Michael’s Essay

My heart disease story really began 29 years ago. I was 26 years old and heart disease to me was something that you face in your 70s and 80s. This view changed when my 55 year old father was diagnosed with 3 artery vessel disease and needed a triple bypass operation. Years later my 49 year old brother also underwent a double bypass operation. After seeing both my father and brother in the ICU recovery I told myself I don’t want to be in this scenario in my 50s. I made a few drastic changes in my lifestyle including giving up red meat and reducing my intake of fried and fast foods. For three days a week I also participated in intense physical exercise which included cardio and weight lifting. When I reached my 40s my cholesterol levels were slowly creeping up and my doctor prescribed statin cholesterol drugs to manage the levels. Overall I felt my heart disease risk management strategy was working and was hopeful I could avoid the path my father and brother had to take.

When the COVID pandemic hit the US, my gym closed and I exercised outside and on my home treadmill. After several months I began to notice some discomfort during my exercise routines including left arm pain, jaw and tooth pain and upper chest pain. These symptoms were usually noticeable after about ten minutes of exertion and would subside after five minutes of rest. I ignored these symptoms for about a year during the pandemic and convinced myself that my heart disease risk management strategy was still working and these symptoms were probably related to fatigue. After all I am getting older every year and I was already doing all of the recommended actions to reduce my risk.

In mid May of 2021 I mentioned to my doctor during my annual physical examination that I was experiencing some discomfort during exertion. My doctor ordered a nuclear stress test the following week. The morning of my stress test I was nervous of what might be found but encouraged since I had passed an echo stress test two years earlier. The doctor connected me to the EKG monitor and I began walking on the treadmill. I felt good and nine minutes into the test nothing abnormal was showing on the EKG monitor. Shortly after nine minutes I collapsed and went into VFIB arrythmia right in my doctor’s office. My doctor gave me a single shock from an AED device since standard CPR did not seem to revive me.

The cardiac catherization test I underwent in the ER revealed I had 3 blocked arteries and ultimately I also underwent triple bypass surgery. Today is 7 weeks post operation and I am still healing but feeling much better these days. I did all I knew to do to avoid this situation but ultimately my family genetics played a major factor. I now have a new lease on life and hope others can learn from my experience.