My heart attack

The gray box shows the location of my stent.

At this time last week, I was being released from the hospital. I'd had a heart attack - a small one, to be sure, but significant enough to get my attention. The first symptoms occurred last Tuesday when I took a walk around town to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather (at about the time I took these photos). At first, I thought the twinges in my chest were due to the fact that I hadn't taken a long walk in a while. So, like any red-blooded male convinced of his immortality, I ignored them.

But the next day, I noticed the sensations again, whenever I walked or exerted. I found the phenomenon interesting but not alarming. Still in denial, I again ignored the sensations. Just to be safe, though, I mentally reviewed a few criteria to reassure myself: There's no way I could have a heart attack, I thought, because I'm in decent physical shape, I don't smoke, I don't have diabetes, I eat a healthful diet - and I drink red wine regularly for "medicinal purposes." Overall, I was pretty healthy. Or so I thought.

The "wake-up call" was early Thursday morning, when I felt as if a phantom hand was clenching my windpipe at mid-chest and wouldn't let go. I thought I was either having the worst case of heartburn in history or - as I finally conceded - I was having some sort of heart issue.

With that realization, I drove to Lancaster General Hospital for evaluation. Driving in, I really wasn't afraid of dying. I didn't even consider the possibility, because I was too focused on just wanting the pain to end. It wouldn't stop, and I didn't know how I could get through another hour in that condition.

Long story short: I had had a heart attack (fittingly, almost in time for "heart month"). The doctor found a 95% blockage in my right coronary artery. The blockage was quickly opened and a stent inserted. All told, I was in the hospital for two and a half days for tests, surgical procedure, and subsequent observation.

Currently, I'm on a handful of heart medicines I must take daily for the foreseeable future, although I'm still allowed to have a glass or two of pinot a day. My numbers (heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.) are overall pretty good. The doctor thought the blockage occurred fairly recently; my body had sensed a problem and overreacted by trying to fix it. In doing so, the problem was exacerbated, ironic as that sounds.

So, I get to live a while longer, though any remaining illusions of immortality have definitely been destroyed.
Although I had a potentially life-threatening experience and have had to make a few minor lifestyle adjustments, I'm not going to preach to people about how they should exercise more, change their diet, etc. I will simply say that if you haven't had your numbers checked in the last five years, now might be the time to do so. Life has a tendency to sneak up on you.