Hi - I am new here, my husband had a heart attack about 10 weeks ago. He is 32 years old, normally fit and well, non smoker, has an odd drink here and there, but probably not even 1 unit a week! He woke in the night with jaw and arm pain, vomited so I called an ambulance as I knew something was wrong! He had full blockage of LAD and had stent put in! He is recovering well, but they have been unable to find a reason for the heart attack! Would be nice to hear from anyone who has had a heart attack at a young age as we feel a bit isolated and would be lovely to hear how they are doing!
Thanks
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Aleek
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Hello and welcome to the forum! I know someone who needed stents at age 30 and there are a few people here who needed treatment for blocked arteries at a similar age - sometimes because of a heart attack and sometimes because of other symptoms. I do not understand the comment about not knowing the reason for the heart attack as they had to stent his LAD. This artery is nicknamed the "widow maker" as a blockage is extremely dangerous. However, the problem has been treated so look forward, make any necessary lifestyle changes, exercise regularly and make sure he takes the medication. A friend's mother is over forty years post heart attack so do not dwell on the past but look to the future!
Sorry, I just meant they could not find an underlying cause for him to have a heart attack at such a young age. No family history, no drug abuse, fit and healthy! And they said it was unusual as he was sleeping when it happened and normally the circumstances he had would ‘normally’ happen when the heart is working harder and not during rest! I am the sort of person that would like an explanation of why but it seems that his case is just one of those things!!
Yes I totally understand as they can’t give me a possible cause for my heart attack either and it’s very hard to accept. If there was something you were doing wrong or whatever you could change it. You feel a bit cheated I totally get it and you explained it perfectly. But it’s true that we just have to accept it I suppose, like if we’d had any other illness, and try to look forward. These things just happen sometimes I’m told. I hope all goes well for you both in the future.
Thank you Janie. I think that’s the thing for me, I feel like we should be doing something to stop it happening again but as they can’t find a cause, my husband is just changing everything, diet, exercise, stress, but it would be nice to be able to pin point something! I hate ‘just one of those things’ type answers!
Yeah me too, it’s a bitter pill to swallow. It’s driven me mad to be honest. The only thing I can put it down to is stress and anxiety but they say that’s not a cause. I’m not so sure. 😒
I got terror attacked by my witch girlfriend many many times, and appear to have blockages a year later. So fear/terror is one emotion that seems to lead it. It's not the only one, "agitation" seems to provoke symptoms. As well as anger/annoyance. Seems like the best emotional state to have is "calm and not lonely" (Loneliness produces agitation.). Urgency/alarm/"Being in a hurry" seems like a dangerous emotion to have. Being worried is also terrible. And so is "being aggressive"/"being hostile". Calm and happy seems to be the best emotions. At least calm and NOT PANICKED. Panic is bad. The most symptomatic for me seems to be "Feeling threatened", panic, hostile, "being in a hurry", and agitation.
Also, SUGAR. Avoid eating too much sugar in a day. Sugar from fruit is just as dangerous (I got my first attack from eating too many bananas for too long. 3 years of banana subsistence before my first attack at 33.). "Whole carbs" seem to be best.
Yes I think your reply hit there. I strongly feel if you can change your stress levels you have a better chance regarding heart disease, I am a born worrier and there was a time when I enjoyed stress but after my triple bypass I try to keep calmer and reflect. I was healthy ,eat a good diet and all tests were normal but the old arteries told something different. I can only attribute my condition to years of thinking the wrong thoughts 🧐
My family have a history of heart disease and my brother had a heart attack in his mid thirties. I have just had a stent implanted (no H.A. though). We all (my family) have high cholestoral levels and it seems to be one of those things that we can't shake off. None of us are overweight or drink too much or smoke. Does your husband have anyone else in the family that this has happend to? If the LAD was fully blocked, it would make me think of high cholestoral and plaque deposits so It seems odd the hospital could not find a reason. I'm certainly no expert and there are others who may have had a similar experience who can help more.
Try not to worry too much (I know it is difficult). On the positive side, you can now take action. Don't stop until you get some answers. I am sure everything will be fine. Good luck.
My motto on family history is someone has to be the first to start the history. Doesn't have to go back generations but will now start the family history chain.
They know the reason, his artery was blocked. It can happen a lot in young " healthy appearing" people. Those that are in the state of activity during the cardiac event don't always survive.
I had a 95% LAD block - not quite as young at 47. No heart attack.
I don’t have what you would consider a ‘reason’ either. Not overweight, didn’t drink and was fit and active. There’s no obvious family history and my cholesterol was only slightly high.
