It keeps getting worse

[Marty_d]

8 minutes ago, spacesailor said:

Just more work for those bureaucrocrats .

I don't think my age is a driving problem .

but my " back-seat " driver could be ! .

Always telling me how I should drive ' is distacting ' .

spacesailor

Start calling her "Hyacinth Bucket", that should stop it 

[facthunter]

There's an ECG and a STRESS ECG (Bruce's Protocol) which goes for about 9 minutes on a treadmill. Plenty of Cardiac specialists warn about it. I compare it to testing a rope bridge by running a war tank across it. Plenty of participants have had a heart  attack about 10 (TEN) days after it. Ultrasounds are  non invasive and provide a lot of useful Information about how blood is flowing in your Heart and Carotid arteries.. Attrial fibrillation is usually a quick death. You usually get an Oh NO! out and that's it. That's the condition a Pacemaker Controls.  Nev

[facthunter]

Space I KNOW that Problem. You should have taken THAT corner back there and you have to GET out of "THIS" lane quick..  Nev

[octave]

Just a slight correction  I think, instead of atrial fibrillation (Afib) you may mean Ventricular.   Afib is relatively common, and the risk it poses is that blood tends to pool and may clot, causing strokes. The treatment, if it is bad enough, is blood thinners.  Ventricular fibrillation is the one that usually kills you when having a heart attack.  People prone to this are generally treated by having an ICD (defibrillator) implanted.  

[facthunter]

I AM referring to Atrial Fibrillation.  Pacemakers work as defibrillators. It's the electrical signals to the Heart Muscles. IF they go haywire the  blood flow stops. Sometimes the heart is stopped and restarted to try and fix it. Proton Pump inhibiters are contra indicated and Caffein not good. Nev

[octave]

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a common heart condition where the heart's upper chambers (atria) beat irregularly and out of sync with the lower chambers (ventricles). This can lead to a rapid and irregular heartbeat, reducing the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. AFib is associated with an increased risk of stroke and heart failure. 

 

11 minutes ago, facthunter said:

Pacemakers work as defibrillators. It's the electrical signals to the Heart Muscles.

 

This is incorrect. How do I know? I have a combined pacemaker/defibrillator also known as an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator)   A pacemaker regulates the heartbeat. It can only speed up the heartbeat it can not slow down a heartbeat. Most people with a pacemaker take beta blockers, which slow the heart down so the pacemaker can do its work.  The defibrillator senses abnormal rhythms, most importantly ventricular fibrillation, which can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.

 

 Afib is of concern because it causes pooling of the blood and increases to risk of stroke.  A pacemaker does not work as a defibrillator however, they can be combined (this is what I have). You can have a pacemaker (no defibrillator) or a defibrillator with no pacemaker  

 

I know this from 1st hand experience.

 

ICD vs. Pacemaker: What’s the Difference?

 

What is atrial fibrillation?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[facthunter]

I think you are splitting hairs. Nev

[octave]

2 minutes ago, facthunter said:

I think you are splitting hairs. Nev

 

How so? A pacemaker is not the same as a defibrillator; it is very different. 

[facthunter]

Anyhow I've been talking about atrial fibrillation NOT the other. That may be the source of the confusion.  Nev

[pmccarthy]

I have permanent AF and the doc says not to worry about it, just take the blood thinners to prevent stroke.

[octave]

Atrial Fibrillation is quite common, especially in older people. Around 5% of people over 55 have it, and its incidence increases with age. Many people have it without knowing it, and most people will have short episodes. AFib itself is not usually fatal but can lead to complications such as stroke, and over time, heart failure or cardiomyopathy.  

 

Because this condition is reasonably common and often not diagnosed, it pays to be aware of early symptoms.

 

What Is AFib?

[octave]

Just now, pmccarthy said:

I have permanent AF and the doc says not to worry about it, just take the blood thinners to prevent stroke.

 Because I have a Pacemaker/ICD, my heart is monitored 24/7, and twice a year the data is downloaded and analysed.  Last time they detected a short episode of AFib lasting 32 seconds, which is not particularly noteworthy.  This did lead to a conversation with my cardiologist about how long it takes for blood clots to form.  In my case, 32 seconds is not enough to warrant treatment. In fact many healthy people have episodes of AFib and never know it.

[facthunter]

Cardiac arrest can destroy heart Muscle and the action  subsequently may generate more turbulence in the chambers and more chance of clots forming and going to the brain. Strokes are two kinds . By Blocking or by Bleeding. Your medication has to balance consideration of Both.  IF you have surgery for any reason, you will probably be taken off some of your medications. This can increase your risk of mortality. I had a Septic Gall Bladder removed during the worst of covid and my likelihood of survival was only 30% Nev

[facthunter]

I'm OFF to get My Modified Hearing aids. I'll HEAR you later. Nev

[pmccarthy]

Hear, hear.

