I arrived on the big island for a long weekend of fun in the sun with my family. We were staying at the Fairmont and I went for a run the morning after we got there. Best I can tell I ran for 40mins. Not a harsh run, just an easy pace. As I ended my run at the entrance of the Fairmont I collapsed. Fairmont security saw it happen and they were CPR certified. They saved my life. From what gather my body was then cooled to 32 degrees and I was life flighted to Oahu to the Queens medical ICU unit. (where I sit writing this post.) They said they found a blockage and put a stint in.. I am 46, zero health or heart issue, my resting hr was in the upper 30s/ lower 40s right up to this event.(which freaked a few doctors out over the years, but I explained it was normal. I have huge lung capacity. Yet here I sit trying to make since of it all. I've raced in this crazy sport since 2008, was an USAT All American in 2019 and even snuck in IMAZ 70.3 in November. I'm a sub 5 hour 70.3er and I feel great doing it, never felt like I was pushing my body to the limit. I train between 10-14 hours a week depending on where I am in my ramp for a race. I think about the studies this sport can have on your heart, I guess I just found out how true that will be. I'm glad I was on a run, and not a swim. Long road ahead if me, I don't know if I will ever be able to race. So stay safe out there. I really dont know what more I could have done. )

Glad to hear you are OK! TBH, you were lucky...but the reality is that heart disease is still the number one reason for dying in the USA after the tender age of 35 yrs. I say this e-v-e-r-y day, since it is my 'day job'. It is great that you are fit and have a low resting HR, as do most athlete's...but that doesn't change your personal risk of CAD/MI/SCD. You don't have 'huge lung capacity', you have excellent fitness. The studies regarding 'this sport' have little to do with generic ischemic heart disease. Anyone, and I mean anyone can get it. Risk factors are additive and you can't change your age or your genetics.

I have quite a few triathlete training partners who are now my patients after having an abnormal coronary artery calcium scan. The fact you had your event, which was a cardiac arrest *(and happens about 1/4 of the time for the presentation of CAD for the first time), was in a place where first responders were was very fortunate. I'm happy for you. I could tell you lots of stories of successful and sadly unsuccessful ROSC (return of spontaneous cirulation). It happened during IMLP 70.3 and the guy who went down was lucky that a doc was right behind him on the course and a defibrillator was also close by. Luck is one thing-getting checked out ahead of time is quite another. And speaking of trouble during the swim-sadly, when I was at Worlds 70.3 in Nice France, there was a sudden death during the swim. In fact he was literally minutes behind me and it sort of freaked my wife out until she knew I was OK. Preventative medicine is always best, IMO.


I have tons of patients who are sudden death survivors, but only a few who are or were very athletic. And in reality, the risk in most triathletes is much lower than the general population. Most who have had events have returned to sports in one way or another, but not often at the highest level. That is a discussion for you and your MD. One of my favorite patients was an older guy who played adult softball at a pretty high level until he had his cardiac arrest after beating out a single, but fortunately was back out there on the field*(with his ICD post cabg) the very next year.


The answer to 'what more could you have done?' is:

Work with your doctor. Consider getting a coronary artery calcium score if: your are older than 35 yrs and there is more than one risk factor for CAD or if there is a family history of early CAD/SCD. And certainly see your doctor for any activity limiting symptom that is concerning for heart disease like chest pressure/pain or unusual shortness of breath that stops you from doing usual activities.


Best of luck in your continued recovery!

Do you think he had a plaque rupture given lack of symptoms prior? I think this is one of the challenges for fit triathletes. we constantly go through stress testing when we work out so we think we are invincible. Leads to being more careless with f/u with our health care providers.

endurer wrote:

This is so scary. Thank you for sharing. It is remarkable that you can be so fit and yet still have significant heart disease. But sadly, this is the case for most of us in the western world. Coronary artery disease starts in childhood and is a result of our diet. As you are getting the appropriate high level treatment, you might consider reading this book by Dr. Esselstyn:

https://www.amazon.com/...-Based/dp/1583333002

Lots of very strong science out there on disease prevention and reversal with a whole food, plant-based diet. Other sources to consider include Dean Ornish,MD T. Colin Campbell PhD- both original research and books. A valuable website is nutritionfacts.org. These have been life-saving (extending) for so many.
I am so grateful your life was saved. You are so lucky to have a second chance. My thoughts are with you. I wish you the best in your recovery.

