Mark Weir Hospitalized Following 'Widow Maker' Heart Scare
Mountain bike legend Mark Weir has survived a serious heart health scare and is recovering in hospital. Weir posted the news on Instagram four days ago, saying that his left, main artery had become 99 per cent blocked by plaque. A blockage of the left anterior descending artery has gained the moniker "widow maker" due to the high risk of death it causes.
The left, main artery is crucial for supplying blood to the heart. If it becomes blocked, the heart muscles will start to die and it can induce a serious heart attack. A widow maker heart attack can kill within minutes if not treated.
The full prognosis of Weir's condition is not yet known but other pictures he has posted show that he does not currently need any assistance and that his short-term goal is to "go home". At this point, it is also unclear how much damage Weir's heart has suffered or the extent to which he will be able to continue riding however just surviving such a health scare is unusual and welcome news.
The scare happened despite Mark's healthy lifestyle and serves as a reminder of how crucial it is to be aware of your heart health. Mark said he had been feeling chest pains for the past six weeks before being admitted to hospital. If you feel chest pains, tightness of the chest or a shortness of breath that can be accompanied by sweating or nausea, especially after exercise, then consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Mark's full statement: “They call it the widow maker. Had chest pains for about 6 weeks. Never thought it could be me. Healthy and good numbers on blood pressure and cholesterol. Well I have a propensity to build plaque. My left main was 99% blocked. They said I am lucky to be alive. Just thought I would share, just cause you are fit does not mean you are immune. I feel lucky to look in my son's eyes and grab my wife’s hands as she walks by. Knowing I’ll never be what I use to be but I’ll be the best I can be today and maybe just a little better then I was yesterday.”
Our thoughts are with Mark and his family and we hope to see him back on his feet as soon as possible.
 | They said I am lucky to be alive. Just thought I would share, just cause you are fit does not mean you are immune. I feel lucky to look in my son's eyes and grab my wife's hand as she walks by. Knowing I'll never be what I used to be but I'll be the best I can be today and maybe a little better than I was yesterday. |
The left, main artery is crucial for supplying blood to the heart. If it becomes blocked, the heart muscles will start to die and it can induce a serious heart attack. A widow maker heart attack can kill within minutes if not treated.
The full prognosis of Weir's condition is not yet known but other pictures he has posted show that he does not currently need any assistance and that his short-term goal is to "go home". At this point, it is also unclear how much damage Weir's heart has suffered or the extent to which he will be able to continue riding however just surviving such a health scare is unusual and welcome news.
The scare happened despite Mark's healthy lifestyle and serves as a reminder of how crucial it is to be aware of your heart health. Mark said he had been feeling chest pains for the past six weeks before being admitted to hospital. If you feel chest pains, tightness of the chest or a shortness of breath that can be accompanied by sweating or nausea, especially after exercise, then consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Mark's full statement: “They call it the widow maker. Had chest pains for about 6 weeks. Never thought it could be me. Healthy and good numbers on blood pressure and cholesterol. Well I have a propensity to build plaque. My left main was 99% blocked. They said I am lucky to be alive. Just thought I would share, just cause you are fit does not mean you are immune. I feel lucky to look in my son's eyes and grab my wife’s hands as she walks by. Knowing I’ll never be what I use to be but I’ll be the best I can be today and maybe just a little better then I was yesterday.”
Our thoughts are with Mark and his family and we hope to see him back on his feet as soon as possible.
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That's how Churchill is always quoted - actually in his younger years he was an absolute sports crack.
People often have a bad reaction to e bikes but sudden myocardial infarction due to either arterial plaque buildup or overexertion (or lack of fitness) is real.
So that’s the connection.
@motosinko805:
Being a cyclist literally saved my life, because when my low horsepower motor was running even weaker than usual, for three rides in a row, I decided to see my doctor. Fifteen seconds on a treadmill and the doctor said "get off!" as he was reaching for the phone to call the cardiologist. I ended up getting married Saturday, getting a stent Tuesday and was back on my bike on Friday. Ever since, my personal soapbox has been to preach to other middle aged riders-pay attention!!!
All of this is troubling... Is there a way to find out if our arteries are becoming blocked?
Mark mentioned that his cholesterol and blood pressure was good. So do we simply wait for chest pains and/or an actual heart attack to find out?
I have a neighbour who had a heart attack last fall. Women tend to have different symptoms...She had strange pains in her hand/thumb that came on suddenly. Luckily she made it to the hospital in time. I would have tried to ignore it, self medicated with Advil and probably gone to bed.
My dad ended up with a 5 vessel bypass and waited so long to "not bother" anyone that he died twice once he got into the hospital as they were scheduling his surgery (was initially a 4 vessel job, found the 5th when they had him cracked).
And to address some pseudo "scientist" above ~ there is a ton of scientific research to support genetic predisposition to specific diseases and conditions. If you have questions seek out a medical doctor and not a self-appointed authority on the genome and disease, monsanto or the Illuminati ....
Would be nice if there were some economical and reliable way to scan our arteries every decade or so...
Anyone who has parents or siblings with heart disease at a young age need to get screened properly, and treated properly, even if their cholesterol is “normal”.
