Cardiologist to talk about family heart history

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get yourselves checked for anxiety instead.

You are an ass.

My very fit, energetic, former dance teacher mom had open heart surgery at age 69. She went to the emergency room with a stomach infection from chronic diverticulitis and ended up being admitted to the hospital to have a full battery of tests and a cardio work- up. She had a previously undecided heart murmur and some heart damage due to a malformed mitral valve, possibly congenital. She was asymptomatic but this surgery saved her life - she's now a vibrant, active 78 year old who runs circles around me, energy-wise.

Here's the thing about cardio health - like my mom, unless you intentionally get a full, complete check up, you just don't know.

Two years after my mom's surgery, her niece (my cousin) a champion swimmer and marathon runner, collapsed while on a training run. Medical intervention saved her and she ended up getting a pacemaker at 52. It was discovered that she has a rare, genetic heart defect and so all of her family members had to be tested. Now, this cousin and my uncle have pacemakers.

I had to get tested as did my own family of origin. Fortunately, I am not a carrier, but through this, one of my siblings now takes cholesterol meds.

[Anonymous]

20:08 back to say that I recommend Virginia Heart, especially the arrhythmia center.

I had two appointments; one was a initial consult and comprehensive discussion of family history with the cardiologist (Dr Chang). At that appointment, I also had a quick ekg, physical exam with b.p. and fitted with a Holter monitor. I returned my monitor a day later and at that appointment, had what I call a heart sonogram, but the name is echocardiogram.

I waited maybe a week to have a follow up phone call with the cardiologist to reassured me that the only thing remarkable about my heart was that it was truly unremarkable. I literally cried at those words! Such a relief!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old was the MIL?

And what kind of health/life-style?

Of course she is not answering, she was probably 85-90.

I am in awe of the judginess and snark. Unbelievable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get yourselves checked for anxiety instead.

Thanks. His mother died this weekend of a heart attack. His dad died of a stroke at 60. His 3 brothers have each had either a heart attack or stroke by age 50. You think we need to be medicated for anxiety? Or do you need a doctor to remove the foot from your mouth?

You are doing the right thing, OP.

In my case, there was no strong history of heart disease in the family and I used to run 45 miles a week as well as eat right. Not diabetic or hypertensive.

One fine day, I felt an ache in my left arm which I dismissed because I was exercising heavily with absolutely no symptoms. To cut a long story short, I reluctantly had an angiogram at Washington Hospital Center. To my shock, the angiogram showed that I was 95% blocked in two locations in my right coronary artery and 85% blocked in my LAD (also known as the "widow-maker" artery). I had to have four stents put in and the interventional cardiologist said that it was just a matter of time before I would have had a heart attack.

So being in peak condition does not does not offer any guarantees and given your husband's family history, you are wise to be cautious.

NP- how old where you?

Late 50s' when I had the angiogram

[Anonymous]

I was 49...not in great shape, but I could run a mile or so. I also had a horrid family history, and was being followed closely because I had genetic high cholesterol.

One day, while out for a walk, I felt awful. I was 1/2 a block from the fire station, and had my DD run ahead. Ne next thing I remember was in Fairfax Hospital...apparently I had a widow maker heart attack, but it was stopped and reversed. They did the angiogram and the stents within 30 minutes of first symptom. No damage to the heart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old was the MIL?

And what kind of health/life-style?

Of course she is not answering, she was probably 85-90.

His dad and brothers have each had a stroke/heart attack relatively early. His mom just died. I think they are doing the right thing. Clearly there is a strong family issue.

You on the other hand are terrible.

OP - I am very sorry for your loss. I don't have any recommendations, but I hope everything checks out and that your husband has continued good health for a very long time.

[Anonymous]

I also went to Virginia Heart. It's in Virginia Hospital Center,, so what's nice is they have everything right there.

[Anonymous]

OP, sorry for your loss. Jose Vargas is a fantastic cardiologist at Georgetown who also does genomic research at NIH. For someone who is concerned based on genetic risk I would highly recommend him.