So I’ve looked at my personal peculiarities. I had a lot of sugar (maybe 4 coffees a day with a spoon each), way too much chocolate and no where near enough fruit / veg / fibre.
That’s all I had to work with so i addressed that. I believe that sugar is inflammatory and that’s what does the initial damage to the artery wall that causes build up.
I could be totally wrong - but it’s helped me to focus on something.
I don’t feel perfect now 7 months later - but I can run around and play football again. Will take a long time for your husband to feel robust / strong. It was a real shock to me and I can still feel fragile out of nowhere now. Changes your whole perception of time.
ABSOLUTELY! I was eating bananas straight for a couple years, and got a heart attack at 33! Sugar was obviously the culprit, anytime I start eating sugar, cardiac symptoms start up again.
I'm sure you mean well, but you cannot make a diagnosis on the basis of a few comments, nor are you medically trained. I believe the BHF admin posted about this just recently
There was this guy, who went all the way to the USA to get fully checked out.
Those tests were not avail. in the UK.
This man was determined to find out and he got what he was looking for.
He did it for his young daughter, who did not want him being ill, sick unable to do what he used to do!
UK is not the forerunner of medical science, possibly, on research levels, they do well. But NHS is on the lower league table, some 3rd world healthcare do far better. Just my tuppence, here.
Hi Aleek. I think sometimes we need to just think of the positives. Your husband has been sorted out thanks to your quick action. I was fuming when as a non smoker (pun unintended!) I was diagnosed with lung cancer 13 years ago. My husband had a quad bypass in November.
Our lads who are the same age as your husband have made lifestyle changes based on their dad's close call!
Everybody has visceral fat. It is excess visceral fat that is the problem. This is likely if the waist measurement exceeds half the height. For total accuracy an MRI scan is needed. Nothing in this thread suggests this is the case.
Hi Aleek, not quite as young as your husband but my husband had a massive heart attack when he was 42. No indication before then of heart trouble and certainly none in the family. He did however have a very unhealthy diet, high in fats, cream in coffee etc. Unfortunately, they were unable to unblock his artery and a bypass wasn't an option. That was 21 year's ago. He's followed the BHF recommended diet and excerise since then and he's never had another heart attack. He does now have heart failure but that's because his heart was very badly damaged after the HA so was inevitable really. My husband has definitely done well over the years & continues to do well today. Best wishes to you & your husband, I'm glad to hear he's recovering well. He will be offered re-hab at some point and I would really recommend he attends, it really helped my husband feel confident again.
Hi - thank you for your response. He has just had his last rehab, he found it useful in some respects but not in others as the nurses running it usually see older patients so all my husbands questions, they struggled to answer, we have silly questions like ‘can he go on a rollercoaster’ or questions about work as he is in a manual job, the consultant cleared those questions up for us though! But he is feeling more confident since going. He is currently classed as being in heart failure as well, but hoping his heart function has improved with the medication, he has only had one echo and that was the day after the stent was put in so we are waiting for a follow up! Although the consultant said that as long as the scan is ok they will discharge him which surprised me!
It’s nice to hear positive stories which was why I posted as I think we are both worried that because he is so young that it will happen again!
Heart Failure really just means that his heart needs a bit of help pumping and the meds will certainly help with that. There are some people in the forum that have lived with HF for 30+ years. It's not unusual to be discharged by the cardiologist if your condition is considered stable, my husband didn't see a cardiologist for 15 years after his HA. However, under NICE guidelines, your husband should be to a heart failure specialist nurse if you have them in your area and they are invaluable for info, support, prescribing meds etc. Definately mention this to the cardiologist/GP as sometimes it gets forgotten. Also, there is a patient led HF charity called Pumping Marvellous, check out they website it is amazing for info, support etc. They also have a closed Facebook group of the same name for HF patients, their families and carers. Lots of advice, support, info or if you just want to have a chat, I highly recommend you look them up. Hope all goes well for your husbands next scan, feel free to message me if there's anything I can help with.
