American Heart Association Go Red for Women Day - especially meaningful to me this year

[Ada Lovelace]

On the first Friday of every February for the past 15 years the American Heart Association has encouraged people to wear red to bring attention to cardiovascular conditions that afflict and kill women, and to participate in "fun raises" to raise funds towards heart health research. President Johnson declared the first American Heart Month in 1964, and all of February has been dedicated to cardiovascular health. The first Friday is specifically to raise awareness of heart conditions that impact women. I'll post some links to resources below, and will also include some for men.

This year it's very significant to me because a lovely former neighbor and very dear friend, both to me and to my family as a whole, had a heart attack earlier this week and passed away at age 43. I'm still in the numb, denial stage of grief because it's surreal to me this happened to her when she was a vivacious, optimistic, active woman who took impeccable care of herself and of others. She maintained a healthy weight for the entirety of her life - never being over or underweight; she was fit; she was very disciplined with her eating to ensure it was nourishing; she never smoke, never took any drugs, drank very rarely; she had the typical level of stress you'd expect in life but nothing extraordinary. She was a devout Catholic, a deeply spiritual person, and she radiated kindness. She was born in Beverly Hills, always lived there with the exception of her college years, and she died there; she'd had the privilege of lifelong excellent healthcare. In December she'd fainted after stepping out of the shower, and immediately saw her physician who did not think it was a reason for substantial concern. The day she died she'd made pancakes for herself and her mother who was visiting, and then went upstairs to get ready for the day. When she never came down, her mom went up and found her unconscious on her bed and called 911. The BHPD was there extremely fast and gave her first response care until paramedics arrived briefly later. A stint was put into her heart at Cedars Sinai, and it was expected that she'd recover. The rest of her organs were healthy. She died in the hospital two days later when her heart gave out. The only blessing was that she was surrounded by her family.

It's frightening to me that this happened, and immensely sad. She was a gem. My parents have long been amicably divorced, and what was so special about her friendship was that it was with all of us. She lived in the same neighborhood as my mom, and they were friends. She was only a smidgen older than my stepmom, and an extremely close friend to her. My stepmom is devastated by this profound loss. And she was a wonderful friend to me. A true friend, not an adult who has a patronizing friendship with a teen. For years we'd walk our dogs together every morning. We went to book festivals and to poetry and cultural events at her church. She taught me about Catholicism. She gave me the most thoughtful gifts, and when I left for college she'd send me cards with a sweet handwritten note and quotes she knew would have wisdom for me. I have an entire box of cards from her. She made me know I was significant to her, and she did the same for everyone else in her life. She's taught me how that is a valuable action - the small but impacting gestures to stay connected and let those in our life know their importance to us while we have the opportunity.

Here are some resources:
Heart Attack Symptoms Differ in Young Women
Go Red For Women
FUNraise For National Wear Red Day
Behind National Wear Red Day
Know Your Risk
Strong Men Put Their Heart Health First

 

[Tallguy88]

Sorry to hear about your friend. My boss had a heart attack at work earlier this week, but he survived. Had to have open heart surgery and five stints.

 

[redleghunter]

This year it's very significant to me because a lovely former neighbor and very dear friend, both to me and to my family as a whole, had a heart attack earlier this week and passed away at age 43. I'm still in the numb, denial stage of grief because it's surreal to me this happened to her when she was a vivacious, optimistic, active woman who took impeccable care of herself and of others.

Deepest sympathies to you and your friend's family.

 

[SarahsKnight]

On the first Friday of every February for the past 15 years the American Heart Association has encouraged people to wear red to bring attention to cardiovascular conditions that afflict and kill women, and to participate in "fun raises" to raise funds towards heart health research. President Johnson declared the first American Heart Month in 1964, and all of February has been dedicated to cardiovascular health. The first Friday is specifically to raise awareness of heart conditions that impact women. I'll post some links to resources below, and will also include some for men.

