Tim Russert Dies From Apparent Heart Attack

[Masterj]

He was so excited about this election and it is a damn shame that he won't be around to watch it play out.

 

[close_enough]

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/russert-dies-of-apparent-heart-attack/index.html?hp

8 p.m. | Russert’s Doctor: Dr. Michael A. Newman, Mr. Russert’s internist, just told Andrea Mitchell that Mr. Russert had coronary artery disease, but no symptoms. He had done everything he was supposed to do to manage the disease, although his weight was a problem. The doctor said that such attacks can’t be anticipated, but a defibrillator can make a difference.

Here’s what he said: Mr. Russert was managing his risk factors well, through diet and exercise. He had a stress test April 29, got to a high level of exercise and was pleased with himself. This very morning, he was on his tread mill and was always excited about how he pushed himself.

These incidents occur without warning, the doctor said, and there’s no way to anticipate them. He could have had a stress test today and it might have been normal. But there was a rupture of cholesterol plaque in the wall of the coronary artery, which results in a heart attack, or what he called a fatal ventricular arrhythmia.
Dr. Newman said the autopsy showed that Mr. Russert had an enlarged heart and significant coronary artery disease. “We could see fresh clot in the coronary artery,” he said.

more at the link above

 

[CarpeDiem]

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/russert-dies-of-apparent-heart-attack/index.html?hp

8 p.m. | Russert’s Doctor: Dr. Michael A. Newman, Mr. Russert’s internist, just told Andrea Mitchell that Mr. Russert had coronary artery disease, but no symptoms. He had done everything he was supposed to do to manage the disease, although his weight was a problem. The doctor said that such attacks can’t be anticipated, but a defibrillator can make a difference.

Here’s what he said: Mr. Russert was managing his risk factors well, through diet and exercise. He had a stress test April 29, got to a high level of exercise and was pleased with himself. This very morning, he was on his tread mill and was always excited about how he pushed himself.

These incidents occur without warning, the doctor said, and there’s no way to anticipate them. He could have had a stress test today and it might have been normal. But there was a rupture of cholesterol plaque in the wall of the coronary artery, which results in a heart attack, or what he called a fatal ventricular arrhythmia.
Dr. Newman said the autopsy showed that Mr. Russert had an enlarged heart and significant coronary artery disease. “We could see fresh clot in the coronary artery,” he said.

more at the link above

I'm going back to the Dr. this week. I keep thinking of what to do with the strange grief I feel about Tim's passing, I think making sure it doesn't happen to me might be what I should do, would somewhat in a way honor the man. My cholesterol has been unchanged for 3 years at 272. The doctor has not wanted to do medication because my weight is normal and I'm physically active. Maybe I should make that appointment with a new Dr.

 

[close_enough]

I'm going back to the Dr. this week. I keep thinking of what to do with the strange grief I feel about Tim's passing, I think making sure it doesn't happen to me might be what I should do, would somewhat in a way honor the man. My cholesterol has been unchanged for 3 years at 272. The doctor has not wanted to do medication because my weight is normal and I'm physically active. Maybe I should make that appointment with a new Dr.

i know exactly what you mean ... i have put off seeing my cardiologist, & yesterday, during my yearly physical, my Dr insisted that i go....he even had his assistant set the appt for me while i was there...i see the cardiologist next Friday...it's an appt i won't cancel this time....

 

[concernedperson]

I'm going back to the Dr. this week. I keep thinking of what to do with the strange grief I feel about Tim's passing, I think making sure it doesn't happen to me might be what I should do, would somewhat in a way honor the man. My cholesterol has been unchanged for 3 years at 272. The doctor has not wanted to do medication because my weight is normal and I'm physically active. Maybe I should make that appointment with a new Dr.

Probably a good idea. I know that Tim's passing has more of recent people that I have lost come to mind.He was fairly young to suffer a complete and total heart attack. Maybe these stress tests don't really cut the mustard? I don't know but I would think he had the best care available and he still died.

 

[Tom'sGirl]

I'm going back to the Dr. this week. I keep thinking of what to do with the strange grief I feel about Tim's passing, I think making sure it doesn't happen to me might be what I should do, would somewhat in a way honor the man. My cholesterol has been unchanged for 3 years at 272. The doctor has not wanted to do medication because my weight is normal and I'm physically active. Maybe I should make that appointment with a new Dr.

First of all that level is too high, BUT the important part of a total Cholesterol/Lipid test is the breakdown of you LDL, HDL and your Triglycerides. I have a low overall count of 169, but not good levels of any of the three.

 

[close_enough]

Probably a good idea. I know that Tim's passing has more of recent people that I have lost come to mind.He was fairly young to suffer a complete and total heart attack. Maybe these stress tests don't really cut the mustard? I don't know but I would think he had the best care available and he still died.

i had one (my first one) last August, & was so proud of myself that i was able to get my heart rate up to 140 for them...sounds like, if you have heart disease, the stress tests aren't much good, huh?....that's kind of scary

 

[Tom'sGirl]

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/russert-dies-of-apparent-heart-attack/index.html?hp

8 p.m. | Russert’s Doctor: Dr. Michael A. Newman, Mr. Russert’s internist, just told Andrea Mitchell that Mr. Russert had coronary artery disease, but no symptoms. He had done everything he was supposed to do to manage the disease, although his weight was a problem. The doctor said that such attacks can’t be anticipated, but a defibrillator can make a difference.

