Sudden Death from Heart Attacks

September 13, 2003

This post is not about the Ritter situation.

However, it would be wise to know that according to Dr.

, M.D. (cardiologist), and the one who started the " aerobics "

movement in the United States, in 40% of the people that die of heart

attacks, their first and only symptom is sudden death.

(from an interview on his website, 02/19/03)

He strongly recommends an exercise stress test (conducted by a

cardiologist, with EKG, etc.) for those over a certain age (possibly

age 40), prior to starting an exercise program. Dr. told Jim

Fixx, the famous running guru and author, to have an exercise stress

test, because Fixx had a strong family history of heart disease.

Fixx did not take his recommendation, and sadly, died of sudden death

from a heart attack, even though he had been running for so many

years.

There is also a very useful test known as the stress thallium test,

where during the stress test they inject thallium (or myoview) into

you at the point of your maximal exercise, and then scan you later,

to determine the blood flow to the heart muscle. PET scans are also

excellent for determing blood flow to the heart muscle, but not that

many facilities have PET scanners, due to their very high cost.

The exercise stress test is to determine any EKG changes during

exercise, such as EKG changes indicative of myocardial (heart muscle)

ischemia (lack of sufficient oxygen relative to the demand for

oxygen).

In this interview, he points out that if you walk two miles in 40

minutes, five times per week, it has the potential of reducing deaths

from heart attack or stroke by 58%.

You can accomplish the same 58% risk reduction by walking briskly and

cover two miles in 30 minutes, three times per week.

Or two miles of walking in less than 40 minutes, 5 days a week.

He has published 18 books, and he personally recommends The Aerobics

Program for Total Wellbeing.

His website is cooperwellness.com

is a legend in his own time. I have heard him lecture twice,

and he always FILLS his lectures with research findings to back up

every point he makes. He and his epidemiologist, Blair, have

published a large amount of pivotal research.

Bob Bessen

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