general advice - re: dad and heart problems

[adozenroses]

I have a qhestion about my dad. He has been for tests today on his heart and they have found he had a minor heart attack a few weeks ago. I remember this happening and he refused to go to the hospital as he didn't think it was serious enough.

Now, he is back to see his doctor about the results on wednesday, but I was wondering if this is a sign that he will have a bigger heart attack very soon.

I don't know anything about the heart whatsoever, only that the males right the way through his family line have died of heart attacks at an early age.

This has just upset me a bit. I think I was under the impression that my parents would be around forever

he'll have to watch what he eats and his lifestyle etc how old is he a12roses? i know it comes as a shock whenever something happens to your parents

He's only 55. I am going to make sure he changes his lifestle completely. It just scared me that he is gonna have a bigger heart attack very soon.

it doesn't mean he will have another one but he has to take it easy. lucky to have a daughter that cares as much as you do

He may need tests to see if there are any blocked arteries that need treatment.He may be offered a bypass if needed.
Meanwhile if he smokes get him to stop immediately as it makes the blood vessels restrict and will make matters worse.
Does he get angina ?

I must add that there is amazing treatment these days and your father is lucky it's been caught at this early stage.

Have been where you are and it makes you realise that your parents won't be around forever either.

My story may help you a little:-

I used to travel up to the City with Dad at the time and one Thursday morning he felt very unwell indeed. He had pains in his left arm and felt a bit sick. Anyway he did not go home or see a doc despite my entreaties to do so.

I was around 19 or so when my Dad discovered that he had had a heart attack (happened in his sleep the following night).

He actually drove to the docs the next day (Saturday) and upon examination got taken to hospital in an ambulance; flashing lights as well. Came as a huge shock to my Mother in particular who thought he was going to die. It was also not surprisingly a shock to my Dad as well, it was certainly a wake up call to him.

Dad ended up in the Coronary Care unit of the local hospital and stayed in there for a week. Part of his heart muscle had indeed died (this is what happens during a heart attack) but he has gone on to make a full recovery. After five years you are at no higher risk of a further heart attack than any other person. Your Dad will therefore be checked over for quite some time yet.

I would say that since that time my Dad has had no further problems with regards to his heart and did not require any sort of surgery. He was given medication and told to reassess his lifestyle.

Dad indeed undertook a total reassessment of his lifestyle and cut down on the number of hours he worked (he worked as a commodities broker in London and had many late nights and early starts). He also looked at his eating habits again. Dad had a lot of bad habits (was very fond of both beer, cheeseburgers and chedder cheese) and had put on weight. This and the stress of his job contributed to his heart attack.

Please get support for your own self - its important that you look after your own self too. The British Heart Foundation is worth contacting (if you do a google search you'll find their website). Have found them to be very helpful.

I wish you and your Dad well.

Attila

Thanks for all the advice. My dad works long hours and does no exercise. Something I have been trying to get him to change. He also eats a lot of bad foods and usually late at night.

I'm gonna talk to him later about changing his lifestyle as I am sure this was just a warning. I don't know anything about the heart so I will look for the British Heart Foundation website. My dad will probably change his lifestyle if he has the support around him to do so.