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Post by annabella on Aug 18, 2014 20:04:08 GMT
What would cause a massive heart attack at such a young age? Would be heavy drug use or a hereditary condition?
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Post by Pahina722 on Aug 18, 2014 20:05:20 GMT
Without more information about the person who suffered it, that would be hard to tell, but I would lean toward hereditary disposition not drug use.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 9, 2024 20:27:13 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2014 20:07:19 GMT
I would lean more toward drug use. I can't tell you how many times I have taken care of people with complaints of chest pain who have ingested cocaine an hour or 2 before presenting to the Emergency Department.
But like the PP above me said: hard to tell without more history.
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Post by JBeans on Aug 18, 2014 20:08:23 GMT
Irregular heart beat, blood clot, genetics and predisposition. It could be anything.
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Post by mikklynn on Aug 18, 2014 20:11:38 GMT
I would assume genetics.
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Post by 1lear on Aug 18, 2014 20:14:08 GMT
My dad had a massive heart attack when he was 38. It definitely wasn't drug use. His father died of a heart attack. Also, at the time of his heart attack, he was overweight and a heavy smoker.
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Post by mdoc on Aug 18, 2014 20:17:00 GMT
My father had a massive, though thankfully not fatal, heart attack at 40, which isn't that far from 35. In his case it was heredity and perhaps poor food choices (although he was not overweight and was not a smoker). He had blocked arteries and needed a quadruple bypass. He had never used drugs and did not have a congenital heart defect. Both his father and his grandfather died of heart attacks in their 50's, though, and both my father and my uncle ultimately died from heart issues (though not until they were in their 70s).
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Deleted
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Oct 9, 2024 20:27:13 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2014 20:22:43 GMT
I would assume heredity/genetics or unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle before I'd assume drugs. I wouldn't assume drugs unless I knew the person had a history of drug use. My family has a long history of heart disease, even among the healthy, active people. As a result, I try my best to avoid food that is heavy in fats and eat healthy without being too bland.
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Post by alibama on Aug 18, 2014 20:28:57 GMT
First guess would be hereditary.
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Post by annabella on Aug 18, 2014 20:32:14 GMT
The person was a heavy drug user in college, specifically cocaine, don't know if that continued but she remained a smoker.
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Post by yivit on Aug 18, 2014 21:11:43 GMT
A very good friend of mine and my late husband's spent his 35th birthday in the hospital recovering from a quadruple bypass. He never did drugs, but he didn't have a healthy lifestyle at that point.
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Post by wiipii2 on Aug 18, 2014 21:13:03 GMT
At that young of an age its probably got a genetic basis but poor life choices can increase the chances of the genetics rearing their ugly head. Especially when you say "she".
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azredhead
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,755
Jun 25, 2014 22:49:18 GMT
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Post by azredhead on Aug 18, 2014 21:14:04 GMT
I had a massive heart attack the week I turned 35. Mine was due to a congenital heart defect that has been monitored over the years. Many surgeries when I was born and as a child . It's been worse as I've gotten older. Some adults find they have congenital later in life and never know they had it.
ETA- I have a friend that diagnosed about a year ago and they did surgery as well, but they have fixed it for her.
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perumbula
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,439
Location: Idaho
Jun 26, 2014 18:51:17 GMT
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Post by perumbula on Aug 18, 2014 21:15:36 GMT
My bil had a heart attack at 33. it wasn't massive, but it was enough to scare him badly. He's never touched drugs in his entire life. He lived a pretty clean life and was less than 10lbs overweight when it happened. It was combination of hereditary heart issues and high stress. He spent 8 years in the Air Force and was having major issues in his marriage.
I wouldn't jump to drug use. There are so many reasons why someone might have this happen to them.
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Post by kristi on Aug 18, 2014 21:16:41 GMT
My sister had a major heart attack at 36 (she almost died & has about 40% functioning heart now).
She was a heavy smoker.
She had been diagnosed with diabetes and lost weight to get off her meds. She put the weight back on but didn't go back to the doctor. The signs were there in hindsight - she was losing weight without trying, hair falling out. She was drinking a 12 pack of coke a day. Lots of stress.
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Post by ametallichick on Aug 18, 2014 21:17:29 GMT
So sad and terrifying!
