Celebrity deaths grim reminders of heart disease

Michael Jackson via last.fm

For Michael Jackson and Billy Mays, the Grim Reaper apparently showed up in the form of heart disease.

Sarcoidosis has affected my own heart, so the deaths of these two celebrities made me sit up and take notice.

It was initially reported that sudden cardiac arrest killed The King of Pop. However, the cause of death was “deferred” by the L.A. County coroner’s office until more test results are available. That could be weeks from now.

Autopsy results last week indicate that Mays, pitchman extraordinaire for Oxyclean and other product lines, died of a pulmonary embolism.

Same difference says the spokesman of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association.

During the autopsy, Mays showed signs of hypertension and arteriosclerosis disease of the heart, both known risk factors for sudden cardiac arrest, says Dr. Vince Mosesso, the SCCA medical director, in a press release.

Mosesso says SCA is responsible for more than 300,000 deaths annually in the United States.

“…In many cases the first sign of heart disease is sudden cardiac arrest,” Mosesso says. “(The deaths are) a reminder that we should all make every effort to know about, avoid or modify the possible risk factors for heart disease. Those with diagnosed heart disease should be vigilant in their medical care and lifestyle habits to reduce the risk of cardiac arrest.”

Risk factors include:

- high blood pressure

- atherosclerosis (coronary artery disease)

- previous heart attack, heart failure

- diabetes

- smoking

- obesity

Sudden cardiac arrest is a silent killer, so know the symptoms and what questions you should ask your doctor so he/her can help determine your risk. With sudden cardiac arrest, the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. Blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs, according to National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Website.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a condition in which the pulmonary artery or one of its branches is blocked, according to the National Heart and Lung Association Website. It usually occurs when a blood clot from a vein becomes dislodged and embolizes to the arterial blood supply of one of the lungs, according to www.nhlbi.nih.gov/.

According to reports including comments from Dr. Vendand Adams, the-Tampa-based Hillsborough County Examiner, Mays “had an enlarged heart, a thickening of the wall of the ventricle which takes blood to the heart." The results of other autopsy reports are pending.

Jackson’s situation is still shrouded in secrecy. However, millions heard the 911 call from Jackson’s house and read or heard that Jackson’s cardiologist, Dr. Conrad Murray and then paramedics tried unsuccessfully to revive him.

There was also a report that the doctor prescribed or administered Demerol and Oxycontin to Jackson. Through attorneys, Murray has denied the assertion.

SCA usually causes death if it's not treated within minutes. Heart attacks are different from SCA. The heart can continue beating during an attack. SCA prevents that, shutting down the supply of oxygen-rich blood to vital organs. News accounts say that paramedics sent up to 3/4s of an hour trying to revive Jackson.

I’m paying close attention to results from the Jackson autopsy because my heart has been compromised by sarcoidosis, according to my physicians. They say that there is evidence of myocarditis, inflammation of the myocardium or muscular part of the heart, and cardiac sarcoidosis. It was probably caused by an infection and it can lead to heart failure or sudden death if continues to deteriorate. We are closely monitoring progress.

As I wrote in an earlier blog post, I have a team of docs, electro-cardiologists, who want to place a playing-cards-deck-sized defibrillator in my chest, just in case. But I am on prednisone and methotrexate, both of which suppress the immune system. The surgery to install a defibrillator is minor, but there’s still a risk of infection, so no operation. Not yet.

My goal (after consultations with several specialists) is to see if the heart stabilizes or gets better over the next few months. I have never felt a palpation or other problems, but I must admit that this heart thing is an albatross around the neck. I don’t think I am timid because of the problem, but I am damn sure always aware on a certain level.

I walked 1-1/2 miles Tuesday and thought about it as I began to break a sweat and breathe heavily.

Myocarditis can be treated with antibiotics; anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce swelling; diuretics to remove excess water from the body; low-salt diet and reduced activity. The condition is known to improve, doctors say, but is also known to get worse. To me, that is when the defibrillator would come in handy. But not at the moment. I like my odds of overcoming this.

We’ll try hard and we’ll see where we are at the end of July.

I expect to see a change for a better the next time we look at chest pics. I am getting stronger, I feel it. I do not think I am hoping against hope.

Meanwhile, God bless, Michael, Billy.

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Mosesso is urging patients to follow some basic healthy heart guidelines:

- Share with your physician any family history of heart disease or sudden death and symptoms you have, including chest discomfort, shortness of breath, palpitations, indigestion and abnormal sweating, especially if associated with exertion or exercise

- Carefully follow physician recommendations on prescribed drug therapies for blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol

- Exercise regularly. Even a regular walking routine of 30 minutes per day can significantly improve heart health

- Don’t smoke

- Maintain a healthy diet low in saturated fat, high in fiber and heavy on fresh fruits, vegetables and low fat, high-protein seafood and meats

Mosesso also urges people to learn how to do cardio pulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator.

For more information, please visit www.suddencardiacarrest.org or view SCAA’s educational video on sudden cardiac arrest at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXFEIoNkfQo.

Meanwhile, God bless you, Michael, Billy.

(Friday: More on sudden cardiac arrest)