Do we take or hearts for granted?

Today I read with some shock and sadness that John Nuttall. Has passed away due to a heart attack. An olympian who represented his country and nation. It has made me think do we take our hearts and bodies for granted? I suppose the biggest problem we all have is our genetics for one and possibly the way we live. But some people can live long lives smoking and drinking and others? Now that I have found out that I have a congenital issue which is no fault of my own or anyone else, it makes you realise how precious life is and that none of us know the future. For me the shock has been the biggest issue. But my body has compensated having a faulty heart. Getting me this far to nearly 60, its done me proud. But the answer is what causes these sudden heart issues? Age? Blood pressure? Infections? I suppose that is the million dollar question. But the amount of healthy fit athletes that secumb to heart problems, do make you wonder. But I feel sad for John and his family and may he rest in peace.

[Cymrucurious]

Absolutely agree ... why can some people are overweight, smoke drink alcohol or sugary pop & eat processed food and yet no heart issues, while others fit and healthy die of sudden heart attacks Surely there's more research/ correlation to this than 'we' the generally unqualified know ... after decades of investigation shouldn't we be more informed about this in 2023

[Chinkoflight]

Hi Felly12, well I took mine for granted until 18 months ago when I had a stroke out of the blue. Investigations found all the basics okay so the consultant defined it as a paroxysmal stroke and said it might be a PFO( hole in the heart) , or an Afib event but we'll never know! These both can be the cause of sudden death in apparently fit people. The death of John Nuttall is indeed very sad for a person who has dedicated his life to fitness. You are right to say we need to know more.

We can't rule out lifestyle, but I can't agree with the outlyer statement about drinkers and smokers living to a good age. I'm not sure there is much evidence for that, and in my own family I know it not to be true. As a person who was overweight when I had my stroke I'm well aware of the knowing looks about culpability!

Clearly genetics is a big factor in how we are, but we can't rule out lifestyle, either the choices we make freely, or those hidden impacts of employment, income, and the air quality for example around us.

I'm not well clued up on the many causes of heart attacks, but I guess clots, infections etc are all causes of sudden death.

This brings into play the equal importance of the cardiovascular system which is impacted by age as much as lifestyle

But heart and cardiovascular health and improving it is a good ambition for all. Perhaps John's life had been extended because of his fitness.

For me, I knew I could improve my fitness, and reduce my weight to help myself and hopefully reduce my demands on the NHS going forward. I wasn't happy to accept the statistics that I was most likely to have another stroke within 6 months! And it's working, at least in my measurable cardiovascular statistics and surprisingly in my mental health, which I also take for granted!

It's a very interesting aspect of our health to focus on, it is the subject of I guess a lot introspection when we internalise those invasive questions of how and why me! The very act can contribute to a downward spiral and depression, especially following an event and a diagnosis , in those first few weeks.

It can lead to decline and loss of motivation, something Professor Whitty has been writing about today.

Thanks for your interesting post.

[Alison_L in reply to Chinkoflight]

Totally agree with most of your comments, but my heavy smoking, overweight grandmother died 3 weeks short of her 93rd birthday. Obviously she hadn’t lived her life eating sweets and drinking cola (although she did get through a lot of chocolate in her later years), but she did live through the dietary deprivation of two world wars. There are some people who live completely unhealthy lives, but make it into their 90s.

[Heyjude31]

Hi Felly12, , I had cabg x 4 , 2 years ago. One Saturday morning, indigestion and then hospital to be told I had had ‘a mild’ heart attack. My surgeon told me, it was either being type 1 diabetic for nearly 40 years, genetic , or just very unlucky. I am grateful every day for my good fortune and my surgeon forever remains my hero. I am sure that as developments continue, more and more research done some of the answers may come forward. I hope so for generations to come. Thanks for a great post. Judi

[MummaSoap]

So just to throw in a different perspective - I think it’s just luck (as well as genetics and lifestyle etc). Although I do also believe that mindset has a lot to do with longevity of life when it comes to managing long term conditions (this is just my opinion). The mind is phenomenally powerful, both for good and bad if we allow it.

My Nan used to run a residential home and there was one chap who I remember with great fondness. Good old Fred smoked a pipe (since he was 10) and would have a port night cap every evening before bed. He lived to be 103 bless his soul! He was the sweetest, happiest man and that always stuck with me.

Also, my Nan is 82, she’s had breast cancer twice and has osteoarthritis. At the start of this year she broke the top of her pelvis, broke 3 ribs and fractured 2 of her fingers. The surgeon told her it would take 12 weeks for her pelvis to heal and 12 weeks to the day, she went back to her own home from my Mum’s and she’s just as independent now as she was before the accident - she really is an inspiration to me and if I grow to be half the woman she is then I will be happy. I’m constantly in awe of her and everything she does is with a smile on her face!

