The second heart attack happened back in the States , in 2015 . I was 67 at the time .
She Alert ! Women and Heart Disease
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The strength I get from just knowing God has made provision through Jesus , the resurrection and power , is amazing .
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The second heart attack happened back in the States , in 2015 . I was 67 at the time .
Between the first and second attack I had no more angina because that part of my heart had died . I had started jogging and ran my first marathon at age 60 and a second one the following year . I had no idea there was anything wrong with my heart – I wasn ’ t taking any heart medications . I had been taking the maximum amount of Nexium every day for heartburn , however . Turned out it wasn ’ t heartburn I was experiencing . Evidently , this experience is fairly common .
I had been having episodes of passing out , so I was in Carolinas hospital having tests . Dr . Healy was doing some neuro testing and that morning I had what felt like the worst heartburn ever , but it went to my shoulder blade and back . I was hooked up to a monitor . A doctor came in and said nothing was showing up on the EKG to indicate heart attack , but I knew it was happening . They took me to the Cath lab where Dr . Brady began a Heart Cath procedure . And I just passed out . Dr . Brady later said this particular blockage may not show up on EKGs . Turns out I was 90 % blocked in that artery , and a stent was placed . Without intervention , I would not have survived .
There is a campaign to raise awareness of heart disease in women that states something to this effect , “ Women have become so good at things like breaking through glass ceilings and there are some things where they ’ re better than men - and one is having heart attacks .” I personally would tell women , particularly , to be more aware of what their bodies are trying to tell them , even though they think they may be healthy . If they are involved in the workplace , they are at higher risk for heart attacks due to the stress . If they are married and have children , the stress multiplies . The traditional roles are still there too , adding even more layers of stress . It has an incredible cumulative effect .
Just because you exercise and eat right , does not always keep you heart-safe . You work out every day , thinking you ’ re fine . I did a marathon and thought I was fine too . Meanwhile my veins were clogging up and I didn ’ t know it . If you feel your body is telling you something is a little off , take that to heart – literally . It can feel like indigestion , it can feel like you slept funny , something ’ s wrong in your jaw , it can be anything . And it does not have to be on your left side . Fatigue is another big symptom . Now that I know I ’ ve had these problems , I ’ m trying to do better . I didn ’ t ever eat much fried food or much meat in Japan , but one of my biggest problems is in the states , - just the whole cooking food issue . What
Americans generally eat , and what the Japanese generally eat are so different . My mother does not eat fish , so she doesn ’ t want me to eat fish . I ate mainly fish and some poultry in Japan . I ’ m just trying to be more reasonable if I eat out , about portion size and always get a takeout box . In Japan , you don ’ t have that problem . I try to eat more veggies . I ’ m much more concerned about food .
My strongest request would be for women to pay attention to how they feel . Don ’ t assume that you ’ re tired because you ’ ve been working . Look at all the different aspects of how you feel because it may be that many of the symptoms put together indicate that you have something that needs to be dealt with regarding your heart . Don ’ t assume you ’ re fine because you jog and eat well . You should proactively have your heart checked out . If women want to exert equal rights , then we need to know we have the equal right to a heart attack … just like men .
You don ’ t grow your faith by good times . You grow your faith in hard times . I have trouble with prosperity gospel , the pastors that say if you have enough faith , everything will be peachy keen and you won ’ t have any bumps in the road . That ’ s not what the Bible teaches us . Jesus said if he was persecuted , those of us who are His followers are going to be persecuted . So do not be surprised . I remind myself there ’ s nothing that comes to us that Jesus didn ’ t understand . He was tempted like we are but without sin . This is an amazing statement . The strength I get from just knowing God has made provision through Jesus , his resurrection and power , is amazing . But it ’ s our choice . We cannot always control our circumstances but we can control our response . We can choose to be a pessimist or an optimist . I am a realist . But I am also an optimist because I know how the book ends . Until Christ comes back , there is not going to be a lasting peace . Whether on a missionary trip , in a classroom , or a boardroom , or recovering from a heart attack , there is no peace outside of Jesus .
Editor ’ s Note : Mirial attends Carolinas Hospital System ’ s Cardiac Rehabilitation Wellness Program , three days a week , and enjoys playing the “ Play Me , I ’ m Yours ” piano in the main hospital lobby for employees , physicians , volunteers , visitors and patients . She stays current on her heart health by scheduling regular check-ups with her cardiologist , Jad Skaf , M . D . Dr . Skaf is affiliated with Carolinas Medical Alliance – Cardiology and is a member of the medical staff at Carolinas Hospital System .
“ Mirial ’ s ministry continues through sharing her faith and helpful spirit with other members of the wellness program , and through her music ,” shared Jewell Hammons , Program Director of Cardiac / Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Carolinas Hospital System .
Mirial Gainer spent her early years in Florida , then South Carolina , with missionary stays in Japan and France , and a long teaching career again in Japan . At 69 , she is back in Florence , South Carolina , has survived a second heart attack , and continues to enjoy and share her musical abilities . She is a vibrant , heart-healthy follower of Jesus .
140 FEBRUARY 2017 SHEMAGAZINE . COM