When I Was Faced With Death, I Appreciated Life: A Patient’s Account of His Terrifying Encounter With Death

45-year old Mr Kent* who was fit and healthy, didn’t know it then. He didn’t know that a friendly contest of badminton with his colleague in March this year could have been the last game of his life.

Kent: “I started to feel a burning sensation tear into my chest and spread from shoulder to shoulder a few minutes into the game.”

Kent still kept on driving shots as fast as he could against his opponent, blaming the sensations on his adrenaline rush.

Kent: “I was a smoker back then. We’d usually finish the match with a cigarette before heading for home. This time I collapsed to the ground as the vice-like grip tightened around my chest while my tummy churned with nausea before the match ended. It did not matter who was winning as I was now in a battle against death.”

Kent’s colleague did not waste time rushing him to the nearest hospital, Assunta Hospital. Within just minutes, Kent was pushed into the Emergency Department where he met the man who’d save his life.

Dr. Lam Kai Huat: “We immediately performed an ECG, which showed elevation of the ST segments. After fulfilling the standard procedures (administering ASA, clopidrogel, heparin, and NIG) the patient underwent the primary percutaneous coronary transluminal angioplasty (PTCA) with the placement of two non-medicated stents in the mid proximal segment of the anterior descending artery which was by then completely obstructed.”

That day, Kent became yet another member of the club more than a million of people were a part of. Studies have shown that each year more than a million men and women have a heart attack, and nearly a half of this number dies because they did not get to the hospital in time. Dr. Lam said every minute the heart artery remains closed, the greater the heart muscle damage.

Dr. Lam added that throughout Kent’s four-day stay at Assunta Hospital, his echocardiogram results showed progressive improvement in systolic function, which was equal to slightly more than 50%.

Dr. Lam and Kent have now both drawn a backup plan to make sure his first heart attack is his last.

Dr. Lam: “He must control his cholesterol levels and conduct a lipid test. His blood pressure should also be monitored. Keeping fit and doing the exercises recommended daily would help while he tries to adopt a stress-free lifestyle for a change.

Kent: “I now watch my diet with a disciplined eye. No more breakfast ‘nasi lemak’ and tea time ‘teh tarik tambah manis’ for me. Medications must be taken daily and on time always.

More importantly, stay away from the most troublesome habit to break- cigarettes.

Kent: “I never thought I would be part of the statistics, a heart patient. I was simply lucky that / was rushed to Assunta Hospital in the nick of time.”

Kent is thankful he’s alive and is now making certain not to squander his second shot at life.

(*The patient’s name has been changed to protect his privacy)

HEART BEATS:

• Stop smoking.
• Keep track of your blood pressure and make sure it does not escalate above 140/90.
• Maintain a normal cholesterol level (below 5.0 mmol/I)
• Watch your FAT intake
• Exercise