Mr. Z had signed up for two of the deadliest and avoidable risks in life and attended class faithfully: he smoked and was obese, the number one and two avoidable causes of death, respectively. “No more smoking, bud,” I said. “I don’t smoke much Dr. K,” he said. “I want you to lose two pounds a month, 25 pounds by the end of the year.” “I don’t eat much, Doc.” “You’re not lying to me,” I said, “you’re lying to yourself.”
He did not want to pursue any further testing, but the weekend beat him up badly. Every turn, every puff, every little bite of sugar coated doughnuts caused severe elbow pain. He called me Monday and said, “Dr. K, maybe it isn’t my elbows, maybe it is my heart.”
Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in America, responsible for 850,000 deaths in 2006. In fact, one out of 2.9 deaths is due to cardiovascular disease. Some present with crushing chest pains, but other warning signs are shortness of breath, shoulder pain, jaw pain, upper back pain, and even elbow and wrist pain. Smoking and obesity, along with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes are risk factors for heart disease and strokes.
I scheduled an angiogram for Mr. Z without x-raying his elbows. The right coronary artery was shutting down, barely supplying blood to the back of his heart. By God’s grace, wires, balloons and stents, the artery was opened and Mr. Z went home the next day.
Having talked to my patient more, I found out that he was losing his memory and felt trapped. He was losing some of his friends and he felt lost. He was losing respect for himself, and he felt defeated. We spoke and even prayed. I challenged his family to encourage their father; they did. I showed my patient an x-ray of an elbow and told him it was really and truly connected to the living heart; we laughed. I took away his cigarettes; he cried. I said, “No more stuffing yourself;” he agreed. His life didn’t change when we opened up the heart artery. His life changed when we touched his soul.
For further information on your cardiovascular health, contact Dr. Kojoglanian at 661-259-1711. The Mender of Hearts is located at 24868 Apple Street, suite 103 in Santa Clarita. You may also learn more at www.drrap.com .