I'm glad it's helped knowing my husband's story. The bit I missed out was that my husband actually went into cardiac arrest, I was told that he wasn't gonna make it and that they expected him to pass away within a couple of days of turning off his life support. 21 years later, we're off to see Ed Sheeran in concert this weekend!! (I've made him go, I'm sure he'll enjoy it!) 😂
That's very nice of you to say so. It's not all hunky dory. I wouldn't want anyone to think we sail through life, we don't. Life has it challenges, but I plan, re-plan, search, research to try to ensure that I cover every eventually, if I can. I'm currently trying to sort out the logistics of getting to & from the concert and this heat is not helpful but we'll manage. My husband is the inspiration, after the initial shock, fear, etc. he has been determined to just get on with life one day at a time.
i was 38 years old when i had my heart attack ... no block ateries ... no stents needed... the hosptial said my arteries were beautiful and clear... i had been poorly for a while but was misdiagnosed by my gp with chronic asthma..
my ha was caused by a pool of blood in the bottom of my heart and a big clot formed and went for a swim.. i was told it was just a tiny bit bigger i would not be here today... they only worked that out from mri scan... i was informed that i did not have asthma but heart failure an had inherited dilated cardiomyopathy from my dad (who is no longer here)...
that is nearly two years ago and im here, trying my best to eat healthy and exercise.. take my meds and have occassional check ups with my nurse ..
My nephew had a similar event - age 38 - last Xmas.
We do have history of heart problems in the family on both sides but the main problem for him seems to have been ongoing stress. He’s a very tall, slim person but a worrier!
He’s fine now, taking the tablets, exercising, relaxing more and eating a vegan diet.
It took about 6 months before he could accept what had happened at such a young age but it’s a warning I suppose. At least he can now move on being aware of the problem.
Im 36 and 8 weeks ago suffered a heart attack also. 2 blocked arteries both 95%.
Its a massive shock to the system and everyone around us. I was the same always on the go never felt ill before etc.
I do have family history of heart disease at a young age in the family so thats where it has came from for me.
The important thing to remember is that now its diagnosed its totally treatable and manageable. Im so confident since starting cardiac rehab im not scared anymore and im back at work those two stents are now my mates.
Chin up dont be afraid to ask for support also
It's useful to read the possibility as it is a fact that diabetes isn't diagnosed quickly on NHS unless you had a full-blown disease with a few obvious damages already caused by it! It's plausible.
I'd rather know the possibility and check that out rather than staying blissfully ignorant, wondering what could it be forever and diseases progressing to an early grave. . .
To be honest, the truth may hurt, but it should be said as it saves people from having HA, losing vision, losing limbs and any other consequences i.e. dying prematurely. I have seen enough people, around me, being told by medical professionals "oh, we don't know what caused that or this, you are just so unlucky, you know...".
People do post these things because they genuinely care.
To me, that's what this Hub is all about. If someone finds certain posts "annoying", just stay civil and move onto the next one. . .
This post is not directed "at" anyone. But as a bystander, that's how I feel.
These days, there are people who need to know what was causing the disease rather than "oh, unlucky!" and move on.
I don't know if this is appropriate but my husband who was 64 and was considered young by doctors, had a heart attack and passed away. So I would say a heart attack at any age is bad but I am glad your husband is recovering. Take carexxx
Hi Aleek, I had a STEMI of the LAD in July 2018 when i was 41. Sounds very similar, woke up about 1am on a Saturday morning, with pains, i thought it was muscle related due to golfing the previous day, so i went downstairs to lay on the sofa so as not to disturb the wife, about an hour later i decided there was something wrong and woke her up, good job she called 111, thankfully the ambulance came quickly and took me straight to the hospital for a stent, by 7am i was back on the ward feeling pretty well having already had the stent. I have always been fit and healthy, not overweight, came as a massive shock, the last 12 months i have felt perfectly well and thankfully not too much damage to the heart.
hope you're husband is doing well, and try not to let it define you're lives
At age 34 I had 3 heart attacks in 3 months followed by 5 by-passes I also have a manual job working as a joiner, I also had 3 young daughters to worry about i slowly eased my self back into work changing my diet and exercise regime. then age 48 we went to America to celebrate our silver wedding where i had a further heart attack and 2 stents fitted returning home i again eased my self back into my regular routine which all went well until last year when i have been diagnosed with aortic stenosis and dodgy knees which has stopped the jogging but not working on building sites i have run several marathons still ride roller coasters with my 7 grandchildren and this weekend climbed ladders to repair our roof having celebrated our ruby wedding and walked my daughters down the aisle i have had many ups and downs and bumps in the road but try to listen to my body pushing a little to keep active and resting when needed i am now 63 year young.
Hi aleek I had ha at 50 ate healthy walked everyday low bp everything normal then for over two mths has symptons of H.A. without realizing it I had even been to lots of gps who put the pain in my shoulder to pulled muscle then one day I couldn’t tk the pain then diagn with ha after four years I found out my heart is severely damaged hf class one but thank to god I still feel ok I worry most times but I try to think of it this way anything can happen to anyone anytime so we should enjoy ourselves not stress also these days there is medication and scans which improve our health i however have also found this forum quite encouraging reading people experiences because googling everything was making me stress
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