Heart Attack at a young age

[Syrreal]

DH had a mild heart attack about 6 weeks ago. Turns out that one of his arteries was blocked and he had a stent put in.
Now, DH is 33 and while we would sometimes eat fast food, his diet was not by any means bad and definitely a lot less bad than the diets of many people we know. We found out afterwards that it's a genetic thing.

Well, now he is feeling a bit depressed. Most everyone you hear about having a heart attack is significantly older, so he doesn't have any kind of outside support as far as people who have gone through the same thing at the same stage in life. He is also focusing on what he can't eat/do, as opposed to what he can. I have always made healthy stuff at home and haven't had to change that at all. Well, now he's decided that all I make is "cardboard." I'm trying not to get upset about it because I know that it's just him being frustrated. He's already asked to see somebody, so that's a start. I'm just trying to figure out what I can do to help. I know that it's all a part of the whole post heart attack process.

 

[zumbergc]

My dad had triple by pass coming close to a year ago. I don't know how much damage he had with his heart attack, and if it limits any of his work intensity. Like doing things around the house, or functioning at work. All depends on how physical his life is in general. Dad has had a hard time, with not being able to work and do his usual stuff for 8-10 hours strait, now he has to take more breaks, and take it easy.

My dad went on an mild anti-depressant. Some of it was due to the stopping smoking too, and being edgy. However, he had to re-examine his style of living, eating healthier, stopping smoking. I don't think the stopping smoking stuck, but if he doesn't want to, I can't change that. Of course if i see him smoking i remind him how purple black, and blur his whole body was. He had open heart sergery, with the bypass, so they took those out of his leg and arm. He was a purple mess.

It can take a year or more to get back to 80-90 % of physical capacity, all depends on how much damage occured, and some people don't get back that much.

Is he avoiding an friends because he's trying to smoke or drink less?

Does he have the lifestyle at work, for lunch he eats total crap?
He is probably thinking he needs to re-adjust his whole lifestyle.

It might be important to do more gradual changes. Like aim to change one thing at a time, do that for several weeks, or a month. Then add in another thing.. Sometimes people freak out when they have to change 10 things at once. Get one thing good, feeling comfortable, then work on the next thing.

Changing eating habits are hard, and you could have a revolt on your hand after a few months, as he is hating everything he is eating. It does take time for your taste buds to change.

The goal in the long run is to keep the healthy changes and not just change for a few months then give up.

Best of luck, I'm sure you are frustrated and not to diminish that at all, you are both having to go thru changes, and it could be rough for a while.

 

[AnnaS]

I could probably have written almost the same two posts regarding my dh (he did not smoke though). He was 48 when he had his heart attack (almost three years ago). We were told he had a previous silent one too. We were told his heard was pretty damaged from the heart attack - cannot remember all the medical terms now. He also had a quadruple bypass not long after that and another surgery for pericardial effusion 4 months after that. It has not been easy.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

My brother's girlfriend is 37 and she just had a triple by-pass two weeks ago, if my brother drove her home instead of to the hospital she would have died (there house is 40 minutes from the hospital). I'm not sure how she's taking it, I haven't had the opportunity to visit with her, but I know the diet change will be hard on her and my brother.

If food all of sudden tastes bland, it could be there could be a false sense you were eating healthier then you were.

 

[golfgal]

A friend of ours husband passed away from a heart attack at age 33. He was very fit, healthy and was playing tennis when he had the heart attack. Another friend's BIL passed away a week ago at 41 of a massive heart attack. Some people are genetically prone to these things which is why it is important to have physicals every year. My BIL is the picture of health yet about 5 years ago in a regular physical had a cholesterol level in the 450 range-never in a million years would have guessed by looking at him he would have high cholesterol.

 

[The Princess]

A couple years ago 2 of my 3 brothers had heart attacks and has stents put in (~one had a heart attack in Feb the other in March) then in June my mom had a stent put in then in August my dad had a quadruple bypass!!!! My cholesterol is high and I'm on medication (brothers and I are all in our 40s) I see a heart doctor every 6 months, try to exercise and watch what I eat. The doctor did say it is genetic so I could change everything completely around but it wouldn't change my numbers!!
I do get very nervous about it so I just try to watch and take my medication everyday.

 

[agnes!]

My over-all cholesterol is technically high but that's because my HDL/good cholesterol is so good, I'm blessed by at least this part of my genetics.

agnes!

 

[PixieTopaz]

We changed our eating habits when both DH's parents had open heart surgery a year apart in their 50's

We used to eat fried food 3x a week-I dont even remember what fried chicken or a french fry tastes like anymore

We never ever eat "Fast Food" except Subway

My fave quick meal is grill chick breasts-slice on a salad-yum

Good Luck

 

[JCJRSmith]

Sorry to hear that. Hope he recovers quickly.

 

[ndelaware]

A good friend of mine had a massive heart attack on a small boat while vacationing in Bermuda. He was 35. His wife has spent the last 17 years raising their children by herself.

