It was a tennis match that became a matter of life and death. If I knew what I know now, I may not have been unwilling during suffering. As for this post, I had my doubts. Sharing information about personal health events can have negative consequences – future employers, insurance companies and the like can see and use it. Finally, I felt forced to write about it in the hope that it could help others.
So here’s the story: A close challenge to the tennis court.
My friend Chris and I just started a second set of tennis singles after I lost the first in an extended tie. In the summer, my norm was three days of tennis and one day pickleball. Squash replaced tennis in winter. During the first set I felt lethargic, but I didn’t think so much. When I served for the second set, I felt something was wrong. I felt light and anxious, decided to stop the middle game and capture the trial to catch my breath. It was planned to return to court in a few minutes.
When it seemed to me that my chest tightened, I wondered if I had a heart attack. “He couldn’t be,” I said. I had no contributing conditions-diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc. But forty years of rocket sports should be calculated. Still, I could say that things weren’t right.
Chris later told me he called 911 when I seemed to come out briefly. When I came, I remembered the words of my cousin’s wisdom: Always carry two child aspirins with me; If you feel you are getting a heart attack, do it. He spoke from experience. Can’t find aspirins in my Large tennis bagI let Chris call my wife. Fortunately, we played in the tennis courts of our apartment. Always calm, my wife was down with aspirins in a few minutes and my wallet that had my health card.
About twenty minutes after I sat for the first time, I saw three rescuers who wore yellow and orange vests that get through the tennis courts to where I sat. White tensile stretchers came out on a sunny, bright blue tennis court. The players at the neighboring court stopped playing and fell and wondered what it was all about.
“Where would you evaluate your pain?” One of the rescuers asked when he was preparing to control my Vitalia. I hesitated; I didn’t have a reference value. “6.5?” Was it more “makes sense?”
“Hi bud, it looks like you have a heart attack!” Parly Rescuer said when he monitored the ECG mobile machine that joined me. I did not want to question his conclusion; I didn’t feel so great! He briefly consulted his two colleagues who seemed to match his determination that they needed to get me to the hospital.
“Now it looks like 8.0,” I volunteered and referred to my growing tightness on my chest and general discomfort. Meanwhile, the rescuer’s leader contacted the hospital. About 45 minutes passed since I took a break.
“Dr. Singh will see you. You are lucky; It’s one of the best, ”said the paramedic when he got out of the phone and prepared a stretcher.
I felt embarrassed when the rescuers rolled me through the apartment hall. I considered myself fit. In the past, I watched how many other residents took ambulances on the stretcher. I often asked if they would come back. I was on my turn now.
As an ambulance, with me in it, turned in and out of traffic, I tried to start “what-if?” Scenaries in my mind. If my trip has proved to be a one -way ride, her suddenly would shock family and friends. But in a larger diagram of things would not be too many free ends to cope with. Somewhere along the way, my wife and I decided to leave the race of the rats early, diminish into an apartmentAnd do it with what we had.
“Good call,” I mentally patted my back!
Rescuers did their job. Two interventional cardiologists were waiting when I was inices to the hospital. When they checked my information again, one of them asked: “You are from Kerala? “He ensured that I was clear and at the same time let me know that he welcomed from the same South Indian state where my surname is common.
When I was drifting, I heard the doctor says, “You’ll be fine; You got to the hospital at the right time. ”
Ninety minutes later I woke up in the room. “Now you are all repaired.” We had to insert the stent. “It was an intervention cardiologist, Dr. Singh.
“Can I go home now?” I felt just as good as the new one. Plus, I hated hospitals and I have never been accepted until then.
“No,” he laughed. “You’ll be here for a few days; you are lucky to be alive!”
I will save you details about my hospital stay, but I have to say that hospitals get used to it. Hustle and hustle and bustle, sounds and smell are fascinating and depressive at the same time.
For those who ask if tennis has caused my heart situation, a simple answer is: probably not. More people who lead a sedentary lifestyle suffer from heart attacks compared to people who are physically active. However, physical activity increases blood flow and heart requirements, which in turn may worsen existing conditions. Family history, stress and unhealthy lifestyles are probably the greatest contributors to heart problems.
If you are looking for this article with you there are several:
- Despite my experience, you are better to stay active as inactive. It’s estimated that approximately 35% of mortality from heart disease is due to physical inactivity.
- If you are experiencing serious chest discomfort, seek emergency help. If I was at home and felt the symptoms, I would probably ignore it. That would be a mistake.
- According to the rescuers, chewing on children’s aspirins was an intelligent step. You may want to ask your doctor. It is available on the counter without a prescription in Canada.
- If you have a fitness tracker like Fitbit, use it. It does not hurt to know your fitness metrics and requirements that you put on your heart. I have invested in a Google Pixel Watch 3.
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- The 41 mm screen is twice as clear AO 10% larger than the previous models.
- 24 hours of battery with constant display.
- Access to Google Maps Offline and use Google’s wallet for payments.
- Maximize your performance with advanced features.
- Cardio loads how hard your heart works.
For a few months, with the blessing of my doctor, I am back to squash and tennis courts and lifted where I stopped. I also picked up the fell, the game brand new for me. See the post on Padel soon.
When you look back, I must admit that I am a little frustrated by the whole experience. I stayed active, ate healthy and largely led a healthy lifestyle. !
It reminds me of Linkin Park: “Finally it doesn’t matter …”
Former Technology | Racquet Sports & Travel Blogger Experience in Real World
