Women and Heart Health: Have you got a story to share?

@colleenyoung I have shared my story but with new people on board I will share .Back in the fall of 1996 I experienced severe sweatng when I exherted myself doing any physical work .I became dizzy and went to my Dr .He sent me to a cardiologist I had shortness of breath and pain in my chest ,none in my arm .As it turned out I had a triple by pass with blockage in all 3 arteries. I changed my food to no red meat as the Dr told me to also I became vegetarian The cholesterol was the culpert. I'm still on a statin to this day as the Dr explained to me my liver is producing to much cholesterol.

Re heart disease and high blood pressure, please view Dr Perlmutter and Dr Richard Johnson together on YouTube discussing new firm evidence that it’s elevated Uric Acid in ppl that is causing these problems and plays big role in Alzheimers too.

Thank you Colleen--can I ask about how hard it was to transition to being a vegetarian? Did your family go along with it and make sure when you ate with them you had a good meal too? Or did you have to cook meat for them but not eat it? Am just wondering about the process in the beginning. And bravo! 25 years! @kaliadoner

Welcome @citycycle. I believe your message was addressed to @lioness who changed her diet to help improve her heart health.

Lioness, citycycle asks about your making new dietary changes and possibly still having to cook for others too. Did you cook separate meals or did you family eat heart healthy too? Did everyone embrace vegetarian diet?

@cynaburst @renee11 @jeanern01 @artist01 @retirement75 @yoanne @juliebrown @katofoz @janet23 @karukgirl @christine270 @mayofeb2020 I want to bring this discussion to your attention.

What's your heart story?
Was your heart condition misdiagnosed or was there a delay in getting treatment because the signs were recognized? Was your heart condition related to pregnancy? What did you do to take charge or improve your heart condition? Did you make lifestyle changes that helped recovery?

@citycycle Thank you. The Dr after the operation told me to get of red meat because of fat contents and pesticides animals injest from grass so I did plus went on a vegetarian diet along with light exercise drank more water I strived for 64 oz. @colleenyoung also I eliminated fried foods and package foods ,no preservatives or dyes,or artificial flavors.I still adhere to this today

Thanks, It sounds like you adjusted to your new nutritional requirements pretty quickly. What do you think, in you, made it possible to make such radical changes? Lots of folks even after a serious health scare find it hard to do.

It’s been 15 months post 3rd heart attack and triple bypass. After reading through my records and reflecting on what transpired, I am questioning my cardiologists judgement and my ability to advocate for myself at the time. My first heart attack was in 2004 and with 3 arteries blocked 75-90%, I was treated with 5 stents. My lifestyle did not seem to be compromised. I would say this latest experience has been somewhat life altering. I would highly recommend women read the book, A Woman’s Guide to Living With Heart Disease by Carolyn Thomas. Her story was so validating for me. I have spent a lot of time researching heart disease as I wasn’t getting answers to my questions from cardiologists. The best thing I did was have a virtual appointment with a doctor at Mayo Clinic who spent 40 minutes going over my records with me. You have to know what your new normal is to move forward. I am following up with an in person visit and hope to get more clarification on prognosis for the future

@citycycle I really had no problems adjusting as I mostly was vegetarian then the hardest was meat I still cooked it for my husband but it really didn't bother me to much a good steak was a challenge I didn't eat red meat for 10 yrs ,I was good, lol but then occasionally I started .At this point I found out the calcium is hard on my heart as the last echo showed 1 artery is getting blocked the Dr said so I cut my calcium in half 🙃 I,ll see what Dr says next time I go to her

I'm a 80 yr old women, who had 2 stents 3 years ago, and open heart surgery 5 mo ago, when it showed 99% blockage on left artery. Since my father and grant father passed a away at 41 and 51 years old from heart attack, and uncles on my mothers side past away at 41 years, I have always been concerned about the heart. When my father had open heart surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles when he was 50 yrs old, the doctor said there was nothing they could do at that time, then they weren't doing heart transplants then. But the important thing I'm trying to convey is that the doctor at that time told my whole family that it was important to stop consuming so much meat and to cut down all fat and I gave my children low fat milk, and eat healthy meaning fruits and vegetable, that was 56 years ago. I took this very seriously at the time and have followed his words. I haven't touch red meat, butter, sour cream, dressings, eat oatmeal & blueberries every morning, been so aware of my diet plus exercise. I'll never forget that doctor, I think his advice helped me to live to 80 years old. I want people to know they have to take care of themselves.