Your husband needs to stop feeling sorry for himself.

 

[agnes!]

DH had a mild heart attack about 6 weeks ago. Turns out that one of his arteries was blocked and he had a stent put in.
Now, DH is 33 and while we would sometimes eat fast food, his diet was not by any means bad and definitely a lot less bad than the diets of many people we know. We found out afterwards that it's a genetic thing.

Well, now he is feeling a bit depressed. Most everyone you hear about having a heart attack is significantly older, so he doesn't have any kind of outside support as far as people who have gone through the same thing at the same stage in life. He is also focusing on what he can't eat/do, as opposed to what he can. I have always made healthy stuff at home and haven't had to change that at all. Well, now he's decided that all I make is "cardboard." I'm trying not to get upset about it because I know that it's just him being frustrated. He's already asked to see somebody, so that's a start. I'm just trying to figure out what I can do to help. I know that it's all a part of the whole post heart attack process.

You're both in my thoughts and prayers, any time our health or our loved ones health changes the period of adjustment can be quite difficult. It's kind of like line from Joni Mitchell that I quote all the time "you don't know what you got till it's gone"... In my case, I didn't know how much I took my feet for granted until I broke my toe, I didn't know how much I took my legs for granted until a tree was dropped on my right leg several years back and my leg hasn't been the same since.

,
agnes!

 

[swald91]

We have a history of high blood pressure & heart issues in my family too. My brother had a massive heart attack at 43-he was on duty (a police officer) left his wife, 2 kids, a grandson, his parents & 7 siblings After my daughter was born another one of my brothers had one-he survived...when it's in the family I think we keep a closer eye on things. I have high blood pressure & on medication-my cholesterol is good but I still worry-I'm the only "child" in the family to not yet hit "43"....not something I enjoy dwelling on, but I am aware of it. Technology today is SO much better than it was even 20 years ago when my dad also had issues-he had his by-pass & was hospitalized for weeks-today they don't keep you there long. Hope things are getting better each day-take care

 

[dawson5]

My 11 yr old nephew had chest pains on Sunday. His parents took him to the hospital, they transferred him to Rainbow Babies in Cleveland. Yes he is 11. He is not obese, skinny as a rail and plays travel/elite basketball and last year also did the same with soccer. We're finding out it can happen to anyone. My husband is 44 and just had a stent put in in January. It's not always diet. It can be genetics and stress, both played into my husband's issues.

Have you talked with a nutritionist? It might help with planning meals and just general information. Another thing we found out was that he (hubby) is on all kinds of medication now, we have to lower his sodium but cannot replace that with the "no salt" stuff that is high in potassium. We're constantly amazed by hidden salt in things.

 

[swald91]

My 11 yr old nephew had chest pains on Sunday. His parents took him to the hospital, they transferred him to Rainbow Babies in Cleveland. Yes he is 11. He is not obese, skinny as a rail and plays travel/elite basketball and last year also did the same with soccer. We're finding out it can happen to anyone. My husband is 44 and just had a stent put in in January. It's not always diet. It can be genetics and stress, both played into my husband's issues.

Have you talked with a nutritionist? It might help with planning meals and just general information. Another thing we found out was that he (hubby) is on all kinds of medication now, we have to lower his sodium but cannot replace that with the "no salt" stuff that is high in potassium. We're constantly amazed by hidden salt in things.

OH YOU ARE SO RIGHT!!! Those packaged foods especially!! I hope all goes well with your nephew-good that the doctors are keeping an eye on him

 

[dawson5]

OH YOU ARE SO RIGHT!!! Those packaged foods especially!! I hope all goes well with your nephew-good that the doctors are keeping an eye on him

We found it in a pork roast. I buy the large ones and divide (I'm feeding 6 people, 5 men/boys). They have something like 200mg in a 6oz serving. I am finding it in some of the fresh chicken. I expect it in the frozen stuff but floored when I found it in the deli/fresh stuff. It's no wonder we're seeing more health problems at younger ages.

And thank you. We've been sitting by the phone waiting for updates. If the tests were okay yesterday they were going to give a stress test today.

 

[golfgal]

We found it in a pork roast. I buy the large ones and divide (I'm feeding 6 people, 5 men/boys). They have something like 200mg in a 6oz serving. I am finding it in some of the fresh chicken. I expect it in the frozen stuff but floored when I found it in the deli/fresh stuff. It's no wonder we're seeing more health problems at younger ages.

And thank you. We've been sitting by the phone waiting for updates. If the tests were okay yesterday they were going to give a stress test today.

Salt is a preservative which is why you find it in meat so often. It has been used in fresh foods for decades. You are just noticing it more now because you are being watchful. Without it, food would start to go bad too quickly.

 

[Geoff_M]

Your husband needs to stop feeling sorry for himself.