Here’s what he said: Mr. Russert was managing his risk factors well, through diet and exercise. He had a stress test April 29, got to a high level of exercise and was pleased with himself. This very morning, he was on his tread mill and was always excited about how he pushed himself.

These incidents occur without warning, the doctor said, and there’s no way to anticipate them. He could have had a stress test today and it might have been normal. But there was a rupture of cholesterol plaque in the wall of the coronary artery, which results in a heart attack, or what he called a fatal ventricular arrhythmia.
Dr. Newman said the autopsy showed that Mr. Russert had an enlarged heart and significant coronary artery disease. “We could see fresh clot in the coronary artery,” he said.

more at the link above

Thanks so much cp for the link, as I posted earlier, a MI doesn't usually occur without prior indications.

 

[close_enough]

He was so excited about this election and it is a damn shame that he won't be around to watch it play out.

yes, it sure is, J

 

[Tom'sGirl]

i had one (my first one) last August, & was so proud of myself that i was able to get my heart rate up to 140 for them...sounds like, if you have heart disease, the stress tests aren't much good, huh?....that's kind of scary

Close, there are other "Heart Stress Tests" other than the treadmill type. Not everyone is able to do the treadmill test.

 

[SeekingJana]

i had one (my first one) last August, & was so proud of myself that i was able to get my heart rate up to 140 for them...sounds like, if you have heart disease, the stress tests aren't much good, huh?....that's kind of scary

A heart catherization is the only definitive diagnostic study to determine the presence or absence of coronary artery disease in the main coronary vessels. Women are especially prone to having inaccurate stress testing.
I had a heart cath on May 22, my second in 5 years. Both were perfectly normal. They aren't pleasant but they aren't nearly as bad as they used to. You are up and out and home in about 3 hours if the cath. is normal and if they don't have to use balloon angioplasty and stent placement, in which case most facilities will keep you overnight for observation.
Maria

 

[close_enough]

Close, there are other "Heart Stress Tests" other than the treadmill type. Not everyone is able to do the treadmill test.

right....i did the treadmill test, & it was HARD, but they wanted me to see if i could get my heart rate to 140, & i was able to do it....thank god, once it hit 140, the treadmill was slowed down, whew!....my Daddy has had the kind where they inject something to raise the heart rate, so he didn't have to actually get on a treadmill...that seems easy enough....

 

[SeekingJana]

Close, there are other "Heart Stress Tests" other than the treadmill type. Not everyone is able to do the treadmill test.

There is new, higher speed CT scanning equipment with cyclic imaging available at some major medical centers. It is said to be " useful" in determining cardiac health and overall heart attack risk. Here's a link to information about one. I chose a heart cath over this procedure at this facility in the link, because if the CT was abnormal, the heart cath would be the next step anyway.

http://www.bhvh.com/prevention/heart_scan.htm

 

[Tom'sGirl]

A heart catherization is the only definitive diagnostic study to determine the presence or absence of coronary artery disease in the main coronary vessels. Women are especially prone to having inaccurate stress testing.
I had a heart cath on May 22, my second in 5 years. Both were perfectly normal. They aren't pleasant but they aren't nearly as bad as they used to. You are up and out and home in about 3 hours if the cath. is normal and if they don't have to use balloon angioplasty and stent placement, in which case most facilities will keep you overnight for observation.
Maria

Right, an Angiogram is only accurate way to know, but not everyone gets them unfortunately.

 

[close_enough]

A heart catherization is the only definitive diagnostic study to determine the presence or absence of coronary artery disease in the main coronary vessels. Women are especially prone to having inaccurate stress testing.
I had a heart cath on May 22, my second in 5 years. Both were perfectly normal. They aren't pleasant but they aren't nearly as bad as they used to. You are up and out and home in about 3 hours if the cath. is normal and if they don't have to use balloon angioplasty and stent placement, in which case most facilities will keep you overnight for observation.
Maria

yes, you're right jana....i had that done (first & only time) in April, 2007 & it showed "slight narrowing of the arteries", which the cardiologist said was "the beginning of heart disease"..... was put on Crestor at that time, along with low dose aspirin...(along with a low fat/low salt/low cholesterol diet).....& you're right....i was up & walking around after about 2 hours, raising cain, wanting to go home.....they put a tiny "plug" in the artery where they went in...i thought that was pretty cool...it dissolved slowly within 90 days....

 

[close_enough]

ok, i feel guilty now....they're saying on msnbc that "we're selfishly" missing Mr Russert, due to elections.....he was more than just about elections....

it's the first thing i though of, when i heard about his death....election night won't be the same w/o him...

 

[Tom'sGirl]

ok, i feel guilty now....they're saying on msnbc that "we're selfishly" missing Mr Russert, due to elections.....he was more than just about elections....

it's the first thing i though of, when i heard about his death....election night won't be the same w/o him...

Don't feel guilty close!

 

[close_enough]

Don't feel guilty close!

ok

..

 

[Jeana (DP)]

No freaking way!!! WE LOVE him!!!! He didn't even make it to November!!! He'll be very, VERY missed.

 

[Pepper]

OMG, I'm so sad. He was the voice of reason at NBC. I will miss him, as will many. What a total shock. I don't think the man had any enemies.