When the emergency call came in, it was after midnight. A 47-year-old gentleman had presented to the ER with chest pains, which had began 12 hours before.
He had visited a Korean restaurant and eaten to his heart’s content. Soon after, felt chest discomfort under his sternum. Thinking it was indigestion, he pulled up into a McDonald’s and ordered an apple pie with a large cold coke. Drowning his pain, he felt a little better, so he returned back to work.
Not feeling well, he slipped into a store to buy Mylanta, which gave mild relief. Went home, watched TV and then decided he was out of shape so he visited the gym. Played hardcore basketball but noted he simply couldn’t keep up as usual.
Arriving back home, he took a hot shower, and placed Icy-Hot on his shoulders to alleviate “the basketball injury.” Not feeling a “100 percent”, he made a banana-strawberry milk shake and chugged it down. He then decided that this may be his heart and came into the ER.
He had a full blown heart attack with a 100 percent blockage of his right coronary artery. We went in and fixed it. His heart muscle had lacked oxygen for 12 hours and a certain segment was not moving well. In fact, it is not moving at all. His heart function has dropped more than 50 percent. We talked about the Korean food, the slew of things that got in the way, and the all mighty Icy-Hot therapy. He knew he had made a mistake and understood what we now faced. He delayed his presentation because he wanted to “make sure it was the heart.”
A delay in cardiology can be very costly. It can make a difference between life and death. It can change one’s prognosis. It can dictate one’s quality of life. A delay in life can also be unfavorable. Sometimes we are so driven to perfection that we miss the opportunities that stare at us.
Caution is wise. Passivity is costly. Conscientiousness is golden. But denial can be unforgivably detrimental. Before all the T’s are crossed, ensure your status, ask for advice, not only get your heart checked, but check out your heart.
For further information on your cardiovascular health, contact Dr. Kojoglanian, the Mender of Hearts, at 661-259-1711 or visit www.drrap.com . We are located at 24868 Apple Street, Suite 103 in Santa Clarita.