Heart attack—something to avoid
By Lou Christine May 2, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Heart disease is the number-one cause of death worldwide. Sorry to say, I have it. Yet with treatment and a change of lifestyle, the malady can be checked and one can live a fruitful life regardless of the prognosis.

In my case, late last year I began experiencing shortness of breath and sudden fatigue. There was tightness in my chest but no real pain. At first I suspected the symptoms might have been connected to hangovers. Those symptoms cropped up more often. Having my head in the sand, I discounted the fact that all seven of my uncles died from heart attacks between 58 and 63 years of age. Yet they lived blue-collar existences, saddled with woes from ex-wives and life’s disappointments. I was 60 but pretended my adventurous, worldly lifestyle somehow made me exempt. I’d been warned about a high cholesterol count. I smoked tobacco. I was a fool’s fool.

I visited a local physician for a chest X-ray, blood tests and even an EKG. “You’re a picture of health for your age,” the doc proclaimed. Symptoms persisted. I decided to obtain a second opinion, an opinion that riveted me. “You're flashing all the signs of coronary heart disease,” said the second doc, “You need a stress test! You don’t want a heart attack! If you enjoy life, are active, crave sex, and want to avoid doctors or heart medication side-effects for the rest of your life, you had better get yourself properly checked out. You don’t want to be a heart cripple!”

Those ominous warnings were enough to scare the Julius out of this hombre. I traveled to Querétaro’s heart clinic for a stress test that proved positive and soon thereafter I headed north to a Veterans Administration facility, my primary medical provider.

Further tests at the Audie Murphy Medical Center in San Antonio substantiated the second doc’s suspicions. They admitted me immediately. I was on the verge of a major heart attack.

Despite obvious heart problems, at that point the doctors didn’t know the extent of the disease or damage. A modern medical miracle enables doctors to perform what is called a catheterization. A thin tube is poked through the groin into the femoral artery. There’s a camera attached to a tube snaking its way through the body. The patient is awake, alert and given relaxers to render him anxiety-free. The heart and its arteries are visible to the medical team and patient.

It was visually determined that my blood was not properly flowing through my heart to provide oxygen. All three of my coronary arteries were clogged 80 to 90 percent from plaque buildup, probably due to heritage and lifestyle. It was further determined I would have to undergo quadruple bypass surgery. 

The gruesome process has the medical team cracking the patient’s sternum—similar to cracking a lobster. They cauterized my heart’s three blocked arteries, placing them out of business forever. Then they removed a vein from behind my knee that became the new conduit that sends blood to my heart. When I awoke, it was like I had a dagger in my chest. Thankfully, I wasn’t in the mood for laughing but coughing or belching hurt like the dickens. Sneezing was lights out.

Regardless of the trauma, I’m a very fortunate man. The healing process began. Rather than a Superman “S” carved on my chest, it’s the zipper-look for me, along with a couple of puncture wounds. Luckily, I suffered no real heart damage. Hearts, unlike damaged lungs or livers, do not rejuvenate. If I watch myself, my future looks normal. I’ve quit smoking. I am about to embark on an exercise program. I watch my diet. I will need to take a few benign drugs like Isosorbide and Metoprol for the duration, but I am not subject to further doctors’ care. I can drink, have sex or even train for a marathon if I so desire. 


Smoking: Now it’s a no-no! I enjoyed tobacco, especially with my coffee in the morning, after making a business deal or after having dreamy, fulfilling, well you know—but no more fags for me, a small price to pay for one’s life.

Eating: I’ve eliminated mayonnaise, replacing it with balsamic vinegar. I eat more baked chicken. I have a cheeseburger only when I really lust for it, but without cheese. Eating meat is okay but the leaner the better. It’s healthier to eat whole-wheat bread and pasta instead of white-flour ones. Yet who the hell wants to eat whole-wheat pizza? Not me and I won’t. Pizza will be a treat. Yogurt and fruit, or oatmeal with raisins, bananas and brown sugar have replaced that morning bagel with jelly and cream cheese. Eggs are not off limits, yet should be limited. I haven’t given in to 2%-fat milk in my coffee. Fried food is out and I no longer enhance the so-so taste of vegetables with gobs of butter. Eggs Benedict with hollandaise sauce are a memory. 

Exercise: San Miguel’s mile-high elevation is a great place to strut one’s stuff. Walking 45 minutes a day is super. Weightlifting, bike riding, swimming, yoga and other forms of strenuous exercise are suggested, mostly for weight control and in to lower cholesterol. 

Treatments and preventive measures: Part of my daily regimen is baby aspirin; its blood-thinning, mysterious properties could save one’s life in the midst of a heart attack. Some swear chelation is a preventive remedy. It’s given intravenously and supposedly melts away plaque and metals flowing through the bloodstream. Some health professionals consider chelation quackery; others swear by it. Two tablespoons of flax seed, stirred in water, morning and night, is another measure said to help prevent plaque buildup.

Many with heart disease, via catheterization, have had surgical stents (mesh artery expanders) inserted, or they’ve undergone angioplasty to keep arteries open. The downside of the gentler procedures is that drugs such as Plavix are essential, likely prescribed for life in order to stop plaque buildup on the synthetic inserts.

Ironically, those who are stricken by heart disease must come to realize that the heart is not the only place that calcium deposits form. Plaque accumulates in the brain, neck, legs and other arteries that run through the body. Breakaway plaque can cause a stroke. It seems that blocked arteries in the heart are the first telltale sign of overall blockage.

The upside. These days I feel terrific. My energy is up big time. Before the radical procedure I just sensed that I was getting older. I’m 61 and now feel like 40. Look out world! I urge anyone reading this article to heed and not ignore any of the signs I’ve written about. If ya got them, please, see a qualified doctor, take a stress test and get yourself patched up. I did and am so glad I did. Salud!

