Vim & Vigor - Spring 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 15)

Name: Dianne AGE AT TIME OF EVENT: 52 HER STORY: A fitness instructor and runner, Dianne went to the doctor every year, and every year she got a clean bill of health. So when she experienced numbness in her forearm and a little reflux, she attributed it to the rigorous training she’d been doing. One morning, she couldn’t explain it away. “I grabbed my chest and went down to my knees just like you see in the movies.” Her husband, a police officer, insisted on a trip to the emergency room. Off they went, jammies and all. As the seconds ticked by, her chest pain got worse; she was sweating and vomiting. The EKG, however, didn’t show anything. The ER staff dismissed it as a panic attack, until Dianne grabbed a nurse and said, “I am going to die.” A second EKG showed that she had suffered a massive heart attack called a widow maker. One stent later, the rhinoceros had been taken off her chest. Dianne soon learned that six other people in her family had experienced the same thing—and died. “Growing up, I wasn’t aware that I had such a strong family history of it,” she says. “I don’t know why my family never talked about it.” LEARN FROM HER: Dianne’s biggest message to women is to know your family history. “You need to ask questions,” says Dianne, a national volunteer and spokeswoman for the Go Red for Women movement. “This is not a disease that only overweight or sedentary people get.” Thanks to Dianne’s heart attack, her five sisters, including her twin, Denise, and Dianne’s two daughters are keeping a close eye on their risk factors, including blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Dianne remains active, exercising five days a week. “I never want to go through that again.” THE DOCTOR SAYS: While it’s helpful to know a little about your grandparents’ and great-grandparents’ health histories, it’s not essential. “It’s best to know primary family members—mom, dad, siblings,” Stevens says. SPRI NG 2013 15

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
Where Lasting Weight Loss Begins
Open Heart Surgery Journey
You’re the Star
Heart-to-Heart
Lighten Up!
Have No Fear
Work It!
Diane Keaton
What Are the Chances?
9 Symptoms Never to Ignore
When Allergies Attack
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
Aiding Babies
Back on Top
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center

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