Fred Page and his daughter, Elizabeth Tyer, are the 2 heart attack survivors. (Courtesy)
By Michaela Gibson Morris
Daily Journal
Fred Page and his daughter Elizabeth Tyer had their heart attacks 10 years apart.
Page rapidly recognized unrelenting chest discomfort as a heart attack in June 2004 at the age of 60.
“I had been expecting it because I joined my 40s,” said Page, a Tupelo accountant that lost his dad at 43 and his paternal grandfather at 60 to heart attacks. “I thought, ‘OK, it’s my turn.’”
Tyer, that now lives in Franklin, Tennessee, had plenty of subtle symptoms, enjoy a dull ache that would certainly come and go throughout the summer 2014, however as a 43-year-old woman, a heart attack wasn’t on her radar screen.
“I merely blew it off as stress,” connected to moving, raising teens and extended family emergencies, said Tyer, a stay-residence mom and volunteer.
Heart health problem hits the 2 men and women, however the gender differences in symptoms are driving an unfortunate disparity, said Tupelo cardiologist Dr. Barry Bertolet.
“Women are having even worse outcomes,” Bertolet said, since they don’t understand their symptoms as a heart attack and get hold of help.
As Page did, men are much more most likely to have actually the classic, intense chest pain, along along with radiating discomfort through the arms, shoulders, back, neck and jaw.
For women, the warning signs can easily be becoming easily fatigued by easy activities, having shortness of breath, spine discomfort or just what feels enjoy indigestion. There can easily likewise be an overwhelming sense of doom or anxiety for no apparent reason.
Family study
In Page’s case, he rapidly realized he wasn’t having heartburn, took two aspirin and woke up his wife, that called 911. He was rapidly on the method to treatment – in his case a quintuple bypass.
Page workout programs regularly, watches just what he eats and takes medications. He hasn’t had any type of issues because his bypass.
“It appears to be working,” Page said.
The conventional wisdom was that Tyer’s brothers, not her, were at the majority of risk for heart disease. Tyer was physically energetic and maintained a healthy and balanced weight. Her cholesterol levels and blood tension levels were healthy.
After two months of ignored warnings throughout the summer of 2014, Tyer’s heart went in to a full-blown crisis along with a forever blocked artery. In the end, it was her daughter Avery, an aspiring doctor, that insisted her parents call 911 as her mother’s symptoms became much more intense. Tyer ended up in the cath lab, where doctors opened the artery and placed a stent.
“I do have actually permanent damage since I didn’t listen to myself,” said Tyer, that had to have actually the stent replaced this fall since scar tissue blocked the original one.
Tyer now focuses on being proactive for her own healthiness and that of her family. They get hold of plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, steer clear of processed meals and red meat, stick along with smaller sized sections and guarantee they continue to be active. She likewise talks to others women, recognizing heart health problem can easily affect them.
“You should live enjoy a survivor prior to you come to be one,” Tyer said. “You have actually to make on your own a priority prior to you’re a memory.”
michaela.morris@journalinc.com