Troubles of late -- my family is under attack
 

Heart attack that is.

It started last week with a favorite uncle from Ontario having a massive heart attack. He was rushed to Thunder Bay Hospital where they did an angiogram and then shipped him off to Hamilton to have open heart surgery, specifically a quadruple bypass. It's done and he is now up and walking and preparing to head home in a few days.

At the same time an elderly cousin of mine was having chest pains. He came into Winnipeg and in for a test at the hospital I used to work at for 15 years, and was diagnosed with an anyeurism in his chest. He was admitted and had it removed and is now doing better, and is expected to head back to Ontario in the next day or two.

And finally, just this past weekend while all this other stuff was going on with family, another elderly cousin of mine out in BC dropped dead of a heart attack right before his morning ride. He was headed outside to go for a horseback ride with a couple of friends but never made it to the horse. He dropped dead instantly right beside it.

Granted all three of these guys are well into their 60's, as in close to 70. But 70 is young by today's standards. Anyway it's just kind of crazy that it all happens at once over the same weekend, and I've been dealing with many emails from family and having to relay them to others etc, as I'm one of the few in the family who is on the computer daily.

I now know the full meaning of the phrase "when it rains it pours". It's pouring heart attacks in my family. :(

I am in the Ontario province, CDSmith.
I wish all the best from the guy that wants to improve health.

Don't worry, things go in threes. You'll be run over by a bus instead.

Oh man thats not good.

Hoping everyone has a speedy recovery.

sorry to hear that CD...

sorry to hear :(

It sounds as if heart problems may a genetic issue in your family...when was your last physical?

It is, but mostly on my dad's side. All of these relatives are on my mom's side, and that's a pretty huge family -- 12 kids total, all but one married with kids, many of their kids have kids. There are 6 generations in some of the families. Last count was over 200 family members and growing. So there are bound to be a few with heart troubles in the mix.

But this I think may be more of a lifestyle thing. The one cousin in BC was a heavy drinker. The cousin with the anyeurism has been a heavy smoker for many years and I don't think he's maintained a healthy diet either.

Just the one uncle is mystery to me, as he's never been a smoker, he's not much of a drinker, he's lived an outdoorsy life for ALL of his life thus far, and his diet I'd say is very much on the healthy side, at least for the most part. He does love his comfort food.

I wouldn't chalk this up to anything hereditary.

On my dad's side however, he had 8 brothers and one sister, all of whom are gone now. Each of his brother's AND my grandfather on that side all died of heart complications. My dad is the only exception, and he's always done a lot of walking and excersizing every day and maintained a very healthy diet... largely I think due to the fact he was well aware of his family history.

Me I've always taken the cue from my dad and have also lived an active healthy life with a good diet, have played lots of sports and such over the years. I also get checked out at the doc's regularly (except of late, haven't been in a while) and I've always shown well in all tests, good BP, heartrate, etc. Of course none of that is ever an absolute guarantee that one won't experience heart problems, you just do as much as you can and pretty much hope for the best.

So far so good here though.

Sorry to hear it CD, hope they all recover nicely.

Well, the one cousin in BC won't be recovering at all, because as I said he died pretty much instantly. I suppose the upside there is that he didn't suffer at all, and he died doing what he loved, being around horses all his life.

But my other cousin has been discharged as of yesterday and should be back home in Ontario by now.

My uncle is recovering nicely as well, and he should be on his way home soon too. I'm sure he's giving the nurses hell in that hospital in Hamilton, he's a real charmer that one.

Thanks for all the well wishes.