Posted on 06/17/2008 6:03:22 PM PDT by neverdem
Given the great strides that have been made in preventing and treating heart disease, what explains Tim Russert’s sudden death last week at 58 from a heart attack?
The answer, at least in part, is that although doctors knew that Mr. Russert, the longtime moderator of “Meet the Press” on NBC, had coronary artery disease and were treating him for it, they did not realize how severe the disease was because he did not have chest pain or other telltale symptoms that would have justified the kind of invasive tests needed to make a definitive diagnosis. In that sense, his case was sadly typical: more than 50 percent of all men who die of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms, the American Heart Association says.
It is not clear whether Mr. Russert’s death could have been prevented. He was doing nearly all he could to lower his risk. He took blood pressure pills and a statin drug to control his cholesterol, he worked out every day on an exercise bike, and he was trying to lose weight, his doctors said on Monday. And still it was not enough.
If there is any lesson in his death, his doctors said, it is a reminder that heart disease can be silent, and that people, especially...
--snip--
Even so, Dr. Newman said, “the autopsy findings were a surprise.”
In an interview, Dr. Newman and Mr. Russert’s cardiologist, Dr. George Bren, said the autopsy found significant blockages in several coronary arteries, which feed blood to the heart muscle.
Blockages start out as cholesterol deposits in the artery walls that turn into lesions or plaques, narrowing the vessels. Heart attacks occur when a plaque ruptures, causing a blood clot that quickly closes the artery and pinches off the blood supply to part of the heart...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
polonium? obamacide?
Well, at first blush I would say because his heart stopped pumping blood.
Well, we're sorry, but the lesson will just have to remain a secret. Apparently the stealthy killer has just claimed another unwitting victim.
Doctor’s said my Mother died of a heart attack.
But we knew she really died of a “broken heart”.
Only the Lord knows when it’s time to bring you home.
If I was a doc, I’d refuse to treat VIPs and celebs.
Uhhh, the evidence would seem to suggest otherwise.
I was 52, 5’10 160lbs total cholesterol 180 and normal blood pressure when my heart attack hit. My best coronary artery was 80% blocked. After a double-triple bypass I’m just peachy. I never had a chest pain or any other symptom. All of my trouble came from Mom and Dad.
Didn’t he cross Hillary.
You had no complaints? Did you just pass out, waking up in the ER or recovery room?
Big article about sudden death attacks in the Wall Street Journal this morning too.
The cause of death was not immediately clear.
The network said on its Web site that Russert died of a heart attack, but Michael A. Newman, Russert’s internist, later said that resuscitation was begun immediately and continued at Sibley Memorial Hospital, to no avail.
An autopsy was pending, Newman said.
http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/369480.html
It figures that the NYT would start crying at the gravestone of TR, when they were dancing on Reagan’s even weeks after he passed away.
Ah-Hah! Problem is, everyone thinks that they are a VIP or celeb. You can't refuse everyone.
OMG. Enough. This happens to people. The man was not a deity.
” . . .more than 50 percent of all men who die of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms, the American Heart Association says.”
His doctors knew these figures yet they didn’t do a full blown heart work up when they knew he had coronary heart disease because he was symptom free.
They need to be in another field of work.
When the clot hit, it hurt. It kept getting worse so I drove to the ER. Not real bright. I was in Oklahoma and this Texas boy wasn’t about to die in Oklahoma! It was a 6 mile drive to Texas.
Wasn’t that irritating doofus from Boston, Mike Barnicle in Russert’s office just before he blew a gasket and crumped?
"He was trying to lose weight."
What does this have to do with anything? LOSING the weight...now, that means something.
Common people die in this manner every day. No one seemed too concerned about answers for them.
Some cardiologists say a thickened or enlarged heart can indicate severe heart disease and should prompt more tests, like an angiogram, to look for artery blockages. But those tests are invasive, and Mr. Russert’s doctors did not think he needed them.
Had the tests been done and the true extent of blockages revealed, Dr. Newman said, Mr. Russert would probably have been advised to have bypass surgery. Dr. Bren differed, saying it was not clear that there was enough disease to prompt a recommendation for surgery.
Who would think that someone as famous as Tim Russert wouldn't have these tests if doctor's had any suspicion what-so-ever about his heart health...
Forget doctors, angioplasties and statin drugs. What killed Tim Russert was his endless up and down dieting. Nothing causes more stress on the heart than gaining and losing weight through obsessive dieting.
The media really loves to dwell on the passing of anyone famous in their own profession.
They really think that their job is the most important, and the passing of a Tim Russert just can’t have enough coverage. We have to hear about his life, his disease, his son, we have to hear from all of his colleagues, all of the people he interviewed, etc., etc.
They’ve spent more time on him than they did on the passing of Ronald Reagan. And Tim Russert was not Ronald Reagan. Except in the minds of journalists.
Thanks for the feedback. That chest pain was your first symptom.
Russert was looking awful for the last few year’s. Puffy and expressionless in the eyes. His primary Dr. made a huge mistake not to request angiogram. That would have shown the artery problem and he would have been asap for bypass surgery.
I speak with some knowledge. Husband had no symptoms. Annual physical Dr said you have never had a stress test, let’s do that and see how you are doing. Took stress test and didn’t do well. Went for angiogram and bingo three clogged arteries. Had triple bypass surgery and all is well.
Rich, famous, stressed out, and unhealthy. The Elvis Presley syndrome. Man, if I were ___________ , I’d take the money and quit the rat race.
Who pays for autopsies, anyway?