[red750]

I have a pacemaker. In 2011, I collapsed in the front hallway. I recovered quickly and my daughter drove me up to the doctors office, where I had an ECG which showed my heartrate at 30 bpm. The doctor called an ambulance to take me to hospital and I had a pacemaker installed the next morning. I have a monitor beside the bed which reports any abnormalities to my cardiologists office. I've only had one instance where I have been contacted and asked to come in for a checkup. I take a blood thinner tablet daily (Apixaban). I also take a Metoprolol tablet twice a day.

[facthunter]

Made it Back. Jeez those Birds are Noisy and my keypad needs the tappets adjusted.' Sorry to hear of all the ordeals you have been through.  Nev

[octave]

3 hours ago, facthunter said:

Sorry to hear of all the ordeals you have been through

In my case, my heart f*****g up was a bit of a lifesaver.  Whilst my problem was equal parts lifestyle and genetics (thanks, Dad), it did encourage me to change my lifestyle (12 years ago).   Last year, I did a stress test. I did this because I had some chest discomfort and went to ER. All tests proved negative.  I had 3 choices: ignore it and hope for the best, have an angiogram (invasive and with a small risk), or have a stress test.  I do exercise most days so I wasnt too bothered about this test.. When I am bushwalking and climbing a steep hill, I have often thought that maybe I could drop dead.  I am philosophical about this, preferring to drop dead bush walking rather than wasting away in aged care.

  

During the stress test they gradually increase the speed and incline, and you can tell them when you want to stop.  After 12.5 minutes, I called it.  Then they give you a quick echocardiogram to see how your heart behaves under stress.  Although I have some abnormalities, I scored a METS (Metabolic Equivalence of Task) of 15.4, which is excellent (even for a 20-year-old). I keep the full report on my desk as it encourages me to keep up the exercise.

 

This describes my situation:

 

"A 63-year-old individual achieving a 15.4 METs score on a stress test with an ejection fraction of 48% indicates a very good to excellent exercise capacity, especially considering their age and heart function. The ejection fraction of 48% is slightly below the normal range, but the high METs score suggests good cardiovascular fitness and a favourable prognosis."

 

These days, I am less concerned with longevity and more with remaining physically and mentally agile.  

[facthunter]

Learn to read your body "signals". Learn what the "Elephant on the Chest" is. It's your heart calling for more oxygen. Angina Pain.Sit or Lie and breath deeply and RELAX.  loosen your collar etc Then get to Hospital in an Ambulance. DONT Ignore it. Double vision can be a TIA. That's a stroke warning as is any facial numbness.IF you Can't speak properly, Limb not moving normally. Don't fob it off. The quicker you treat a stroke the Better the recovery. Read about all this from a reliable source and you will be forewarned and respond better.  Nev

[spacesailor]

When I got old ( 70 (13 years ago )) , the doctor put me on ' blood thinners ' & ' cholesterol tablets " . ( as a preventative ). 

My heart rate has always been slow , " arrhythmia " is what our blood pressure 

keeps saying but the dr say it's a slow beating heart .

I can get it over 100 bpm, after my half K jog . LoL .

spacesaior

Edited 15 hours ago by spacesailor

[facthunter]

You MUST be a "CLOSET" Olympic athlete. (or something). I wouldn't PUSH it though.  We are not as YOUNG as we used to be, remember. Aspirin and Crestor are pretty normal IF that's all you are on. A "BETTER" Lifestyle never hurt anyone and learn how to breathe deeply and effectively. Health is more than Money. .  Nev

Edited 14 hours ago by facthunter
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[spacesailor]

I would loved to have been ( Olympian ) . Last timed " mile " run was 4' 10" .

Then Chris Chatterly & Roger Bannister  broke the magic four minute mile.

I used to run 5 mile before school . Untill one day , I collapsed at school with an asthma attack .

spacesailor

[octave]

1 minute ago, facthunter said:

You MUST be a "CLOSET" Olympic athlete. (or something).

 

I know right,  there is no one more surprised than me. I think 12 years ago, I decided to try and exercise most days of the week, and because gaining fitness is a slow process, it crept up on me. 

5 minutes ago, facthunter said:

I wouldn't PUSH it though. 

Nah, I am way too lazy for that.  

 

46 minutes ago, facthunter said:

Learn to read your body "signals".

I agree, but I would caution that we are primed to notice the typical heart attack, but many heart attacks are not typical.  The crushing pain can be oesophageal spasms (I get this off and on), and also, you can have a heart attack without the crushing chest pain.  If in doubt.....   What I would say is that calling an ambulance or going to ER with something that does not turn out to be a heart attack will not be treated with derision by the medical folks.