Heart and heartbreak

[Kbrose]

I’m 35 years young and last 5 years has been rough within The maternal side of the family sadly loosing 3 members all unexpected and all in a very I mean very similar way! My gran at 83/84, uncle one at 57 and uncle two at 59 (the most recent).all at home. My mum also has heart condition.

Gran - furred arteries- high blood pressure eschemeic (sorry for poor spelling) heart

Uncle one - high blood pressure - eschemeic heart

Uncle two - high blood pressure - eschemeic heart

Mum has - SVT- atribual fibrillation

26 years ago lost my grandad to eschemeic heart/heart attack following series of strokes which he recovered from.

I have been in touch with my drs to get myself checked out but they don’t seem very willing to help easy the obvious concerns

Can anyone help with advice what I can ask for test wise and various other things.

Thank you

[IanMK]

Hi

I can understand your concern so please don’t take this the wrong way when I say that the docs are far too busy without attending to the walking well. My advice is to ‘tool up’ with advice on how to best look after your body; it’s the only one you’ve got. Take a good look at your lifestyle. Excercise and eat healthily. You have to enjoy life; if you must have any vices, that’s your decision - just remember that actions have consequences. Keep watch on your weight. Does your GP surgery ( or work occupational health) have a routine periodic health check? Perhaps you want to get a BP monitor (upper arm ones are best) and one of the new personal ECG devices (e.g. Kardia or Apple Watch). Finally, keep watch for unusual changes such as arm or chest pains, persistent coughs, ‘rattley’ breathing and swelling ankles or fingers. If you do notice something unusual then phone 111. Pharmacists are also often a good source of information as are GP surgery nursing staff (can be easier to get to see than a GP).

I hope this helps.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! I know how you feel as on the male side of the family my father, his bother and their father all died prematurely from heart attacks due to clogged arteries. A sister developed vascular dementia (again caused by furred up arteries) so was not even aware she had outlived them! This got me concerned as I had the additional risk factors of Type I diabetes and PAD (peripherals arterial disease). However, it was not taken very seriously as I was on a statin and ACE inhibitor. In early 2017 I developed angina which culminated in a quadruple bypass a year ago!

In your case the previous advice is good - i.e. diet, exercise, alcohol in moderation and definitely no smoking. Besides your blood pressure your cholesterol should be checked and because of family history a statin started sooner than later. I would also start a small savings account and have a CT scan in about ten years as the fifties seem the risky period for your family. If you cannot get it on the NHS you will then be able to go privately. Obviously if you develop angina type symptoms then go to see your GP and A&E if you get severe pain.

However, try not to worry as it never does much good. Good luck!

[TMeditation]

Ok make an appointment to see your GP to discuss your concerns. If they don’t seem very helpful my advice would be - just sit there! The moment you get up to leave you’re lost! Don’t move from your seat until you’ve got what you want - tests/referral whatever. Most of us want to be told there’s nothing to worry about or feel awkward overstaying our welcome in our drs surgery, however be persistent but polite, it works believe me! Also these health issues won’t necessarily fall to you, you know, we are all very much more aware of how to take care of ourselves these days - diet/ exercise etc not everything is genetic. Good luck!

[Maisie2014]

Hi Kbrose. Try not to worry and live your life in a healthy happy way. I had a very similar situation. Dad died of heart attack at 49, his mum at 63, his sister 46. His nephew had to retire with heart problems aged 45. His brother had constant strokes from early fifties. My mum lost her mum at 62 with heart attack but she had asbestosis at 60 and I nursed her till she died. I could go on but these things teach us to live our lives as full as possible. I exercised regularly and a healthy diet and still had a heart attack but I’m still here moaning about it and I’m 68! I’ve discovered on doing my family tree that I’ve outlived most of my predecessors. The moral of the story is take care of yourself and keep on top of health checks but don’t obsess about it. Live your life. I intend to.

[Snowdrops_17]

I can totally understand you! My sons are between 32 and 37 years old. Nobody wants to be at risk either genetically or otherwise.

My Mum died age 68, heart attack, my Nan died because of heart problems, my brother had a quadruple heart by-pass, cause I was concerned when my Mum died so suddenly.

My Cholestorol, 2 years ago, was higher then it should have been! I was told, oh nothing to worry about. But I was concerned and in February this year I had a heart attack! If you can eat less solid fat, less salt and sugar, more fruit and vege and less red meat. Don't drink too much alcohol, as that is also a killer, so is nicotine! Exercise is important, walking, biking, running, working out at home.

But live you life and don't walk around with that dark cloud over your head young man please. Stay positive and take positive actions.