Posted on 06/17/2008 6:03:22 PM PDT by neverdem
Given the great strides that have been made in preventing and treating heart disease, what explains Tim Russert’s sudden death last week at 58 from a heart attack?
The answer, at least in part, is that although doctors knew that Mr. Russert, the longtime moderator of “Meet the Press” on NBC, had coronary artery disease and were treating him for it, they did not realize how severe the disease was because he did not have chest pain or other telltale symptoms that would have justified the kind of invasive tests needed to make a definitive diagnosis. In that sense, his case was sadly typical: more than 50 percent of all men who die of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms, the American Heart Association says.
It is not clear whether Mr. Russert’s death could have been prevented. He was doing nearly all he could to lower his risk. He took blood pressure pills and a statin drug to control his cholesterol, he worked out every day on an exercise bike, and he was trying to lose weight, his doctors said on Monday. And still it was not enough.
If there is any lesson in his death, his doctors said, it is a reminder that heart disease can be silent, and that people, especially...
--snip--
Even so, Dr. Newman said, “the autopsy findings were a surprise.”
In an interview, Dr. Newman and Mr. Russert’s cardiologist, Dr. George Bren, said the autopsy found significant blockages in several coronary arteries, which feed blood to the heart muscle.
Blockages start out as cholesterol deposits in the artery walls that turn into lesions or plaques, narrowing the vessels. Heart attacks occur when a plaque ruptures, causing a blood clot that quickly closes the artery and pinches off the blood supply to part of the heart...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I share your observation. I thought his face looked puffy recently, as well. I wondered at the time if he had just gained weight but obviously there was more at play here.
Actually, if they can get to you immediately you can be saved. I knew a fellow who fell over with “sudden death” but the local ambulance was driving by in front of his business. The wife went out and flagged them down and they recusitated him and the last I knew he was alive. His ejection fraction was down to about 35% and he was in cardiac rehab but very much alive. Time is of the essence.
I had absolutely zero symptoms until blacking out after exercise. I had been off the treadmill about 10 minutes when my wife heard me “gurgle” and found me slumped over at my desk upstairs.
I’ve had yearly physicals since age 50 with nothing abnormal noted. I also have a history on Mother’s side of heart issues.
I truly believe, and I am non-medical, the only true test to immediately show up blockage is the heart catherization.
A treadmill test is inconclusive. I had one about age 53 and did great. The stationary stress test using chemicals with before and after pictures is what alerted my cardiologist to order the cath test. I heartily recommend the stationary test for obvious reasons. I looked at the very colorful “after” pictures and noted some dark spots. The tech was noncommittal but I think I “knew” the dark spots were blockage indications.
If you were to ever, ever, ever experience even shortness of breath I would immediately start ringing alarm bells. Just my opinion but I sit here tonight thinking I must be the luckiest man in this country. Especially after the Russert issue.
Good luck.
If you can afford it do the newest gold standard for heart disease where they actually measure the inside diameter of the coronary arteries. The angiogram only shows blockages but does not provide the information that a measurement of the diameter of the blood vessel is determined. That would undoubtedly have shown those plaques since the diameter would have varied considerably.
My Cardo Doc really likes that radioactive Stress test. It kinda a pain but the results are immpressive. My insurance covers if I pay 10%. I think it was a $1200 test. I wish I knew the name of it.
I think if the family requests an autopsy the family should pay.
If the police or gov’t asks I don’t know.
Great questions.
(Stepdad on his deathbed:)
“Know thou, Edmund Dantesh, that you are the full and rightful heir to the Duke of...
Arggg!
Egkh!
Uhhh!”
(Edmund:)
“The Duke of
Arggg!
Egkh!
Uhhh!?
I don’t know any Duke of
Arggg!
Egkh!
Uhhh!”
You and me both ! Mine did 6 bypasses without stopping my heart. He hates the bypass machine. My surgery was on a Mon and I was home Wed.
So happy you are recovering nicely! FReepmail.
Thanks for the input. Yea, when I heard the news about Russert, it got me spooked. All the media-self-congratulation aside, this article does raise just exactly the question/fear that came to my mind. Sheesh, I thought. If big shot Russert can fall down dead from a heart attack, how’s lil ole me gonna do? Not that I want to put the thought out there that I’m gonna have one. I think it’s a rational concern. I try to take staying alive seriously, even though I balance that with trying to live a fun life at the same time. Sounds like I should look into that stress test.
Thank you. I’m gonna look into it. Just think how thankful I’ll be if I catch something bad before it kills me.
Dude, the man may be dead, but he’s still rich, and that’s what counts!
When John Candy suffered his fatal heart attack, he had been dieting and had lost about 40 pounds.
You are right about the family requesting autopsies. In some deaths they automatically become a coroner's case, in which a medicolegal autopsy must be performed. Examples: someone under 35 dying suddenly, famous or prominent people, suspicious deaths, deaths in motor vehicles, on the job, any case where there might be a "hint" of legal action in the future. A couple of surprises, most suicides aren't autopsied, if the person has made prior attempts. One time we did an autopsy on an old lady, just because her son "acted weird" when the police showed up.
Love your response I am intrigued by your comments. Are you in law enforcement or ME.? Perhaps you do not want to say which is fine.
Love to have you write a book. We have a lot of FReepers who are authors and quite successful.
That's great....or not.
He had a lot more than 40 lbs. to lose. If you're 40 lbs. less than you were but still obese, you're still obese.
Did he do the diet pills routine like Christina Onassis who died so very young? Diet pills plus the up and down weight loss will kick the sh*t out of your heart, which is what eventually gives up.
Losing weight isn't enough. Losing ALL your excess weight without taxing your heart without doping up on pills is the way to go.
Behave all week, go gonzo on Sunday, and get back on track on Monday. One day a week to eat and drink what you want is all right. But don't take speed or whatever. Your organs can't take it.
Just keep reading this thread and you will get the info you need.
Take a stress test and get an angiogram (like a sonogram or what your wife has when pregnant).
From the article:
In 1998, Mr. Russert had a calcium score of 210 on a CT scan of the coronary arteries, a test that indicates blockages. The result called for “an intensive cardioprotective regimen,” Dr. Newman said. That level can indicate a moderate to high risk of a heart attack.
Looks like he had a CTA, if I am reading this correctly. In which case it looks like the docs dropped the ball.
I wonder if NBC employees have some cheesy HMO plan. Like Kaiser, or similar. HMOs routinely kill off their patients through neglect. Check civil court cases for proof of that.
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