This year it's very significant to me because a lovely former neighbor and very dear friend, both to me and to my family as a whole, had a heart attack earlier this week and passed away at age 43. I'm still in the numb, denial stage of grief because it's surreal to me this happened to her when she was a vivacious, optimistic, active woman who took impeccable care of herself and of others. She maintained a healthy weight for the entirety of her life - never being over or underweight; she was fit; she was very disciplined with her eating to ensure it was nourishing; she never smoke, never took any drugs, drank very rarely; she had the typical level of stress you'd expect in life but nothing extraordinary. She was a devout Catholic, a deeply spiritual person, and she radiated kindness. She was born in Beverly Hills, always lived there with the exception of her college years, and she died there; she'd had the privilege of lifelong excellent healthcare. In December she'd fainted after stepping out of the shower, and immediately saw her physician who did not think it was a reason for substantial concern. The day she died she'd made pancakes for herself and her mother who was visiting, and then went upstairs to get ready for the day. When she never came down, her mom went up and found her unconscious on her bed and called 911. The BHPD was there extremely fast and gave her first response care until paramedics arrived briefly later. A stint was put into her heart at Cedars Sinai, and it was expected that she'd recover. The rest of her organs were healthy. She died in the hospital two days later when her heart gave out. The only blessing was that she was surrounded by her family.

It's frightening to me that this happened, and immensely sad. She was a gem. My parents have long been amicably divorced, and what was so special about her friendship was that it was with all of us. She lived in the same neighborhood as my mom, and they were friends. She was only a smidgen older than my stepmom, and an extremely close friend to her. My stepmom is devastated by this profound loss. And she was a wonderful friend to me. A true friend, not an adult who has a patronizing friendship with a teen. For years we'd walk our dogs together every morning. We went to book festivals and to poetry and cultural events at her church. She taught me about Catholicism. She gave me the most thoughtful gifts, and when I left for college she'd send me cards with a sweet handwritten note and quotes she knew would have wisdom for me. I have an entire box of cards from her. She made me know I was significant to her, and she did the same for everyone else in her life. She's taught me how that is a valuable action - the small but impacting gestures to stay connected and let those in our life know their importance to us while we have the opportunity.

Here are some resources:
Heart Attack Symptoms Differ in Young Women
Go Red For Women
FUNraise For National Wear Red Day
Behind National Wear Red Day
Know Your Risk
Strong Men Put Their Heart Health First

I know that must be tough to deal with a loss like that, Stanfordella. I will pray for you and everyone else who loved this friend that you've lost to find comfort and closure in due time. And for all women as well as men to be protected by God from cardiovascular problems.

 

[Cimorene]

I'm so sorry for your family your friend died. That's extremely sad. That's a lot of good info about heart health. It's scary somebody can die young & healthy bc of heart problems.

 

[bhsmte]

On the first Friday of every February for the past 15 years the American Heart Association has encouraged people to wear red to bring attention to cardiovascular conditions that afflict and kill women, and to participate in "fun raises" to raise funds towards heart health research. President Johnson declared the first American Heart Month in 1964, and all of February has been dedicated to cardiovascular health. The first Friday is specifically to raise awareness of heart conditions that impact women. I'll post some links to resources below, and will also include some for men.

This year it's very significant to me because a lovely former neighbor and very dear friend, both to me and to my family as a whole, had a heart attack earlier this week and passed away at age 43. I'm still in the numb, denial stage of grief because it's surreal to me this happened to her when she was a vivacious, optimistic, active woman who took impeccable care of herself and of others. She maintained a healthy weight for the entirety of her life - never being over or underweight; she was fit; she was very disciplined with her eating to ensure it was nourishing; she never smoke, never took any drugs, drank very rarely; she had the typical level of stress you'd expect in life but nothing extraordinary. She was a devout Catholic, a deeply spiritual person, and she radiated kindness. She was born in Beverly Hills, always lived there with the exception of her college years, and she died there; she'd had the privilege of lifelong excellent healthcare. In December she'd fainted after stepping out of the shower, and immediately saw her physician who did not think it was a reason for substantial concern. The day she died she'd made pancakes for herself and her mother who was visiting, and then went upstairs to get ready for the day. When she never came down, her mom went up and found her unconscious on her bed and called 911. The BHPD was there extremely fast and gave her first response care until paramedics arrived briefly later. A stint was put into her heart at Cedars Sinai, and it was expected that she'd recover. The rest of her organs were healthy. She died in the hospital two days later when her heart gave out. The only blessing was that she was surrounded by her family.

