My friend, Stephan Schwartz, had a heart attack. Fortunately he is OK. He wrote what I think is the most helpful piece of advice I've ever read about the experience, which he has posted o­n his site, Schwartzreport, which is a quite remarkable daily posting of what's new in the world, mostly in technology and science, but from progressive politics as well. (You might want to be o­n his list.) There are more things worth reading o­n the heart attack subject in the comments that have been made — find the piece and the comments posted o­n his site o­n Monday, January 2, 2003: “My Heart Attack.”

An excerpt:

Having aspirin in an easily accessible fixed location makes a difference, because it becomes disorienting to move around or think, and lying down not o­nly makes it easier o­n your body, but makes it less likely you will do something stupid or potentially hurtful during the course of searching for what you need.

Call at the first symptoms, instead of dismissing them as bad heartburn, or muscle strain. What no o­ne ever told me is how unnatural a heart attack feels. If you will listen to your body, without ego, there is no mistaking a heart attack for muscle strain, which I know well. If there is a doubt err o­n the side of looking foolish. It is far easier to regain face than heart muscle.

From a comment by another survivor, Jim Cox [cayenne@lvcm.com], who invites correspondence by any interested party:

May I add an additional course of action to you or to anyone experiencing the symptoms of a heart (or stroke, for that matter). Have o­ne or two foil packets of regular Alka-Seltzer available at all times. Taking Alka-Seltzer is the fastest route to getting the life-saving aspirin in your bloodstream outside of an IV.

From: Linda Genutis [LGenutis@aol.com]

I'll say a prayer for your friend (he's got a great website, btw) — and will stock my medicine cabinet with alka seltzer — very good suggestion.

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