“Doctors are able to identify silent attacks via an electrocardiogram (ECG) scan which reads any damage in the heart.
Heart disease is the world’s biggest killer, with the latest WHO figures showing it was responsible for 7.4 million deaths in 2012.
Experts believe many of the deaths happen in patients who have previously suffered a heart attack without knowing it.”
A month ago I was at the Clinique Pasteur in Toulouse for a follow-up stress test after my local cardiologist–Dr Lefevre (Dr Fever!)–decided that he was not a 100% happy with the annual test.
So my heart is on my mind–so to speak and this report caught my eye.
The heart attack you don’t know you’ve had.
I haven’t had one of these little earthquakes–yet!
But my mother died suddenly, aged 67, of a heart attack related to her Type One Diabetes and my middle brother–a Hollywood TV drama director–died suddenly of a heart attack at 58.
So two fatal attacks in the family are enough to give me pause.
A heart examination is one of the regular annual checks I have .
This involves ten minutes on an exercise bike with wires attached to your torso, monitoring how your heart is coping with the increasing level of effort you are having to exert on the bike.
[Kidneys, liver, feet, eyes, cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure—you name it, I am monitored.]
The heart is one of the organs put at risk by Diabetes.
And the problem for people with the condition is that it’s often not obvious there is a problem.
Our affected nervous systems can mask the symptoms–Monsieur Lefevre says it’s not clear why this happens–but being cautious and the least feverish man I know–he wanted to be sure the blip he saw was just a blip.
I’d been to the clinic in Toulouse a couple of times before–in fact I’d had three stents fitted there successfully three years ago–a procedure that may have saved my life.
This time the sweet doctor who showed me the X-ray results, pronounced it nothing to worry about (a blip) and me–fit for purpose.
Je vous remercie, Dr Lefevre–Give me Fever !
Robin Ellis 
While living in Cornwall in 2007 (we were there with EU funding). I was diagnosed with a stress heart attack. So every little pain in my arm and chest is a worry. I have like you – the all clear – but my heart has a different beat. This is all good until I go to a doctor who doesn’t have my records and I have ended up hospital once, and arguing to go home a couple of times. Hopefully this is over now for you and me. Good health Robin!
Good health to you, Margaret and everyone!
The joy of (usually older male) doctors who won’t believe you know something about your own body, and your own health risks–drives me nuts. When I was under thirty, I’d get the “Is your father a doctor?” because I could speak Medical and asked intelligent questions. Thankfully the “I’m God and you don’t know squat” generation is aging out and retiring.
Robin, so pleased its just a blip, with your Mediterranean diet and daily exercise routine you couldn’t do anymore to keep yourself healthy. Having had a recent 8 trips to A&E with a heart beating out of control and body tingling, which I was sure was diabetes but now seems to have been a reaction to the flu jab, I can appreciate your concern. Please take
care and enjoy summer in such beautiful surroundings!
You too, Sally.
Hello Robin,
Firstly- thank you for the timely advice and information re heart health. Secondly- I am very pleased your ‘blip’ is just that!
Wishing you good health and and a wonderful summer,
Fran Shaw
Thank you, Fran.
Mr. Ellis…
Glad you are doing well. I have to agree being in the same position as other posters and yourself that heart issues tend to be of great concern for all of us since it affects each day of our lives and we need to be on top of it if we want to do the things we want and need to do in our lives.
You are absolutely correct. Stress tests do help in diagnosing what could be wrong…or not. It helped in my case as well after I had a bit of trouble walking up a very steep hill. Now I’d rather take a stent than going into the ‘departure lounge!’…;-)…Just shows how far strides have been made in cardiology!
And please keep on suggesting those healthy meals. The chefette enjoys making them. Thanks.
Rich
Robin so glad to hear that your heart is beating alright
Please take good care of yourself. Best wishes to you both.
To you too, Elaine.
Good report–I am so glad!
Take care, Robin. You mean so much for so many. 😘
Thanks, Domitilla.
Robin, ’tis good to know that you are in good health. Thanks for making us aware of the need for healthy food and medical attention. And thanks for the web site and recipes.
I was too late to get into one of your classes this year and hope for next. We have not met, but I have met Meredith.
Un de ces jours, Jane!
So glad to hear it was just a blip, Robin. We need you around for a good long while yet. 🙂
Thanks, Cynthia.
Mr. Ellis…
Glad you are doing well. I agree with others here and yourself that it is highly important to constantly monitor oneself if having heart issues.
And I’d just note that individuals sometimes react differently when it comes to experiencing symptoms. Personally, I never get chest pains and it took a stress test to gauge an issue which cropped up after walking up a very steep hill. I’m not too sure if I didn’t get that test that I would have fared so well. So diagnostic tests sure have their place in heart issue monitoring.
And please keep on suggesting those healthy meals. The chefette enjoys making them. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing, Robin. My brother has had stents done a couple of times and still trucking along at age 82 (16 yrs older than me). My husband and I are following your style of diet managing so far to avoid my mom’s type 2 diabetes (she was eventually on insulin and lived to be 91 (stroke). I am the youngest of 3 and so far the only one not requiring any medication.
For sure, mild exercise, good diet, keeping off the fat is key.
Glad you are doing OK!!
You too, Marg!
It is wise to do this, but often people don’t want to know.
Good to hear you got the all clear Robin. In 1990 my Dad had a not so silent heart attack. This was followed by a double triple bypass. About three years ago they fitted him with a pacemaker. He will be 93 this year. You can’t keep good men down ………..so stay good. 😊👍🏻
Wow! hail to your Dad!
