is young enough to make them selves better (particularly with regard to blood pressure, heart rate) and the very medication they give to make you better actually almost totally inhibits your ability to exercise - basically because it's geared to a 65yo average bloke who's doesn't exercise really, who isn't that sexually active (yeah these drugs really affect that).
I have had to battle my GP and my cardiologists to get these drugs (Beta Blocker and ACE Inhibitor) removed from my standard prescription list, they kept arguing that the results spoke for themselves in showing significant long term benefits for patients ... my argument was that these bulk of the patients didn't notice the side effects due to their age but to me they were ruining my quality of life. I proved then right after 6 weeks off them that my heart rate had actually lowered and my blood pressure had stabilised at 120/60 by the simple fact that I could exercise properly and efficiently.
Any hoo .... long and short I cant praise the NHS staff involved in my care enough but the system is a tad inflexible.
+1. My 51 year old Dad kicked my arse up Mastyles Lane in Jan 2003. He died of a heart attack on the way down the other side. He was generally fitter than I was at the time, with ok cholesterol and only marginally high BP. Had been ignoring feeling "a bit chesty" for a couple weeks. Listen to your body.
at 27 i was fit as a butchers, top 3 in NEMBAS and Brit Champs.. purely by chance i went to an a/e for somthing totally unrelated doc said i ll have a quick listen to your heart..
3 or 5 goes later and an ecg and i had a 'serious regurgitation' in my aeorta.
no pain no discomfort fit as fun slim as a pencil bp and chloestrol spot on..
under the knives and i am now bionic .. titanium and stainless steel keeps me alive
just because you are young fit and slim does not mean you and yes i mean you the young fit healthy 27 year old with no priors is not at risk.. go for a simple check up.. SAVE A LIFE >>> YOURS.
Have my cholesterol, blood pressure and all other bloods taken yearly since i got salmonella 7 years ago. Couldn't do anything for nearly 7 weeks, i got hit bad with it. I have a good doctor and as he says 'just to keep an eye on it' incase anything has changed.
I am not a whippet by any means and not exactly what you would call slim. I started to commute to work on my bike in February (16 miles per day) to keep fit, eat less snacks and have proper meals. It all helps. My cholesterol is one of the lowest readings my doctor says he has seen so body shape and size definitely does not come into it.
Top thread!
My 51 year old Dad kicked my arse up Mastyles Lane in Jan 2003. He died of a heart attack on the way down the other side.
I too am 51 PLR, that's worrying. I was considered fit as a butchers dog for my 50yo well man check last year. The nurse was suitably impressed that I was exercising for 15 hours a week on and off the bike. Will keep a listening watch on what's going on.
Exactly....
You cannot tell by looking at someone what their cholesterol is.... I have a superfit mate (actually nicknamed the Bombay Racing Snake) who is so skinny he makes a Biafran look chronically obese and his would be through the roof if he wasn't on statins - he got his checked due to my MI.
We have a mutual mate who is your typical fat lad, been a tubby laddy all his life - weirdly he's fit as a butchers and on a good day can outpace me. his cholesterol is through the floor, he gets the full MOT once a year due to another family condition and has done a cardiac stress test with not even a blip, he can regularly max out at 190bpm and not even blink, his resting is something like 45BPM.
He works a very physical job all day (forestry) and rides 100 miles a week. He likes his food though and a LOT of it but its all fairly healthy stuff. His weight is totally stable at about 19st, his BMI is off the chart but his GP say that for him, his body type it just must be what his genetic mix has made him. He's tried loosing the bulk but can't, he just gets really crabby if you don't feed him.
Ringing the doc in the morning, lost a dear friend to a similar if night exact same situation 🙁
Thanks Jock, I showed this to my dad. (he's 46) he went v quiet, came and gave me a hug and promised to make an appt with the GP to get checked.
*hugs*
Passing it on 8)
This thread and Steve's death has promted me to go to the over40's NHS MOT check up. Off to hospital 6.30am tomorrow with blood form that has been hanging up by computer for 5 months. RIP Steve, very sad.
As said several times above get it checked!
I had some mild pains from time to time on the left side of my chest. Left it a few months and eventually decided to get it checked at the docs. Did the bloods and ECG and all normal, then sent me to the local heart unit for further checks including two different ECGs. All turned out to be OK, the mild pain must have been muscular. Big relief to know its all fine, and great service from the NHS.
