This was a bit of a paraphrase to what I just heard from Tim Russert's doctor who was just interviewed on MSNBC about 30 minutes ago. They are haunting words to me, because unfortunately I hear this from other patients in my health care field (physical therapy) all the time, including a patient who recently passed away from a heart attack as well.
I've also just recently found out that my grandmother and father-in-law both have congestive heart failure, which isn't the same as the heart problem Mr. Russert passed away from, but is still a heart disease problem nonetheless. What's more, many of the complications that result from their disease can be reduced if not eliminated if they were to simply follow a few better healthy guidelines - better eating and a little exercise (yes, even my 89 year old grandmother can do a little, as prescribed by her doctor).
Most everyone has likely lost a friend or loved one due to cardiac disease. I'm not here to wag my finger at everyone about this, including the late Mr. Russert, nor am I about to lecture anyone on the consequences of failing to address your health. I won't go into detail about the statistics of obesity and cholesterol levels. If you're interested in that you can examine it further here and here. Suffice it to say, the numbers are staggering, and they are only moving upward at an alarming rate.
According to Mr. Russert's doctor, he passed away from a thrombus in the left Anterior Descending Artery, a very common artery for myocardial infarction (in class they called it the "widow-maker"). An autopsy by his doctor confirmed these issues today. His blood pressure was good, and he was exercising on most days, however he did have a weight issue according to his doctor, and Tim knew he had to address it. And unfortunately for us men, that weight issue tends to be in the abdominal area, which has a very high correlation to heart disease and risk for infarctions.
I realize in today's society that speaking about regular exercise and a healthy diet is almost like speaking a foreign language to most. What's worse, we're inundated with quick-fix diet plans that guarantee immediate results but eventually lose flavor in the long-term, only to have that weight and unhealthiness return with a vengence (and then some). We are also very much a fast food and dine out nation where the plates served are now as big as the tables themselves (if you're not in a buffet line already). I also know we're a nation with no time to lose: we have kids to pick up, appointments to make, 50 hr workweeks, etc. etc., so who has time to exercise and eat right?
It is a lifestyle change, meaning we have to actually change our lives. Heck, it's a society change since we're really talking about an epidemic here. I know I'm leaving out other major influential issues including our current healthcare system and so on, but the primary issue is us. WE have to make the change first. The primary responsibility to change our lifestyle to a more healthier one rests first and foremost in our hands, and no one else's.
So my point is to take what the late, great Mr. Russert had told his doctor time and again, and to let it be a wakeup call to the rest of us:
there simply is no tomorrow.
Unfortunately, you just don't know what fate may bring you tomorrow. The change has to start today. Again, I don't want to sound like I'm passing judgment on Mr. Russert himself, and I sincerely apologize to anyone if I am coming across that way. I do believe, however, that it's important to take away from this tragic event a good message of better health and prevention.
There simply is no tomorrow to start with that.
Rest in peace, Mr. Russert. My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.
Update 1: Thank you for the recommendation, and I'm very glad this topic is being recognized. I'll check back later tonight - I have to practice what I preach and go for a jog.
Update 2: Again, my sincere thanks for keeping this in the rec list. I'm glad this topic is getting the recognition it needs so badly. I also want to thank everyone for their personal stories and advice. I feel this post by lordkelvin below gives some terrific advice by asking us all to honor Mr. Russert by donating to the American Heart Association. Here's the link:
https://donate.americanheart.org/...