Lou Christine is a local writer and long-time contributor to Atención.

What you need to know about medical air transport
By Robert H. Page, MD and Curtis P. Page, MD 

Air ambulance services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year throughout Mexico and the US. Cost of typical air transport from Mexico to the US or Canada can be from US$13,000–$25,000 or more, depending on severity of illness and requirements of the patient during flight. The entire bill must be paid prior to the aircraft’s take-off. The medical transport company will work to secure authorization for transport with your insurance provider if this is a covered benefit. Usually family members may accompany the patient at no additional cost. 

Remember, many insurance policies simply do not cover emergency transportation, regardless of the degree of emergency. Medicare does not cover emergency air evacuation from Mexico. We recommend that you purchase additional traveler’s health insurance that includes emergency air transport, especially if you have a chronic medical condition that could put you at a higher risk. 

Note: Despite the above warnings, we believe there are a number of highly qualified physicians and hospitals in Mexico, and that air transport back to the US or Canada is almost always unnecessary. Transport to one of Mexico’s best hospitals will not only save a tremendous amount of money on air evacuation, but will often result in more rapid attention that can be life saving. There are several exceptional medical facilities in Mexico’s larger cities, many of which are more than capable of handling the most severe medical situations. 

Should evacuation be needed, a call from a certified MedToGo hospital or medical facility will start the processing of all the requirements needed for emergency air transportation. In most circumstances, the company dispatch department will arrange all customs, immigration and international documents on board the aircraft. It is required that all patients have their passport number, date of birth, nationality verification and visa information on hand. 

A quality air ambulance company will have ICU/CCU registered nurses, respiratory therapists, critical care flight physicians and advanced life support paramedics. Personnel should have a minimum of five years’ critical care experience and certifications in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Basic Life Support, Pediatric Life Support and Transport Nurse Advanced Trauma Course. 

The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) is the only accreditation program for fixed-wing and rotor-wing air ambulance organizations. CAMTS requires that the transport provider performs to high standards and strives to ensure that proper patient care and transport safety is maintained throughout the flight. The best companies have excellent training programs and annual review programs for their crews. They offer the best and latest equipment. Transportation and aircraft are modern, carefully inspected and regulated by national agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration. 

There are a number of excellent companies based both in Mexico and in the US. We have listed a few below that we consider in the top echelon. None of the companies listed below have paid for their mention.



Air Ambulance Companies

Air Ambulance Specialists, Inc.
1-800-424-7060
720-875-9182
www.AirAASI.com 


Air Medical
1-866-945-8959
1-830-625-3500
www.air-medical.com 

Skyservice Air Ambulance
Toll-Free: 1-800-463-3482
Worldwide: 1-514-497-7000
www.skyservice.com 


Air Trek Inc.
1-800-MED-JETS (1-800-633-5387)
1-800-AIR-TREK (1-800-247-8735)
Worldwide: 941-639-7855
www.medjets.com 


AirLink 
From Mexico: 01-800-024-8600
From US: 1-888-673-7427
From Canada: 1-866-826-1177
www.airlinkambulance.com 


Copyright© 2008 MedToGo, LLC.

Not for unauthorized publication or reproduction without the consent of MedToGo, LLC.

Robert H. Page, MD and Curtis P. Page, MD are authors of the MEXICO: Health and Safety Travel Guide and the Healthy Traveler Regional Series. For more information visit medtogo.com.

Holistic cures: healthcare alternatives
By Mark Goble

Lecture
Holistic Cures
Allan Sweeney
Wed, May 7, 6:30pm
Sala Quetzal
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
50 pesos

This talk is different. It is a talk about cures. Cures are not often discussed, usually because they are considered impossible to achieve. This talk aims to challenge that assumption.

Imagine being disabled all your life, from babyhood. Imagine attending a special school for sick children, seeing countless doctors for decades, and often being hospitalised twice a year. Then imagine being cured (in one session!) by a “weird” holistic therapist. How would you feel?

When Allan Sweeney was cured of his lifelong disability, it must have felt like an astonishing miracle!

Since then, for 30 years, Sweeney’s mission has been finding holistic cures. The search uncovered many techniques and methods that, when compared to current medical options, are more effective, quicker, easier and less dangerous. Potential cures were found for extreme emotional patterns, chronic physical conditions, spiritual problems, and mental fears and phobias. This enlightening talk explains exciting new ways forward for healthcare.

Sweeney readily admits to not knowing about every illness. But he has rare knowledge and wisdom, so when he mentions “cure,” it comes from deep insight. “Holistic cure” means helping the “whole” person return to positive health and happiness.

Understanding how to cure certain illnesses came through clinical practice in Harley Street, UK, and therapy days in countries as diverse as Australia, Denmark, Singapore and Dubai. Thousands of patients were healed by hundreds of specialized methods.

Numerous methods are now available that might make emotions such as sadness, hate, guilt and anger easier to manage. Different methods apply to stress, insomnia, depression, physical pain, low energy, breathing difficulties, spiritual problems, bereavement, anxiety and fear. Because his techniques work so well for psychological problems, Sweeney was invited to join the main UK organization for clinical psychologists. 

Success rates for curative or palliative outcomes have led to global partnerships and collaborations with organizations for medical doctors and psychologists, academics, scientists, large corporations and universities.

For more information, contact Sweeney at 044 (415) 111-0234, or through www.crestcancerclinic.com.  

Allan Sweeney belongs to many healthcare organizations, including the UK’s Doctor-Healer Network, and is the research officer for the holistic faculty of the British Psychological Society.