A guy who goes to the same gym as me - and one of the fittest in the gym for his age - had a few breathing problems in a spin class which he thought was asthma. He got an inhaler but the shortness of breath continued. His GP sent him to the same heart unit as me, and an angioplasty found severe narrowing in one artery. Result two stents inserted and one very relieved guy!
Its better, quicker and cheaper for all parties if you get things checked before they become a significant problem to you, your family and the NHS.
Have never had my cholesterol checked. Don't remember the last time I had my blood pressure checked. Probably only seen a doctor 10 times In my life.
Turned 40 last year. Dad died at 62 from a massive stroke. He was a keen cyclist too.
Think It's time to ring my GP.
Awesome thread. I am in middle of a chest infection/asthma issue and want to get back to riding as I have put on half a stone in last month. But so scared and upset after Steve just, well, literally dropped dead.
GP tomorrow.
Never had a blood test, have been thinking about getting checked over for while and promised myself I'll do it next year when I reach 50.
At about the time I turned 40 there was a lot of publicity about men getting a health check at 40. Off I toddle to my GP (family GP, fully aware of family medical history - father died after stroke, mother died of heart attack) and request a health check which I think in those days would have cost me about £40. He asks "why", I reply "well, I'm 40 and it's advised I get checked over". He says "do you feel unwell?" "No" says I and he says "then why waste your money!"
Nearly twenty years on now and I have been unwell a few times in the interim and have had various samples taken and tests done to determine how to mend me.
I agree with the OP, listen to your body. But, don't fret about your health to the point of making yourselves ill. If you feel unwell then deal with it, don't ignore it. Over the years I've lost too many friends but I've yet to die of the same thing the next day. Just putting it in perspective; great advice from the OP but as Cpl.Jones would have said, "don't panic...".
Just shared the thread on Facebook, good advice in this thread. Thanks all.
Good post. I get my biometrics checked every 6 - 12 months, it gives me peace of mind but also gives me cheaper insurance come renewal time
Great post, cant believe I haven't seen it before this. My dad experiences are pretty much the same as he has genetically very high cholesterol as does his twin. I think its something that need to be talked about more.
How are you finding getting back to training? My dad said all the doctors were terrified to let him elevate his heart rate too much because heart attacks are associated with people who don't do exercise!
Great post - bump back to the top
Something I've been putting off for a while - now booked in for Friday
My chloresterol is through the roof, similar to the OP. It has been for the last few years of checking. I am under huge pressure to go onto statins by the GP and am resisting owing to fear of side effects - I've heard depression, muscle wasting, liver failure to name but a few. I really need to do something though as strict diet only brings them down slightly.
Anyone here ever been on statins? Any experiences to share?
Firstly, my thoughts are with Steve's family & we all owe a lot to him for what he has done for MTB'ing in the UK. Secondly, loosing our apparently fit fellow bikers seems to be a too regular occurrence over recent years but this may be due to the fact that we are in communication with a greater number of people now. Thanks to the OP for opening awareness of potential problems that lie hidden & if this kickstarts some check-ups that find some issues this will help lessen the seemingly growing list. Having a search around the interweb on "cardiac death at exertion" shows numerous medical reports have targeted this area with previously un-diagnosed, mainly arterial blockage, issues being the highest occurrence of cause in males over 35. Also mentioned earlier, the reports confirm the girls do not show to have as many incidents as blokes. It's too late for some, but is it time to get an article written to collate these reports into language we all understand, the data seems to be out there, just us non-medical types need it in plain English. How about STW leads the way?
I [b][i]think[/i][/b] this article ( http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/107/1/e2.full.pdf+html) is free to view and is an excellent summary of the cardiovascular effects of exercise. It was published in Circulation (virtually the most highly respected journal in cardiology) about a decade ago but the main points still hold true. If you can't access it and would like a copy, I can email it to you.
These are the main risk factors for heart attacks (in no particular order):
Smoking
Family history of heart attack/angina in a first degree relative under 65 years old
High cholesterol or triglycerides (can be genetic or lifestyle related)
Diabetes (type 1 or 2)
High blood pressure
Age (being older)
Gender (being male, although women catch up after the menopause)
Some of those you can do something about, some you can't. And some people will be more or less affected by specific risk factors. It's not an exact science.
If you want to calculate your personal risk of a heart attack, try the new risk score released this month at http://www.jbs3risk.com/ . As you can see, it's important to know your cholesterol, blood pressure and whether you have diabetes. So, if you think you may be at risk, it's worth getting those checked at your GP at some point.
Timely reminder that I need to stop putting off my check up.
