Dear Sharon,
I am not a doctor, but while it is true that diet and exercise are supposed to be beneficial, and I din't doubt that wisdom, they are not a guarantee of anything. I am 69 years ild and had quintuple bypass surgery just over a year and a half ago, after a lifetime of athletics including weight training, gymnastics, long distance running, walking and a natural affinity to healthy eating (although I confess to having problems with portion control). People were shocked when I had my heart attack and surgery and the universal reaction was "but he's in such good shape and eats so well."
I'm not saying that I shouldn't have weighed 20 pounds less when I had the heart attack, but I looked mire like a pocket sized football player not some out if shape old guy. And yet it was me who became a proud member of what I like to call the zipper club, not the countless guys my age who were never particularly attentive to duet and exercise, at least nit since high school and college.
So why did this happen to me? The answer, as I since learned, is that my father, uncle, 49 year old marathon running cousin (female, no less) all have or had diagnosed left anterior descending coronary artery disease (the widowmaker) the same as I. It just runs in the family. I suppose that I could have been a vegetarian or vegan and maybe, MAYBE, that might have helped, but who knows?
The point I'm trying to make is that diet and exercise will no doubt make you a healthier you, but it won't necessarily make you healthier than some totally out if shape, smoking, hard drinking, poor eating person who was gifted with impeccable genetics, and it is no substitute for regular visits to your cardiologist, who should become your new best friend and business partner.
I'm sorry if my tone seems somewhat lighthearted about this, but I also am an unusually positive person that has learned to laugh at my own adversity (another very positive health benefit). I've learned that there is no "supposed to be's" in life, that we do the best we can to stay healthy, raise our children, live a good life (however we define it), but that challenges will come, often when and where we least expect or desire it, but that it is all okay, it is our own reality, and we can learn, grow and find (and spread joy) in any circumstance.
Do live a healthy lifestyle and listen to your cardiologist, but do also learn to stop worrying about a future that is just in your head and may ir may not ever become reality. Learn to focus in the one moment that is real-right here, right now-and enjoy everything, challenges and all, that life throws your way.
I wish you and your husband, great peace, happiness and the best health possible.
Ira
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Ira Reid
Hoboken NJ
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-02-2019 12:57
From: Sharon Rittmiller
Subject: Just Diagnosed with CAD and I'm scared!
Hi, I'm 62 years old and was just diagnosed with CAD. I'm very scared! I'm supposed to be my husband's caregiver, he has end stage COPD and retro-peritoneal lipsarcoma (inoperable). I have known something wasn't right for a while, but stupidly put it off.
From what I have read, I can minimize some of the progression with diet and exercise, as well as follow doctor's instructions (of course.) Is that correct?
Thank you for any feedback!
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Sharon - California
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