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Silent heart attack
My 72year old husband was told that he had a heart attack sometime in the past and he has no knowledge of this ever happening. The doctor said that there is nothing he needs to do now and not to worry about it. The doctor found he had the heart attack by doing a routine ecg. Is this right that he should do nothing different now? He does not smoke, does mild exercise, is slightly overweight.
Thank you
This discussion is related to Several Questions After Prior Silent Heart Attack.
Thank you
This discussion is related to Several Questions After Prior Silent Heart Attack.
I agree with Ken on this. There is a lot more to consider. I would certainly think that a follow up with a cardiologist be made to determine what further treatment if any is necessary.
QUOTE: My 72year old husband was told that he had a heart attack sometime in the past and he has no knowledge of this ever happening. The doctor said that there is nothing he needs to do now and not to worry about it. The doctor found he had the heart attack by doing a routine ecg. Is this right that he should do nothing different now? He does not smoke, does mild exercise, is slightly overweight.
>>>>Prior posts provide a good perspective.
For some insight, an EKG is not a very good source to evaluate a heart condition other than heart rhythm abnormalities. The ST segment on an EKD of the heart's beat cycle has an elevation and that can be due to many reasons. Requires additional evidence that include test as well as the symptoms associated with having had a heart attack. I experience the same situation as your husband. But I eventually developed symptoms of heart failure and required hospitalization, and I was shocked to heart I had had a heart attack in the past. There should be concern! If there was a prior heart attack, the porper protocol would be to determine the underlying cause and if possible provide treatment.
Your husband should be scheduled for an echocardiogram to determine if there was a heart attack!? If there were a heart attack, the results would be evident as there would be heart wall movement impairment. The impairment, if serious would reduce heart contractions and as a consequence a low cardiac output. The low cardiac output and if the underlying cause is not treated will eventually lead to heart failure (my experience).
To do nothing is malpractice if what you have stated is true, and there is no misunderstanding. It is possible the doctor has ruled out a prior heart attack and has only stated the results of an EKG, and considered it not of any significance as related to your husband's condition.
Thanks for sharing your husand's experience, and if you have any further questions you are welcome to follow-up. Take care.
>>>>Prior posts provide a good perspective.
For some insight, an EKG is not a very good source to evaluate a heart condition other than heart rhythm abnormalities. The ST segment on an EKD of the heart's beat cycle has an elevation and that can be due to many reasons. Requires additional evidence that include test as well as the symptoms associated with having had a heart attack. I experience the same situation as your husband. But I eventually developed symptoms of heart failure and required hospitalization, and I was shocked to heart I had had a heart attack in the past. There should be concern! If there was a prior heart attack, the porper protocol would be to determine the underlying cause and if possible provide treatment.
Your husband should be scheduled for an echocardiogram to determine if there was a heart attack!? If there were a heart attack, the results would be evident as there would be heart wall movement impairment. The impairment, if serious would reduce heart contractions and as a consequence a low cardiac output. The low cardiac output and if the underlying cause is not treated will eventually lead to heart failure (my experience).
To do nothing is malpractice if what you have stated is true, and there is no misunderstanding. It is possible the doctor has ruled out a prior heart attack and has only stated the results of an EKG, and considered it not of any significance as related to your husband's condition.
Thanks for sharing your husand's experience, and if you have any further questions you are welcome to follow-up. Take care.
Do they not wish to assess your husbands coronary arteries for levels of blockage? A scan of some sort. I'm no expert but from what i understand they seem to avoid these tests unless you have very clear symptoms. Prevention doesn't seem to be key for the doctors....but that might be just my experience up to now. (and i recognise they may have their reasons)
It might well be that your husband just had a heart attack that was a random event which has resolved. I would want to be sure that there isn't a worsening coronary disease building up though. Does he suffer from any typical symptoms? If not does he suffer with any vague symptoms....tiredness, irritability, muscle aches and pains (not just in the chest)? Heart disease can creep up so gradually that the signs are missed.
Whether he chooses to have further investigations or not i would say he should do whatever he can to improve his health, even if the doctor says this is not necessary. I had a cardiologist tell me that i can eat what i want because my cholesterol level is low. I think that is an incredibly crude approach to health. If i listened to him then i would continue with my love of biscuits, develop a fat middle and insulin resistance and raise my chances of heart disease further. Along the way i'd probably develop other degenerative diseases brought on by excess sugar and the inflammatory pathways it creates in the body - for example arthiritis, dementia, etc.
My point is there is always a reason to live an optimally healthy lifestyle, we need to think holitically about the body and i don't think many medical doctors are doing that yet. However i still have great respect for them.
It might well be that your husband just had a heart attack that was a random event which has resolved. I would want to be sure that there isn't a worsening coronary disease building up though. Does he suffer from any typical symptoms? If not does he suffer with any vague symptoms....tiredness, irritability, muscle aches and pains (not just in the chest)? Heart disease can creep up so gradually that the signs are missed.
Whether he chooses to have further investigations or not i would say he should do whatever he can to improve his health, even if the doctor says this is not necessary. I had a cardiologist tell me that i can eat what i want because my cholesterol level is low. I think that is an incredibly crude approach to health. If i listened to him then i would continue with my love of biscuits, develop a fat middle and insulin resistance and raise my chances of heart disease further. Along the way i'd probably develop other degenerative diseases brought on by excess sugar and the inflammatory pathways it creates in the body - for example arthiritis, dementia, etc.
My point is there is always a reason to live an optimally healthy lifestyle, we need to think holitically about the body and i don't think many medical doctors are doing that yet. However i still have great respect for them.
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