This weekend, the death of NBC newsman Tim Russert struck a chord for a lot of us. For one thing, this weekend was Father’s Day and we learned what a devoted father Russert was, having just returned from a family vacation to celebrate his son’s college graduation. For another thing, in a presidential election year, Russert’s presence will certainly be missed.
But what is so difficult for many of us to stomach is just how young Russert was. Russert was only 58 years old and was full of energy – he also seemed fairly healthy.
As the news has unfolded, we’ve learned that Russert suffered a massive heart attack. According to his personal physician, he had asymptomatic coronary disease, which means prior to the heart attack he did not have significant pain. According to reports from his physician, Russert was prescribed exercise and medication. And a routine stress test did not (and cannot) predict an imminent heart attack. So what scares a lot of people is that despite following medical advice, Russert died young and, it seems, with little warning.
The good news is that for many people, it seems medical and lifestyle changes (including a reduction in the rate of smoking) have helped. The CDC found that from 1980 to 2000, the death rate from heart disease dropped by 50%.
The risk factors for heart attack are the same that we’ve heard time and time again – cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, stress, diet and exercise. And while a heart attack may not be predictable, following a healthy lifestyle can reduce the overall risk factors – so the message remains unchanged.
We’ll certainly miss Tim Russert each Sunday morning – and our thoughts are with his family and friends.
Kerry