Silly really when my son has a congenital heart condition & mum's had 2 heart attacks in the last 18 months or so. On his consultant's advice I tend to ride with an HRM on but that can only tell me when it's happening rather than prevent it.
OP's advice is spot on - I discovered a few things when first being checked out 10 years ago, not least a high cholesterol level, and have learnt the kind of things to look for to minimise risk etc. It amazes me that any cardiologist you speak to will tell you that a vast majority of patients they see had noticed something odd/unusual/weird prior to their MI but had ignored it because they didn't consider a link to their heart.
A quick check up & frank discussion with a Dr could be seriously beneficial to us all.
Thanks for the thread J-M.
I'm 50 and I race at XC at a reasonably competitive level so am active and train hard and as such, I always have concerns at the back of my mind because I am pushing my body regularly.
Both my parents died of heart related illness, as a result I have an annual check up every year, a few years ago I started to see a pattern of elevated cholesterol, nothing too major but it was on the way up year on year.
So I decided to take some action myself before I 'needed' to, I made a conscious effort to eat well for 80% of the time, mostly this is just fresh veg, lots of fruit, low GI carbs, fish, chicken etc.
Weekend 20% is my reward, I eat & drink pretty much what I want on a Friday night & saturday, as a result my last test had considerably reduced cholesterol increased 'good' markers and my risk of a heart attack had actually decreased to a good level too... this is particularly significant as it very rarely goes down as you get older.
Whilst i'm not suggesting it is a cure all, your diet can be a huge factor on general well being, it certainly won't do you any harm
Thanks legolam, that is certainly the most simple to read article I have seen, I hazard a guess that you are "in the trade" as it were? The main point they make is that the benefits of exercise far outweigh the risks - not that's any help to you or your family if it's decided your time is up. The main problem is that most of us that ride bikes or generally do some sort of regular excercise are in the category of moderately fit or better, probably think we are all OK, hardly ever go to the doctors etc. Therefore have no idea if there is an underlying issue?
I hazard a guess that you are "in the trade" as it were?
Yup, I'm a cardiology registrar in the North East of England, currently doing research, so I have a bit of an interest in all of this!
I genuinely don't know the stats for what proportion of those who have heart attacks have symptoms beforehand that they've ignored, although anecdotally it is something I see a fair bit.
I'm not sure I'd agree that fit people/athletes are at higher risk of missing symptoms though - heart attacks are caused by a narrowed (or blocked) blood vessel supplying the heart muscle with blood, but this often doesn't happen out of the blue (although it can). The blood vessel often narrows over the course of weeks, months and years. As cyclists, we are effectively performing our own "stress test" every time we get on a bike - increasing our heart rate and asking the blood vessels to supply more blood to the heart muscle. If there is a narrowing building up, you'd think that cyclists would get some warning symptoms, whereas a couch potato wouldn't notice until the narrowing was so bad that the person got symptoms walking around the house or at rest. Does that make sense?
I guess the message is to heed any warning symptoms (mainly chest pain or shortness of breath on exertion) and to minimise your risk factors as far as possible.
I have booked in for a check up at my local health centre tomorrow. I am nearing 40 so thanks for the kick in the arse I probably needed!
Good idea Skellnonch, I may try that approach. I'll update this thread after seeing Doc's on Wednesday evening.
It has probably been mentioned on page 1 and 2 (only read 3) but you can get self cholesterol testing kits from the chemist which will give you an indication of whether you need to speed up that appointment at the docs! 🙂
Have never had one before so did a test today off the back of the recent threads to see if I needed to worry. Seems I am borderline satisfactory / slightly high. Something to keep tabs on and maybe think a little more about what I eat.
@ on one orange. Try intermittent fasting. Dropped a couple of cholesterol points off both myself and partners results.
I simply follow the 16 hour fast 8 hour feed. So skip breakfast and eat dinner a little earlier.
The way I see it, instead of constantly grazing and giving the body fuel, fasting gives the central nervous system time to actually mop everything up and suppresses igf1 hormone which also puts you in repair mode.
Legolamb
If there is a narrowing building up, you'd think that cyclists would get some warning symptoms, whereas a couch potato wouldn't notice until the narrowing was so bad that the person got symptoms walking around the house or at rest. Does that make sense?
Yep it does, I did get the warning signs and interpreted them correctly the second time around and took action immediately - thus my second stent - and funnily enough if you work in the North East my notes may have passed through your hands!
