dadof4
New member
I'm home from the hospital. Spyderlovers community has been a major contributor in helping me through the situation. My wife told me on multiple occasions I was more concerned about the Spyder sitting in the parking lot of our fitness center than my own health. Thanks to GrumpyBob my concerns were eliminated. He is indeed a wonderful man. Where else can you find people like Bob?
Now to the story of why I was in the hospital. All Spyder riders will understand this.
In 1999 I had 7 stents placed in series my right coronary artery. In 2002 they failed resulting in 100% blockage of the artery. The doctors told me the damage to my heart was minimal and collateral blood vessels had taken over the function of the artery, hence no further procedures were necessary. Since, no matter how hard I try, I just do not have the willpower to control my diet, I have become an exercise addict.
On Monday I had just completed the first 15 minutes of my hour of treadmill exercise. I had pushed it averaging 7.4 miles per hour. As always, I stopped after 15 minutes to hydrate and check my pulse. I will usually restart after a few seconds. This was not case on Monday. When I stopped a man entered the room and started a conversation with me. After about 5 minutes of conversation down I went. An employee of the recreation center said I had stopped breathing so he administered CPR. They called the ambulance and it took me to the hospital.
At the hospital one of the enzyme tests for a heart attack came back slightly positive so given my cardiac history, they performed a catheter angiogram. Thankfully, it came back negative. I did not have another heart attack. Here is what the doctor explained to me what he is almost certain had happened. During strenuous physical activity your blood vessels dilate and your pulse increases to compensate. If you stop the physical activity abruptly your pulse starts returning to it's resting rate (mine is about 45) before the blood vessels return to their normal size. At the lower pulse rate your heart can not pump the blood fast enough through the dilated vessels so the blood pools in your legs and not enough reaches your brain. You pass out.
Now for the reason why I stopped exercising abruptly and had not resumed in a timely manner. The man who had entered the room and started a conversation with me during what would be my normally few seconds of stoppage, had seen our new 2014 RT Limited in the parking lot. He asked me if it was mine and every Spyder owner knows about the barrage of questions that follows. By virtue of the conversation I had stopped long enough for my pulse rate to lower before my blood vessels returned to normal. Down I went.
I've heard dozens of stories of Spyder owners being cornered by inquisitive individuals but I'm pretty sure this one is up there on the list. I learned a lesson valuable lesson.
I'm home and well. Once again, thanks to all, and especially GrumpyBob.
Now to the story of why I was in the hospital. All Spyder riders will understand this.
In 1999 I had 7 stents placed in series my right coronary artery. In 2002 they failed resulting in 100% blockage of the artery. The doctors told me the damage to my heart was minimal and collateral blood vessels had taken over the function of the artery, hence no further procedures were necessary. Since, no matter how hard I try, I just do not have the willpower to control my diet, I have become an exercise addict.
On Monday I had just completed the first 15 minutes of my hour of treadmill exercise. I had pushed it averaging 7.4 miles per hour. As always, I stopped after 15 minutes to hydrate and check my pulse. I will usually restart after a few seconds. This was not case on Monday. When I stopped a man entered the room and started a conversation with me. After about 5 minutes of conversation down I went. An employee of the recreation center said I had stopped breathing so he administered CPR. They called the ambulance and it took me to the hospital.
At the hospital one of the enzyme tests for a heart attack came back slightly positive so given my cardiac history, they performed a catheter angiogram. Thankfully, it came back negative. I did not have another heart attack. Here is what the doctor explained to me what he is almost certain had happened. During strenuous physical activity your blood vessels dilate and your pulse increases to compensate. If you stop the physical activity abruptly your pulse starts returning to it's resting rate (mine is about 45) before the blood vessels return to their normal size. At the lower pulse rate your heart can not pump the blood fast enough through the dilated vessels so the blood pools in your legs and not enough reaches your brain. You pass out.
Now for the reason why I stopped exercising abruptly and had not resumed in a timely manner. The man who had entered the room and started a conversation with me during what would be my normally few seconds of stoppage, had seen our new 2014 RT Limited in the parking lot. He asked me if it was mine and every Spyder owner knows about the barrage of questions that follows. By virtue of the conversation I had stopped long enough for my pulse rate to lower before my blood vessels returned to normal. Down I went.
I've heard dozens of stories of Spyder owners being cornered by inquisitive individuals but I'm pretty sure this one is up there on the list. I learned a lesson valuable lesson.
I'm home and well. Once again, thanks to all, and especially GrumpyBob.
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