Bum Ticker

Funny how you only start to look into your own health when it’s too late.

My Dad’s recent episodes of high blood pressure have prompted the family to buy this electronic blood pressure monitor. As part of his concern (read paranoia with mild hypochondria), he urged us to take our own blood pressure readings regularly as well.

Now we’ve long been aware of my mom’s mild anemia, but I wouldn’t have believed it was genetic until I saw my own pressure reading. It was the first time, in a while, that I’ve had mine taken. Naturally, the whole family was already high strung about health, and off I was trooped to see the doctor.

So we took some readings, and there were some interesting findings. The doctor said I had abnormal heart rhythm called arrhythmia. Nicknamed ‘athlete’s heart’, arrhythmia often occurs in hyperactive adults. My lifestyle, obviously, is quite the opposite. Of course, the doctor assured me that it was all within normal bounds. So my worries were laid to rest… for a while.

Reading and editing through press releases, I discovered a couple of factoids regarding arrhythmia.

“The term arrhythmia refers to any change from the normal sequence of electrical impulses, causing abnormal heart rhythms. This can cause the heart to pump less effectively. Some arrhythmias are so brief (for example, a temporary pause or premature beat) that the overall heart rate or rhythm isn't greatly affected. But if arrhythmias last for some time, they may cause the heart rate to be too slow or too fast or the heart rhythm to be erratic.

Mine, obviously, is too slow. There were gaps when my doctor thought my heart stopped beating. Speaking of which...

“Sudden cardiac arrest is a condition wherein the heart beat stops suddenly and unexpectedly. There is abrupt or sudden loss of heart function, and it is usually caused by abnormal heart rhythm called arrhythmia.

“Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the electrical system to the heart malfunctions and suddenly becomes very irregular. The heart beats dangerously fast, causing the normal rhythmic contractions to stop, and inhibits the heart from pumping blood and oxygen to the rest of the body. Within seconds, the brain becomes depleted of oxygen and the person loses consciousness. If not treated immediately, this condition deteriorates to ‘a systole’, wherein the heart ultimately stops beating, and the person dies – sudden cardiac death (SDC)… Smokers are vulnerable to developing coronary artery disease, which in turn, could lead to SCD.

Brilliant. For quite a while I was pretty confident I’d never die of a heart attack: I have a semi-vegetarian diet, I’m not fat, and it’s not in my family history. I couldn’t be more wrong.

No, I'm not about to stop smoking soon. And it's too late to make it my New Year's resolution. Besides, it's the only way I deal with the devastating news of this depressing condition these days... *Sniff*

On the bright side, I can say that I really do have a broken heart, literally.