BUT
The first time around I had a fair chunk of the symptoms (i.e. Angina) prior to the MI but they were masked by Musco-skeletal pain. I have severe wear C6 & C7 probably due to the forces that were exerted on my neck and spine as a stage rally driver and navigator - I regularly used to be black & blue the day after an event on my collar bones and pelvis from being thrown into the harness, and that was sat in a made-to-measure seat with 3" wide Willans multipoint harness. This didn't include the numerous times that I was in a car that left a stage at high speed and hit something solid (I'd far rather be in a roll-over, the bulk of the accident energy is taken up in overcoming a low centre of gravity of the car). It was only in later life that I started wearing a neck brace as pictured below which made a major difference (to the point I used to lecture everyone on wearing one!).
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My left shoulder suffered multiple dislocations after we burst my door catch a mile into a 24 mile stage - I hung onto the sodding thing for the rest of the stage so every drop or bump pulled my shoulder out of joint, you are on such a MASSIVE adrenalin high so you don't notice it.
What I'm saying is that all of the angina pain I was getting prior to my MI could be accounted for by previous injuries, the thing that foxed everyone was that my blood pressure was spot on even when I was having the bloody MI! And my pain was unrelated to heart rate or exercise too, the week before my MI I'd ridden the red at GT three times and navigated on a tarmac rally 5 days before with NO ill effect, yet sat in a sodding meeting and away it goes.
I did get checked out poked and prodded but in the years leading up to my MI due to my lifestyle, age and fitness level, medically I simply wasn't considered a risk. The one thing that was never conducted was a simple cholesterol test which would have shown I had issues. I now know that for me if I get sharp almost electric shock type shooting pains into my jaw that's [b]THE[/b] warning sign for me.
Someone mentioned recovery, basically there is very little advice out there about what a "fit" healthy and active person does to come back from a heart attack, all the advice is don't over exert your heart (thus the crack about take up bowls) I was advised gentle cycling only if I must. The advice is aimed at the statistical bulk of MI victims who tend to be older, more sedentary with poor-ish lifestyles.
IMHO It's not the health professions fault as up until about 10-15 years ago blokes (you know what I mean) who were closer to retirement age than birth age didn't throw themselves off mountains or run marathons or cycle 120 miles or if they did they had been doing it all their lives so they were all ready fit. I think we are still a statistical anomaly in general terms, but as more people take up active and very active sports in later life then we are seeing more an more of this form of problem.
I think there does need to be some form of awareness campaign coupled with a study of how a "cardiac" athlete recovers from an MI, particularly the effects of BetaBlockers and ACE inhibitors on recovery in younger people - for me those two drugs were just plain wrong, they virtually crippled me and that was on a very low dose, in later life if I get a bit more sedentary then we'll see but hopefully that won't be for a long time. I'm happy to be a guinea pig and I'm sure others here are who are in similar boats, just as long as you don't make me [u]run[/u] on a cardiac stress test as my knees are booboo'd too 😛
The key point is never assume historical injuries are all that the pain you are feeling is, I did, the medical profession ten years ago did (I stress NOT their fault) and I (we) got caught out. Second time around the medics were more aware of these types issues but then I had history and was by then in the right age bracket.
There's no denying that it's a really tricky business trying to diagnose anything (not just heart trouble), and it's not helped by the fact that everyone is wired up slightly differently and no two heart attacks feel the same!
I also agree that we have a bit of a "one size fits all" attitude to treatment and rehab (although it's based on good evidence) after a heart attack, although again I hope we're getting better at individualising (is that a word?) things nowadays.
I also agree that we have a bit of a "one size fits all" attitude to treatment and rehab (although it's based on good evidence) after a heart attack, although again I hope we're getting better at individualising (is that a word?) things nowadays.
Totally agree with this, and yes from my experiences far, far better at individualising care nowadays than ten years ago. I can't fault my care, particularly when my second stent was inserted at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital which (being honest) is a bit of an angioplasty production line when you look at it, you're in one day, job done, you're out the next. [u][b]BUT BUT BUT[/b][/u] The staff are brilliant you are made to feel like you are wrapped in cotton wool - real individual attention. When they discovered I was a cyclist I was moved into a ward next to a chap who had been a semi-pro road rider which was superb. The surgical team was excellent, they spent a lot of time with me before the op. The Scandinavian lass (think she was a senior registrar) who performed the Angioplasty was just great - as was the rest of the team, yes you can feel stuff going on inside you which is a bit weird, I didn't realise she'd finished till she leant over and said "there you go, you will ride again soon" and I just burst into tears. She said it was nice to "fix someone who could really make the most of what they had done"