Heart problems.

The Voice said:
That's rough, sorry hear! Yeah, the sudden ones are still the worst. Prior to having mine I didn't really know all that much about HAs. Over the last couple of years since they happened I've done insane research - to try and extend my own life, as well as give me some peace of mind.

My type was similar to your grandfather's: there would've been warning signs possibly prior to them happening. The usual stuff like slowing down physically, feeling over-exerted while doing basic things, a sharp pain (angina) when climbing stairs, etc. They're all trying to tell you the heart muscle is suffocating. Then there's the other kind - the type that killed both my parents. Sudden. No warning signs. And instant death basically:

My dad died when I was 16. He was in the workshop at work one morning, and then suddenly just collapsed. He was 47. My mom had fallen asleep on the couch while watching TV on Christmas day. She shot up clutching her chest, and that was it. She was 64. They were both relatively "normal" and had never displayed the symptoms I did, that I'm aware of. Sure, they smoked and weren't super active. But no prior issues really.

It's also the type of HA the drops someone running a marathon, so there's no real way to avoid it, I don't think.
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On an ECG trace there is a ventricle pulse making the wave QRS and then the small T wave that resets the ions called repolarization as the heart preps itself for the next sequence.
The duration from Q to the end of the T wave must not be longer than 470ms.
If it is longer due to genetics or medication then it is called Long QT SYNDROME (LQTS). This can precipitate to Torsades de Pointes (TdP) and unconscious and death if it deteriorates to Ventricular Fibrillation (VT).
Many athletes, soccer and rugby players have had a sudden death on the field due to this. Cot deaths are also thought to be caused by TdP
If no cause for sudden death can be found then it is highly likely to be due to LQTS.
 
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marco said:
On an ECG trace there is a ventricle pulse making the wave QRS and then the small T wave that resets the ions called repolarization as the heart preps itself for the next sequence.
The duration from Q to the end of the T wave must not be longer than 470ms.
If it is longer due to genetics or medication then it is called Long QT SYNDROME (LQTS). This can precipitate to Torsades de Pointes (TdP) and unconscious and death if it deteriorates to Ventricular Fibrillation (VT).
Many athletes, soccer and rugby players have had a sudden death on the field due to this. Cot deaths are also thought to be caused by TdP
If no cause for sudden death can be found then it is highly likely to be due to LQTS.
Click to expand...
Was specifically referring to the insta-death heart attacks: happens when a piece of plaque attached to the artery wall breaks free (known as a rupture). Your body thinks it's an injury and sends blood cells to clot at the area. Unfortunately, all this does in worst case scenarios is completely block the artery, causing an instant, fatal heart attack (as with both my parents). Unlike the seemingly prolonged process I went through, there is none of that in comparison: my dad was literally dead before his body hit the ground.
 
The Voice said:
Was specifically referring to the insta-death heart attacks: happens when a piece of plaque attached to the artery wall breaks free (known as a rupture). Your body thinks it's an injury and sends blood cells to clot at the area. Unfortunately, all this does in worst case scenarios is completely block the artery, causing an instant, fatal heart attack (as with both my parents). Unlike the seemingly prolonged process I went through, there is none of that in comparison: my dad was literally dead before his body hit the ground.
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Same as my late husband. Felt dizzy, keeled over dead.
 
Here in the uk they will give a thorough checkup for patients with heart arrhythmias as on the long run it is cheaper for the NHS. In total there are 40 ablations done per day or 10k pa.
Normally we have a cardiac nurse who organizes procedures and prescribes tablets. They would arrange appointments with the cardiologist or electrophysiologist. This will be your team going forward and they will keep in touch until you are sorted and signed off back to your house doctor.
Amazingly organized here.
 
Very sad to hear about these kind of things happening. I'm probably living on borrowed time as well..
 
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Hearts are strange things. It seems that I have Bradycardia though I'm not sure whether it's because of increased fitness or a combination of factors. Before I started working out my HR was at 70-80 which is slightly elevated over the generally accepted normal 60BPM. My wife is a little concerned that it might be too low, as it sometimes goes under 40BPM on very cold nights. I had been to a doctor for a check up earlier this year though and he wasn't concerned over it, though I suppose I will need to go for routine check ups to ensure all is fine. Interestingly I also seem to have somewhat high blood pressure too which generally isn't seen in conjunction with a low heart rate (usually the opposite is true where people with high BP will have faster HR).
Fortunately I don't seem to have any symptoms or complications from it at this point just yet. My resting heart rate was around 44BPM today apparently!
 
OnlyOneKenobi said:
Hearts are strange things. It seems that I have Bradycardia though I'm not sure whether it's because of increased fitness or a combination of factors. Before I started working out my HR was at 70-80 which is slightly elevated over the generally accepted normal 60BPM. My wife is a little concerned that it might be too low, as it sometimes goes under 40BPM on very cold nights. I had been to a doctor for a check up earlier this year though and he wasn't concerned over it, though I suppose I will need to go for routine check ups to ensure all is fine. Interestingly I also seem to have somewhat high blood pressure too which generally isn't seen in conjunction with a low heart rate (usually the opposite is true where people with high BP will have faster HR).
Fortunately I don't seem to have any symptoms or complications from it at this point just yet. My resting heart rate was around 44BPM today apparently!
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Have random bradycardia and unstable angina - was meant to go for angiogram today (after waiting for 6 months) but contracted COVID at a wedding this weekend, so have to reschedule.

My HR drops to the 40’s sometimes, which would be great if I was Ronaldo, but I’m not, so I’ve been taken off Bisoprolol (resting rate 65 to 80), and started Isodur (nitrate tablets) in January - adjustments and further treatment were to be discussed after the angiogram. Cardiologist is happy otherwise because I don’t have any permanent damage and the heart pumps normally after the 4 heart attacks. Was actually a huge relief for someone to tell me that 4 years after the fact!
 
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Many people on the British Heart Forum have rates below 50 and have no symptoms.
My HB is normally around 50 during the day and at night it goes to 43.
Any meds ending with "lol" will drop your HB by about 8 to 10 bpm.
 
marco said:
Many people on the British Heart Forum have rates below 50 and have no symptoms.
My HB is normally around 50 during the day and at night it goes to 43.
Any meds ending with "lol" will drop your HB by about 8 to 10 bpm.
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Good to see you're still around, Marco.
 
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