Ahh, ventricular fib. Same thing happened to my dad. From what I understand, you're gone within ten seconds, no amount of CPR or anything can save you. You're done.
I don't know. My guess is the taxpayer when it is demanded by the state. Someone may pay for it if it is optional. I don't see how pathologists can make a living doing freebies. I saw only one autopsy that I recall as a medical student, nothing since.
Healthcare is driven by “best practices”, formally known as “cookbook medicine”.
Heart blockage tests are expensive and invasive, so most docs don’t recommend them unless there are hard, clear signs. However, people who are worried about heritity or just a gut feeling can pay for a heart test at their own expense under our current system. David Letterman did, and they scheduled surgery for the next day. Unfortunately, in some countries with national plans, you can’t do this.
BTW, much of the savings the government figures will come from national health care will come from using “cookbook medicine” for everyone.
I can relate. I was in ICU recovering from quadruple bypass on Friday when the announcement of Mr. Russert’s untimely death came over the TV screen.
No symptoms, 63 years old, normal cholesterol, type 2 diabetic and just blacked out after exercise on a treadmill. In the netherworld for about 20 minutes according to wife.
Brain scans, carotid artery tests, echocardiagram of heart, more MRIs of brain and then a nuclear stress test. Blockage noted (90% in couple areas and 75% in couple of others) and was in surgery 6/12. The cardiologist was very, very upfront and I am so glad he was. Home recovering nicely but if no nuclear stress test, no Chuck54.
I didn’t even know who to spell cardiologist until last Wednesday, now I know a great one. Saved my life I truly believe.
Do CPR until a defibrillator is available. Keep blood going to the head. It depends on whom the patient is, a young, otherwise healthy trauma victim or an elderly patient with multiple medical problems. If the former, be aggressive. If the latter, don't knock yourself out, especially if they were resuscitated already.
Almost forgot but the heart cath was done after the nuclear stress test and this was the golden test.
Blockage showed up immediately.
Heart caths are a bit uncomfortable but the alternative is quite permanent.
Cornary CT angiography would have simply and noninvasively diagnosed Russert’s heart disease and provoked a more intensive treatment regimen. However, medicare and the private insurers don’t won’t to pay for the procedure (cost about $1000).
Coronary CTA is being strangled in its crib. Welcome to the world of health care rationing. It will only get worse with Obama.
Can either of you recommend tests that discover blockage, etc early? I’m 40 1/2. I hate to say, but I’m a good candidate for heart disease. Family history, ex cig smoker, I still smoke cigars. Anyway, I really like being alive and want to try to eek out another 20 yrs if the Lord will allow. So if you have any good advice and the time to tell, I’d appreciate it.
Maybe that's the answer I'm looking for. I wonder if you lie and complain of chest pain if you can get insurance to pay. I would love to get my arteries checked out from time to time. I'm 40 and starting to face the risks associated with getting older. I want to live another 20 yrs if possible. Don't want to miss an opportunity to dodge a bullet.
High triglicerides and low HDL. I think we are seeing this picture become much clearer. And a thickening of the heart muscle is not good. Personally, I think someone was asleep at the switch.
Russert’s death was preventable.
I am very glad to hear that. I wish you and your husband a long and healthy life.
I share your observation. I thought his face looked puffy recently, as well. I wondered at the time if he had just gained weight but obviously there was more at play here.
Actually, if they can get to you immediately you can be saved. I knew a fellow who fell over with “sudden death” but the local ambulance was driving by in front of his business. The wife went out and flagged them down and they recusitated him and the last I knew he was alive. His ejection fraction was down to about 35% and he was in cardiac rehab but very much alive. Time is of the essence.
I had absolutely zero symptoms until blacking out after exercise. I had been off the treadmill about 10 minutes when my wife heard me “gurgle” and found me slumped over at my desk upstairs.
I’ve had yearly physicals since age 50 with nothing abnormal noted. I also have a history on Mother’s side of heart issues.
I truly believe, and I am non-medical, the only true test to immediately show up blockage is the heart catherization.
A treadmill test is inconclusive. I had one about age 53 and did great. The stationary stress test using chemicals with before and after pictures is what alerted my cardiologist to order the cath test. I heartily recommend the stationary test for obvious reasons. I looked at the very colorful “after” pictures and noted some dark spots. The tech was noncommittal but I think I “knew” the dark spots were blockage indications.
If you were to ever, ever, ever experience even shortness of breath I would immediately start ringing alarm bells. Just my opinion but I sit here tonight thinking I must be the luckiest man in this country. Especially after the Russert issue.
Good luck.
If you can afford it do the newest gold standard for heart disease where they actually measure the inside diameter of the coronary arteries. The angiogram only shows blockages but does not provide the information that a measurement of the diameter of the blood vessel is determined. That would undoubtedly have shown those plaques since the diameter would have varied considerably.
My Cardo Doc really likes that radioactive Stress test. It kinda a pain but the results are immpressive. My insurance covers if I pay 10%. I think it was a $1200 test. I wish I knew the name of it.
I think if the family requests an autopsy the family should pay.
If the police or gov’t asks I don’t know.
Great questions.
(Stepdad on his deathbed:)
“Know thou, Edmund Dantesh, that you are the full and rightful heir to the Duke of...
Arggg!
Egkh!
Uhhh!”
(Edmund:)
“The Duke of
Arggg!
Egkh!
Uhhh!?
I don’t know any Duke of
Arggg!
Egkh!
Uhhh!”
You and me both ! Mine did 6 bypasses without stopping my heart. He hates the bypass machine. My surgery was on a Mon and I was home Wed.
So happy you are recovering nicely! FReepmail.
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