It's frightening to me that this happened, and immensely sad. She was a gem. My parents have long been amicably divorced, and what was so special about her friendship was that it was with all of us. She lived in the same neighborhood as my mom, and they were friends. She was only a smidgen older than my stepmom, and an extremely close friend to her. My stepmom is devastated by this profound loss. And she was a wonderful friend to me. A true friend, not an adult who has a patronizing friendship with a teen. For years we'd walk our dogs together every morning. We went to book festivals and to poetry and cultural events at her church. She taught me about Catholicism. She gave me the most thoughtful gifts, and when I left for college she'd send me cards with a sweet handwritten note and quotes she knew would have wisdom for me. I have an entire box of cards from her. She made me know I was significant to her, and she did the same for everyone else in her life. She's taught me how that is a valuable action - the small but impacting gestures to stay connected and let those in our life know their importance to us while we have the opportunity.

Here are some resources:
Heart Attack Symptoms Differ in Young Women
Go Red For Women
FUNraise For National Wear Red Day
Behind National Wear Red Day
Know Your Risk
Strong Men Put Their Heart Health First

Sorry for your loss.

It appears the person you describe, likely had some type of genetic heart condition, that may or may not reveal symptoms and are very hard to detect, especially in people who are otherwise healthy.

With women, they are somewhat protected against heart disease earlier in life, because of the hormonal impact, that is different than men. When women reach menopause though, they can quickly catch up to men in regards to heart disease risk, because they lose this hormonal advantage.

 

[Ada Lovelace]

Sorry to hear about your friend. My boss had a heart attack at work earlier this week, but he survived. Had to have open heart surgery and five stints.

Thank you and everyone else for your condolences. I hope your boss fully recovers. It was likely a blessing that he had the heart attack at work so help could be more promptly administered. Katherine had a heart attack in her bedroom, after a routinely pleasant morning that gave no cause for concern, and it's unknown how much time elapsed before she was discovered. Her mother was staying with her helping to get the house packed up because the family was moving, and found her on her bed unconscious. She called 911 and the police arrived in under a minute and started performing first response care while waiting for the paramedics. It took so long for them to get a pulse that it was feared she'd have significant cognitive impairment from the lack of oxygen to her brain. She and her mom were alone in the house by the time she'd had the heart attack, and there was no reason for her mom to have checked on her sooner.

 

[Ada Lovelace]

Sorry for your loss.

It appears the person you describe, likely had some type of genetic heart condition, that may or may not reveal symptoms and are very hard to detect, especially in people who are otherwise healthy.

With women, they are somewhat protected against heart disease earlier in life, because of the hormonal impact, that is different than men. When women reach menopause though, they can quickly catch up to men in regards to heart disease risk, because they lose this hormonal advantage.

Thanks for the information. Her funeral was this past Saturday, and afterwards everyone gathered at her house. Her relatives said that on both branches of the family tree there is a long history of longevity, so it's painfully bewildering to them that she died so young. Her father had been a World Series MLB player and actor who was already halfway through his 50s when she was born. He died of pancreatic cancer at 79, but his siblings lived through their 90s. Her mother is in impeccable health, and her maternal and paternal grandparents died in their 90s or 100s.

I did find out that she'd experienced some symptoms in the weeks before her passing, through they were subtle and enigmatic. She'd had a lingering pain in her left arm, but since she was left-handed and an avid tennis player and golfer she thought overuse was the culprit. It never occurred to her or to anyone she'd complained to about it that it could be symptomatic of a heart issue. She'd also been afflicted with migraines and headaches, and had seen a specialist who prescribed medication. When she fainted in December it was thought that the medication had caused it since she was still acclimating and more prone to side effects. They were likely caused by the blockage preventing adequate blood flow. She had shingles recently, and that also increased her risk, though neither she nor anyone else realized that was a factor at the time. Heart attack and stroke risk may rise briefly after a bout of shingles - Harvard Health

I feel frustrated that her doctors didn't order more investigative tests, but since she appeared to be the epitome of health they probably didn't think they were necessary. I've gone through EKGs, MRIs, and had to wear this annoying heart monitor when I've fainted, though I have underlying health issues so they're more paranoid. Still, if doctors felt it was necessary for me, a teenager, to undergo such rigorous testing it seems like they would have taken more steps after she fainted since she was in her 40s.

Her family is planning on establishing a foundation and scholarship in her memory to raise awareness about heart disease in younger women.

 

[USincognito]

I missed this thread earlier. So sorry to hear about your friend and kudos to you for helping raise awareness.