Savebc.ca is worth checking out for anyone with “bad genetics”
I'm very glad to have videotaped him at last years thanksgiving playing cards against humanity (think George Carlin/Archie Bunker) for the first time, it was epic.
I wish your dad another great 20 years at least!
jonbarron.org/article/death-begins-colon
I dont know what his diet is, but genetics play a big roll as well. So you can eat healthy and get tons of exercise and still die young thanks to Grandpa Otis. Thanks gramps.
But if we were to be trendy about it, then off course the only diet that makes you survive in 21st misogynistic century is keto vego, everything else is just as bad for you as drinking mercury. Red meat and corn fructose syrup will kill you instantly. The idea that certain people have certain predispositions to certain diseases is a hoax, a plot of Monsanto sponsored establishment.
@PHeller, I hate to say it, but I wonder how does a healthy and ethical nutrition nerd deal with a situation when he or she gets a heart attack or cancer... you won’t tell me it is impossible isn’t it? ...
“Of all the wonders that I yet have heard.
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.”
*more true than you know.
Always remember to hug you kids and never skip out on a ride
As a "random" check to see if you have CAD, like eddymack suggests, it's excessively risky. too many false positives, not to mention radiation exposure equivalent to roughly 600 chest X-rays!
Read some research articles, and find out some evidence to support your insults about my knowledge.
Despite low cholesterol and other health heart numbers, are bodies and especially arteries aren't very good at getting rid of a lifetime worth of junk.Once it's in, it stays in, and bounces around until it hit something crucial.
Steer clear of statins as well, as even the drug companies don't know how they work: www.statinnation.net/blog/2016/5/28/creating-the-high-cholesterol-myth-why-your-cholesterol-level-is-normal-and-not-high
More good info: www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2015/cholesterol-myths.html
Then of course, just steer clear of sugar. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5793267
But what can I know... I only listen to guests of Joe Rogans podcast (some of them are off for sure but can they all be? If Rhonda Patrick is super legit and then Steven Tyler wants us to use crystals for happyness does that mean JRE is full of sht?) and since I periodize my diet I know what works on me. Fake Facts.
I suffered my first heart attack (MI) at age 33. Didn't feel well for a few days and told myself to HTFU. Saw a few docs after and as others have said, described it as heartburn. Six weeks later I keeled over from the cardiac arrest.
I was fit at the time and leading a fairly healthy lifestyle. In my case it was all genetics.
The physical recovery is easy. It's the mental aspect of it that is the worst. The body says "GO!" the brain says "NO!".
Don't mess around! If something doesn't feel right go get checked out! Advocate for yourself as no one else will.
clincalc.com/Cardiology/ASCVD/PooledCohort.aspx
Basically asking about your cholesterol level blood pressure diabetes status and smoking status
If anybody's interested this is the British risk calculator for heart disease in 10 years
similar to US one but except it is quite a bit more extensive in his questions ask
qrisk.org/three/index.php
Especially important is inquiring about – inflammatory status – such as having lupus or rheumatoid arthritis – family history even erectile dysfunction as a risk for heart disease
when I find telling is also how ethnicity counts into this – if you happen to know your blood pressure and lipid plug your numbers in include your height weight and if you're with your family status and then
check your status with your African Caribbean versus Caucasian versus somebody of East Indian background
one risk that could be counted – though not sure how to quantify this – is excessive exercising as this with increase whole body inflammation a bit more something that I'm guilty of increasing weekends
there is a 10 year risk calculator used in USA – from the Framingham study
clincalc.com/Cardiology/ASCVD/PooledCohort.aspx
basically inquires about your lipid profile blood pressure status diabetes and smoking status
In Britain
this is used I imagine
qrisk.org/three/index.php
but notice it ask quite a bit more questions regarding mental illness the Erectilel dysfunction status family history your height weight corticosteroid use – your height and weight –
quite a bit more questions in the USA version
somewhat interesting is is calculating cardiac risk for different ethnicities such as having South Asian ancestery versus Caucasian versus Caribbean Black--
One marker I believe that is not included in either is whether not a person excessively exercise – something we all kind of do here on pink bike. I believe excessive workouts can cause whole bodily information to go up a bit. I'm not talking about moderate exercise on talk about pushing that extra gear going bit faster than before to the point of excessive exhaustion and then coming back down the hill shredding up your muscles along the way.
More information:
www.virtua.org/articles/prevent-and-reverse-heart-disease-with-a-plant-based-diet
www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-right-plant-based-diet-for-you
nutritionfacts.org/video/how-not-to-die-from-heart-disease
Documentary about plant-based athletes:
gamechangersmovie.com
2. (And this is more a PSA for the rest of us) if you are experiencing chest pain for any amount of time, get your a$$ into a doctor. Do NOT wait six bloody weeks experiencing chest pain before doing something about it. Bloody amazing to be alive.
www.frontrangepreventiveimaging.com/ebt-heart-scan
Check out Dr. Ellsworth Wareham
101 year old heart surgeon retired but 6 years ago.
www.collective-evolution.com/2015/05/04/100-year-old-vegan-heart-surgeon-retired-at-95-heres-why-hes-been-a-vegan-for-50-years
Eat fruits and veggies mates! Makes for a much longer riding career.
[And I don't even eat meat.]
Oh man where’s all the jokes
Also paleo lunatics will fact the shit out of you.