So, I had a heart attack....

**Dall_Piobaire** · 19th January 10, 07:09 PM

Glad to hear you are okay!

It really is nothing to screw about with! An old roomate thught he was having indigestion, but it just would not go away. Turned out he too, had had a heart attack and he is only in his thirties now on nitro.

My family history isn't great, lost my dad'd dad at 55, and my dad had a quituple bypass about ten years ago. Suffice it to say, I do the aspirin thing and try to stay in half way decent shape. Ya never know though! Maybe this one actually saved your life!

**Lyle1** · 19th January 10, 07:41 PM

All speed in your recovery. One of the nicest people I've ever known was a MacDougall. He lived a very long life, and I hope the same for you!

**###KILTEDKIWI###** · 19th January 10, 07:52 PM

Yikes!!!! that pretty young chap, family history of that sort of thing?

all the best.

**Lachlan09** · 19th January 10, 08:25 PM

Do you have a stressful job or lifestyle ? If so, let it down very gently, not too sudden.

In Jan 2003, my big brother took early retirement from his stress-filled, target-driven management job at Hewlett Packard at age 53 and looked forward to a quiet life of bowling, curling and his static caravan at Loch Sween, Argyll and rooting around in his Land Rover and motor boat.

One month later, he was out shopping with his wife when he collapsed and was rushed to hospital. It was a heart attack - his first.

**RB51** · 19th January 10, 08:28 PM

I have, unfortunately, been in your shoes, and wish you nothng but the best for what I hope will be a long and productive life. The only two cents I'll add to all of the advice I'm sure you're getting is that while you can't change genetics, you do have choices in how you live your life...make them wisely. If you are like me, you don't want to go through that again!

Take care

Laurie

**Santa Wally** · 19th January 10, 08:39 PM

Fortunately you took the right action and got to the ER. Something you normally wouldn't suspect at your age. Best wishes for your recovery.

**Lachlan09** · 19th January 10, 08:55 PM

Do you have a stressful job or lifestyle ? If so, let it down very gently, not too sudden.

In Jan 2003, my big brother took early retirement from his stress-filled, target-driven management job at Hewlett Packard at age 53 and looked forward to a quiet life of bowling, curling and his static caravan at Loch Sween, Argyll and rooting around in his Land Rover and motor boat.

One month later, he was out shopping with his wife when he collapsed and was rushed to hospital. It was a heart attack - his first.

Hamish survived his first “three hours” without further incident and it was reported he was comfortable. I made arrangement to fly up to Edinburgh from London next morning. But just a few hours later, I got another phone call to say he had died.

That taught me in my life that going from stress and hard work to total free-time leisure is not a good thing. Going from nail-biting deadlines to trimming roses in one fell swoop isn’t good I believe. I know several ex-colleagues, very active professionals, who went very quickly after retiring. Their lives lacked “buzz”.

My brother was fit and healthy, enjoyed sports and active leisure. Apparently his main heart blood-vessel wall collapsed and shut off his blood supply. Something like that.

Me ? I’m 56 and a fat toad, but I’m now dieting with very good results. I hate regular exercise, will never jog but do use my cycle machine sometimes and after my stress-filled week, I relax and “chill out” as much as possible to let the stress dissipate.

So take a lesson from my brother - take care of yourself and take time to chill out, by which I don’t mean mountain-biking down the side of the Rockies !

Look after yourself man !

PS Did you know in your avatar photo, you look like Ronnie Van Zandt of Lynyrd Skynyrd ?

**Nighthawk** · 19th January 10, 09:00 PM

Mr. MacDougall- find yourself a reputable martial arts instructor, tell him of your health history, and start working out with him. If he knows what he's doing, then he will work within your limitations. Contact Justin Butler at the Golden Eagle Shotokan karate school- JustinButler@goldeneagleshotokan.com or 303-373-1528. He will find you a good instructor. Good luck, man!