I'm glad you're in care now! Whew. Rest, take care.

Before this, in the years before, had you ever had any of the following?

-ekg
-ultrasound
-bloodwork
-routine measure BP
-other

Stories like this are just so concerning. I had all that stuff done inadvertently after a horrible race crash in a sprint at 35mph. They were doing all that anyway so checked out stuff. And I have a home BP cuff.

I just always wonder if there's anything more to do.

Glad to hear you are OK! TBH, you were lucky...but the reality is that heart disease is still the number one reason for dying in the USA after the tender age of 35 yrs. I say this e-v-e-r-y day, since it is my 'day job'. It is great that you are fit and have a low resting HR, as do most athlete's...but that doesn't change your personal risk of CAD/MI/SCD. You don't have 'huge lung capacity', you have excellent fitness. The studies regarding 'this sport' have little to do with generic ischemic heart disease. Anyone, and I mean anyone can get it. Risk factors are additive and you can't change your age or your genetics.

I have quite a few triathlete training partners who are now my patients after having an abnormal coronary artery calcium scan. The fact you had your event, which was a cardiac arrest *(and happens about 1/4 of the time for the presentation of CAD for the first time), was in a place where first responders were was very fortunate. I'm happy for you. I could tell you lots of stories of successful and sadly unsuccessful ROSC (return of spontaneous cirulation). It happened during IMLP 70.3 and the guy who went down was lucky that a doc was right behind him on the course and a defibrillator was also close by. Luck is one thing-getting checked out ahead of time is quite another. And speaking of trouble during the swim-sadly, when I was at Worlds 70.3 in Nice France, there was a sudden death during the swim. In fact he was literally minutes behind me and it sort of freaked my wife out until she knew I was OK. Preventative medicine is always best, IMO.


I have tons of patients who are sudden death survivors, but only a few who are or were very athletic. And in reality, the risk in most triathletes is much lower than the general population. Most who have had events have returned to sports in one way or another, but not often at the highest level. That is a discussion for you and your MD. One of my favorite patients was an older guy who played adult softball at a pretty high level until he had his cardiac arrest after beating out a single, but fortunately was back out there on the field*(with his ICD post cabg) the very next year.


The answer to 'what more could you have done?' is:

Work with your doctor. Consider getting a coronary artery calcium score if: your are older than 35 yrs and there is more than one risk factor for CAD or if there is a family history of early CAD/SCD. And certainly see your doctor for any activity limiting symptom that is concerning for heart disease like chest pressure/pain or unusual shortness of breath that stops you from doing usual activities.


Best of luck in your continued recovery!

Man that is terrifying, and even more so given how super fit you were (USA All American) and with all that regular training.

Obviously your medical info is private to you and you are absolutely entitled to keep it all private to yourself, but if you learn any more about what led to this as well as what your doctor says possibly could have been tested for to be aware of this, myself (at age 45 so about same as you) and others are absolutely all ears - and you may very well save one of our lives as well.

What you went through is not only my worst nightmare but my wife's worst nightmare as well. She's forcing me to buy the newest apple cellular watch so I can possibly contact her or anybody if I'm out on a ride/run (which I typically do in less populated areas) and have a similar event.

Best of wishes to yourself and your family, and FWIW, I am going to suspect that you will be able to race again in the future, but obviously put your health and family first and recover fully before even thinking about such things!!

Do you think he had a plaque rupture given lack of symptoms prior? I think this is one of the challenges for fit triathletes. we constantly go through stress testing when we work out so we think we are invincible. Leads to being more careless with f/u with our health care providers.