I guess what I’m saying is we could all benefit from being a bit more Fred - in mindset, perhaps not the lifestyle 🤣

I think it’s natural that we take our existence for granted to a degree - how would anyone function if we were always worrying that today was our last. 🤔

It’s certainly a good question though and I would be interested to know whether there’s any scientific correlation.

Sending thoughts to John Nuttall’s family, may he rest in peace.

Best wishes

Soap 🧼

[Maxbar]

That's really sad a great runner and coach ,did not no John personal ,but have took part in some of his coaching seminar's .a really dedicated man,who loved running and everything that it gave him and me and countless others, He will be missed,my thoughts are with all his family ,Thank you so much for being you❤️👍

[rubina786]

I think we all know the main reason for sudden increases related to heart, blood and autoimmune condition these last few years. Research, detox silently and effectively or be Silenced.Wishing you well.

Rubina

[crhyswilliams in reply to rubina786]

Brexit?

[Prada47 in reply to crhyswilliams]

Possibly

A little tounge in cheek but, I do think the constant bad press around everything going on in the world leads to people being a little down !

The two words Fit and Healthy don't necessary belong in the same sentence when talking about people Dying.

On a personal note I have said my body can go to a University medical research dept as long as it's not in the summer, when they are on summer recess otherwise it'straight to the crem.

If dying is coming your way there is not a lot you can do about it, some life style choices can make small changes but one major factor that you can't change is Age.

Off for breakfast now Egg on Toast remember the past Bad News Eggs are bad for you lots of Cholesterol and then Go to Work on an Egg. Oh bla dee oh bla da Life goes on whoo Life life goes on !

Regards

[rubina786 in reply to crhyswilliams]

Indeed! Lol, was such a stressful time, many jobs, lives, opportunities lost. Miss the freedom of travel, going anywhere, being able to do so much more

[HenryTudor]

My mother’s father died at 64 from a heart attack. My mother died at 62 from a heart attack, having had heart problems for ten or more years. My older sister has had a triple bypass. My older brother has had a triple bypass.

I wasn’t surprised, therefore, when I had a heart attack back in February 2020. Four stents fitted.

Way back over 20 years ago when my GP told me I had hypertension and too high cholesterol he put me on meds and said firmly, “With your family history you’ll be on this medication for the rest of your life.”

Yes, genetics is part of the lottery of life.

[Fair1]

High felly

I have seen many reasons why people should not live and to your point they do for a very long long time then on the other hand there are people who look healthy and exercise and eat well and just drop down dead crazy I think for piece of mind you have to look back at your mothers and fathers dads where they active did they die younge then weigh up what industry they worked in and where they lived and between the two fathers who died first and at what age and the second when he passed away and you should have a very good indication or just live every day as if it’s your last tell loved ones you love them every day give them a hug make them and yourself laugh don’t argue it’s not worth it and pinch the wife’s bum each day and run it’s to easy to get stuck in this thought just live mate good luck

[Deejay62]

RIP John Nuttall. His whole family are Olympians. Hopefully they will test his son and daughter to make sure their hearts are healthy and keep an eye on them from now on. Very sad for the family.

[ROBBO36]

It’s a very interesting subject you raise and fascinating stuff around how the body works. You hear all these stories about how he or she smoked / drank all their days and lived to a ripe old age, fair play to that. Others fit as a fiddle drop down dead very young. Slightly off topic, I read the other day we have an average 50 year working life, on average retiring at 67 and give or take on average dying around 78-80. Puts it all into perspective for living life to the full.

[Jetcat]

Hi felly. Your rite with the life is precious!!! . But I don’t think all folk really realise how lucky they are to wake on a morning or appreciate the most smallest simple things in life.?? I can only probably say this because I work in the funeral business and have done for going on 30 years. I have heard some terrible tales and seen some very sad things in this time and still do. We walk past a stranger in the supermarket etc and say hello but have no real idea what their going through or what they may have just been diagnosed with for example.?

My father also spent all his working life in this line of work and from me being a child always told me to cherish the most simple things in life and be thankful for every day you get and most of all be kind to others and help them if you can because there’s always someone who needs a little help but it will make a BIG difference. 👍

Best wishes felly.

Ron.

[wischo]

Yes there is nothing you can do about genetics so much so that some American life insurance companies are insisting on checks before they give you life insurance. Take a bald man his male children are generally bald, cancer and heart disease are no different as I can vouch that families suffer from inherited cancer and heart disease almost as a sole reason. Longitivity really does run in some families and my wife comes from a family of 12 siblings all but 2 of which smoke, drink alcohol and eat whatever they want and every one of them from 62 to 81 years of age(male and Female) have no health issues at all but their parents lived until their late 80s. On the other hand my father died from heart failure as did all 6 of his siblings. Myself and my two younger siblings both have similar heart issues as my father did and my mother who suffered from depression also passed that down to the three of us. Genetics are the best insight as to your future health and happiness and maybe regular checks may try and pick these up early. My advice is to enjoy your life as there is nothing you can do about them really and even the medical profession admit that this is the case.