Hello Robin,
Glad to hear you are fine after your “blip”. The heart is a strange organ isn’t it? My lovely mum Joy, had a massive heart attack when in her fifties and spent many months in hospital , There was talk of a heart transplant, but her heart was too enlarged, so it was too dangerous to attempt it.
She decided she wanted to come home to die. She left hospital , looking very frail and we all thought it was a matter of time. Well, it certainly was……she was still with us twenty years later!!
She had decided she wasn’t ready to leave us ! She also had breast cancer for the last five years of her life and she always said ” I hope the old ticker goes before the cancer gets me!” She had her wish and left us at 72 years old.
The doctors had asked her many times if she had ever had rheumatic fever as a child and she had always answered no. But her elder sister told her she had been very ill with it when she was 8 and that had done the damage to her heart then.
Good job she never knew that, or she wouldn’t have had us 5 children!! She was a very elegant lady, with long dark hair, beautiful skin, and high cheekbones and a strong heart!!
I’m coming to meet you and Meredith next week and am looking forward to it very much!
Love, Heth xxx
What a wonderful story, Heather. Thank you. Tell me more about your mother, Joy, when we meet next week. Bring a photo if you like. A la semaine prochaine, alors!
Dearest Robin,
I can relate to “blip” as May 14th, 2014 will go down in epiphany for me for that is the day I ended up in ICU in Maryland while visiting my daughter. I was throwing three different PVC’s, heart beats, within a single segment of the EKG. They were echoing, via the heart monitor, all over the floor and all staff were in attendance. I have Paroxysmal Ventricular Tachycardia. It’s so vitally important to know what you are putting in your mouth for your body to process. Depletion of potassium and magnesium in combination of too high dosage of Synthroid, (thyroid) med were the culprits. Been borderline diabetic since my early 40’s and am afraid I am close to being declared here at my tender age of 72. I don’t have your new cookbook, but plan on purchasing it after seeing so many delicious pictures and recipes. Appreciate you sharing your life talents with us and so looking forward to the 2nd Season of the new Poldark.
I have just given the complete original set to my daughter and son-in-law to introduce them to you and the BEST Poldark. My admiration and love to you and your beautiful wife,
Charlotte Huffman
Thank you, Charlotte for those kind words. Sounds like you are in control–and that’s what is important.
Well, Cap’n. Poldark — this is “blippin” good news! We’re so glad to hear that you are fine. AND, it is so kind of you to share this information! It reminds me to TAKE YOUR COOKBOOKS OFF THE HUTCH AND USE THEM AGAIN (as she crunches on the last bit of Friday-night pizza crust!!) Guilty pleasures . . .
Go for it, Nadine!
glad to hear all’s well.
Glad to hear all went well with this test Robin! Keep on keeping on😉
KOKO indeed!
Whew, thank God you’re alright!
I had to do that stress test when I was in my 20s. A little intimidating with all those wires & machines. I was having the occasional heart palpitation (ka-THUD! feeling). But all the doctor could find was “an irregular T-wave” (something about the way blood flows thru the chambers). “Nothing to worry about.” He did say I could try lowering my caffeine intake. It’s been decaf and fewer sodas ever since, but it still happens once and awhile. Life in the Rat Race, I guess.
Keep taking care of yourself and the lovely Meredith, too!! 🙂
Thanks, Dianne and you too.
Having just suffered 2 strokes and a heart attack, when i thought i was healthy and fit as a flea this has really opened my eyes to hereditary diseases and the importance of keeping stress levels low. Totally scared me i must admit. Glad you got the all clear Robin, regards to your lovely wife, whom i suspect was very pleased with your outcome to!
So glad you’ve come through this horrible experience, Vicki. Less stress–yes!
Keep going! A little walking each day is good for you.. Action makes the heart go stronger….
KOKO–Heidi!
My heart was in my mouth reading this – thank Goodness you are alright. I recommend The Nature Doctor by Dr Alfred Vogel (on Amazon). I am a cardiologist (now retired) and highly recommend this incredible work for overall health.
Thank you, Poppet–I will follow this up.
Aléee, oh oh! Aléeee, oh oh!
Glad to hear that your heart is not playing up, Robin! I had been living with a grandmother who was heart sick since 1976 (first heart attack), but she outlived my grandfather and got married at 73 for the second time with a family friend! At that time she had more sweethearts than me!!! And she asked me to make excuses with one or the other! What a comedy! My friends and I were so jealous! I could not believe it! I hope to have made you laugh. Here another memory: you have mentioned Dr. Lefevre – Fever – which is quite amusing. Well, when I was working for Mondial Assistance 15 years ago as Assistance Operator and then Team Coordinator, there was a doctor who coordinated all the group of doctors and supervised them. His name was Dr. Fatale = Fatal! I have always said that reality goes beyond fiction….
Did make me laugh, Paola–lovely stories.
Thank you,
Many years ago our North Cornwall GP was called…Dr Blood!! The dentist – Mr Payne.
My first ever part aged 8 was a distant relative of your scarily named doctor. I played Captain Blood’s demur wife, Mrs Blood, in a play at prep school. Our family dentist, Mr Powell of Putney, used to hand out sweeties to his young victims after a session. One way of guaranteeing our return!
…Fever in the mornin’
A fever all through the night.
Glad you have nothing to worry about!
I have a minor murmur in S4, I think it is–so faint even a cardiologist giving me an EKG could barely find it. Almost 10 years ago, the AMA or another medical group decided that my situation no longer required anti-biotics before any dental procedure. Made me happy, since I don’t want to wear out the usefullness of antibiotics for me.