As someone that suffered a minor heart attack three years ago at age 43, I think you need to cut the guy a little slack! My problem was related to the shape of some of the veins in my heart that apparently make them "clot magnets". I'll be on Plavix, or other clot preventing drugs, the rest of my life. I was only about 15 pounds over my ideal weight, don't smoke, don't drink, had a total cholesterol of 199, and have ideal blood pressure.

When you go through cardiac rehab, you'll likely hear that depression is a very common reaction to surviving a heart attack. It's true. Yes, you know that you were one of the lucky ones, but the bottom line remains that having a heart attack sucks. It's very strange to know what's likely going to eventually kill you at some point down the road. (I find it hard to watch that Plavix TV commercial where the empty hospital bed "stalks" a heart attack survivor while touting the drug's benefit at preventing re-occurrences.) It sucks even worse when it happens when you're younger. The next youngest person in the cardiac ward with me was probably 20 years older by the looks of it. It was "funny" to watch new shift nurses walk into my room and get a look on their face when they saw me like they thought they'd walked into the wrong room. One nurse even confided in me that it was nice having me because I was the one patient they didn't have to worry about falling and breaking a hip on the way to the bathroom!

Yes, I know people that often times didn't survive their heart attacks and should be thankful, but it doesn't help a lot with things like when you look at all the warning signs on Disney attractions that tell me I should probably think twice about riding them since I have a "heart condition." It doesn't help knowing that whenever I want to do an activity that requires a health form from now on that I'll have a big "red flag" on the "heart disease" or "M.I." lines. I'll likely have to provide more details and hope I'll be given clearance to participate. It also sucks having to worry about this pain or that pain you may periodically feel and have to wonder it it's the start of "another one". Have you ever felt "something" in your chest as you were falling asleep and thought to yourself "Hmm, I wonder if I'll wake up tomorrow morning?" (I had two grandparents that died in their sleep due to heart attacks, though they were much older).

So yeah, I know exactly how the dude feels! If he feels he needs to go "talk to some one", then he should. He's not the first one to feel like that, nor is it "un-natural" to feel like that given his scenario.

 

[dizluvah]

OP

My experience - I had a heart attack just a few days shy of 31 (in fact they released me from the hospital on my 31st birthday. That was June 2003.

I can say that DH will go through a gamet of emotions (and you) - some that I cruised through (in no particular order) - were depresssion, fear, frustration, denial (that I had to take care of myself or do x, y, z the rest of my life) and total obsession with health (I ate everything the doctors/nutritionists said, I was perfect , denied myself everything - for 6 or 7 months - then the fear of death subsided and I slid back into my old habits, bad habits more and more)

DH will have to find a balance - and it is harder than it sounds - yes he needs to watch cholesterol, and eat healthy, and exercise (some of all of which we may have already been doing) but it is different when you feel you no longer have a choice - you must - or you risk death....can be a heavy proposition. He will find a path to walk that includes moderation of those not so healthy habits so that he can still live, etc.

The biggest challenge my marriage faced during the time right after my heart attack was - the food police. I know my family loves me and wants only the best for me but don't monitor my every morsel of food or I do want to scream.

Lots of changes, not to mention a possible attitude shift - ie fear of death when perhaps before it was never even a flicker of consideration - all this is happening to DH at once.

You will get through it - he is not the only young heart attack survivor although I admit in my 7 years I haven't met many. Someone did start a facebook group called young heart attack survivors that I was thrilled to join but it didn't prove to be as active or supportive as I would have wished.

If you or DH have any questions about my experience, recovery, day to day struggles, feel free to pm me. I have 2 stents (one placed on heart attack day) and one placed a few months later. I will say I did Cardiac Rehab (and yes I was the youngest by easily 35 years in the group) - it was like 6 weeks of 3 hour sessions twice weekly - hour of exercise, hour of nutrition, and hour of other activity (relaxation techniques, breathing, mediation, etc)

The cardiac rehab was very very helpful to me - helps you get over some of the anxiety about everyday tasks.

Good luck and hang in there - there is life after heart attack. My husband and I call every day since July 21, 2003 GRAVY days because we consider them "extra" -

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I knew a women who had 2 attacks starting at age 25. I thought that was young. But it happens.

Take care OP....good news is you know about it now.

 

[kacaju]

My dh had major heart surgery at age 45. He found out at age 41 he had a bicuspid aortic valve (two flaps instead of 3) He was told at age 40 he would need the valve replaced at some point (around 10 years) surprise....5 years later he had the surgery.

We were told to expect him to be depressed and oh boy was he... it is very hard on the *young guys* going through this... worse when they go to the Dr office and everyone else in there looks like grandpa. It really hits them hard.

The good news is, you caught it early and he will be OK. I am glad to hear he asked for help my dh would not...yet he was great at giving support to others when he was feeling better.

The best advice I can say is give your dh time to process this.. he is getting help, don't be afraid to get some yourself if you feel you need it. You will get through this
((HUGS))