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Post by gracieplusthree on Aug 18, 2014 21:20:59 GMT
I would say either could cause it. but I'd probably lean towards hereditary.. I had open heart surgery at the age of 32. Turns out that heart murmur all the doctors all my life had brushed off as nothing was something that shouldnt have been ignored. When I met with the surgeon it was already June(2006) and he told me if I didnt have the surgery I'd not see the end of that year. really gets your attention when a well respected heart surgeon tells you that, and you realize half the year is already over. I had to have my aortic valve replaced,and had a number of other issues with my heart because of how faulty my valve was.but am doing ok now on blood thinner for life and have a mechanical valve clicking away.. He said that what happened to John Ritter is what would have happened to me, my aortic valve and aorta would have just ripped apart and I would have been dead. Turns out my father had what we were told was a "massive heart attack" at the age of 46 in 1994, now I wonder if it was the same problem, but who knows.
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georgiapea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,846
Jun 27, 2014 18:02:10 GMT
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Post by georgiapea on Aug 18, 2014 21:26:16 GMT
Maybe a combination of the 2 possibilities you gave. There were several high school athletes this year who died during play from unknown congenital heart conditions. Plus just being a heavy smoker could do it, plus the known drug usage would increase the possibility. Is this someone you work with?
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Post by I-95 on Aug 18, 2014 21:33:46 GMT
I know 3 people, 2 men and a woman who died from massive heat attacks in their mid 30s. None were drug users, or even smokers, but autopsies revealed previously undetected heart conditions in all 3.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Aug 18, 2014 21:53:46 GMT
My husband's mother died suddenly of a heart attack at age 38. She never even smoked much less did any drugs and had no health problems. Her father had died of a heart attack as well but at a much older age.
I have had two female friends/acquaintances die of heart attacks in their 30s as well. Neither was related to drug use.
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melissa
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 20:45:00 GMT
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Post by melissa on Aug 18, 2014 22:12:38 GMT
Yes, it could be either of those two along with a long laundry list of possible causes.
We lost a 7 yr old girl in our community due to a massive heart attack a few years back. Autopsy showed single coronary artery, so just one artery supplying her little heart. That was a congenital anomaly, another example of something that can cause an actual heart attack (myocardial infarction).
I know a young woman who had one at 32. It was attributed to a combination of genetics and lifestyle choices.
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Post by amandad74 on Aug 18, 2014 22:20:01 GMT
A family member had a heart attack at 37 because of a blood clot disorder that was genetic.
A friend had a heart attack at 40 due to a heart defect and passed away.
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Post by annabella on Aug 18, 2014 22:25:29 GMT
Wow I didn't realize it was so common. I was just so shocked and saddened by her sudden loss.
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msliz
Drama Llama
The Procrastinator
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Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
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Post by msliz on Aug 18, 2014 22:32:17 GMT
Eating disorders can also contribute to heart failure.
I'm sorry for your loss, Annabella.
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azredhead
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,755
Jun 25, 2014 22:49:18 GMT
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Post by azredhead on Aug 18, 2014 22:35:30 GMT
ohh I'm so sorry for your loss.
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scrapaddie
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Jul 8, 2014 20:17:31 GMT
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Post by scrapaddie on Aug 18, 2014 22:37:22 GMT
The person was a heavy drug user in college, specifically cocaine, don't know if that continued but she remained a smoker. My cousin's first husband used coke and died from a heart attack in his early 40's
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Deleted
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Oct 9, 2024 20:27:13 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2014 22:38:29 GMT
I find it so interesting what people's first thoughts are. You have me whose opinion has been formed by what I have seen during my career and others who have opinions based on life experiences. That's why I enjoy these boards so much.
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 18, 2014 23:34:33 GMT
I don't think it is that common, but it does happen, and shocking when it is someone you know.
A former boss survived a massive heart acttack at 38. He was fit and active but had high cholesterol and blood pressure. DH had a high school friend die at 42 of a massive heart attack that was attributed to heavy drug use in his 20s and early 30s (mostly cocaine).
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modiemay
Full Member
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Jun 30, 2014 4:24:15 GMT
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Post by modiemay on Aug 18, 2014 23:38:51 GMT
A guy I went,to,high school with had a heart attack at 21, was a fit guy, ate properly, didn't,smoke, wasn't overweight. Luckiy he survived. He out it down to shitty luck and genes.
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Post by snugglebutter on Aug 18, 2014 23:49:47 GMT
Smokers' risks increase if they use oral contraceptives too.
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