article about abdominal aortic aneurysms in Toronto paper

[charlene]

great article with some important info:
http://www.torontosun.com/Lifestyle/2007/05/27/4211856-sun.html

[Claudia]

Interesting article Char. I wonder why men are more at risk? Odd.
I know what a close call it was for Gordon, but reading it again here how slim the chances are to survive something like this, really brought back some heavy memories and gave me the chills.

It happened only a year or so after I 'found' Gordons music and I already felt sick to my stomach. It was like loosing a friend you just found.

[Gord H]

I'm at greater risk for this as well... my father had an AAA the year after GL did and was treated by Hamilton Health Sciences as well. I have to have an ultrasound done every 5 years for the rest of my life because of it.

My dad was lucky as well, his was caught during a routine physical, he had been complaining of a bad back for at least 6 months before!!

This is nothing to take lightly... I'm only about 10 yrs away from being 50 myself eek!

[RM]

Originally posted by Gord H:
I'm only about 10 yrs away from being 50 myself eek! Do not be alarmed. It's bark is much worse than it's bite.

[charlene]

yeh - 50 is the new 40 and 52 is the new 25..that's my story and i'm stickin' to it..
lol

[Jenney]

Originally posted by RM:
quote:Originally posted by Gord H:
I'm only about 10 yrs away from being 50 myself eek! Do not be alarmed. It's bark is much worse than it's bite. [/QUOTE]I dunno, I think it bites.

[RM]

Okay,

I think it bites too. I was just trying to alleviate his fears. One may be 50, but that doesn't mean you're dead......yet.

[ May 29, 2007, 16:18: Message edited by: RM ]

[Claudia]

I agree, if my hitting 40 last year didn't bite, it sure did sting... :rolleyes:

[Auburn Annie]

There is some evidence that AAA runs in families, which is why if you have a first degree relative with it you should be screened at least once. I've been trying to get my husband to do this as his mother had it. It's not what she died from (post-op complications of heart surgery) but what she was being treated for when they discovered the heart problems.

As noted in the article, cigarette smoking is a contributory factor (because nicotine constricts the blood vessels) as is high blood pressure. Gord's aneurysm did NOT involve the aorta but the results were very nearly the same.

[charlene]

wait till 52 Sparky..then you'll feel 25..
lol

[louisemnnpls]

Originally posted by charlene:
great article with some important info:
http://www.torontosun.com/Lifestyle/2007/05/27/4211856-sun.html My grandfather died of this when he was only in his late 40's. (Is that what John Ritter died from, also, or was that different? I know it was similar.)

[RM]

Louise,

I believe you are correct. However, Ritter's aorta did eventually tear and that is almost certain death.

This is just great folks. Now I have another eccentric behavior to add to the growing list. I'm walking around checking for a pulse near my navel.

[Jesse Joe]

{LOL} Sounds funny Ron, but your right. Will maybe have to do the same. :)

[TheWatchman]

My grandfather had this problem, it was caught early and he had surgery and was fine. Now me and the rest of the males in my family are at more of a risk and need to get screened. My aunt is a life-flight nurse and insists on getting us tested. Not a bad idea at all.

[charlene]

John Ritter died of an aortic dissection of the heart..it was an unknown defect taht he always had it seems...nothing to do with his abdomen..
from wikipedia:
On September 11, 2003, Ritter became ill during rehearsals for 8 Simple Rules, which was starting its second season. He was taken across the street from the studio to Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, where he died hours later, a week before his 55th birthday, in the same hospital in which he was born. The date of his death was also the same as his daughter Stella's fifth birthday, the day before wife Yasbeck's forty-first birthday, and six days before their wedding anniversary. He died from an aortic dissection caused by a previously undiagnosed congenital heart defect. Ritter was interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles.

[RM]

Originally posted by charlene:
nothing to do with his abdomen..
This is good news. People were starting to ask me "Are you okay ?".

[louisemnnpls]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by charlene:
John Ritter died of an aortic dissection of the heart..it was an unknown defect taht he always had it seems...nothing to do with his abdomen..

Thanks Char,

So sad! :(