Two years ago, my life changed during a workout at the gym. A heart attack left me collapsed on the floor wondering if I was going to make it. It turned out to be one of the best/worst things that’s ever happened to me.
I’m revisiting this life-changing event because I’ve learned a lot since, and I wanted to share some of my observations in the hope it will help save someone’s life – maybe yours!
Doctors ended up putting in two stents that cleared two complete blockages of my right coronary artery. I was lucky – there was no damage due to the quick work of the medical folks. And I wasn’t way out in the lake when it happened. Since, I’ve realized outdoor types can be bigger risks for medical troubles than most folks.
Most sportsmen are go-for-the-gusto types. Working hard, gutting it out and heading for the farthest peaks are what makes us who we are. However, being tough, ignoring the facts and moving on in spite of the pain tends to carry over into how we view and handle our health. It’s a recipe for disaster.
The problem is that we continue to practice this ethos while our true physical fitness decreases every year we get older. I won’t mention how extra weight or the onset of things like diabetes or high blood pressure affect us, too.
I’ve run into a lot of sportsmen who listen to me preach about preventive health practices, then quietly tell me they’re afraid to see their doctor. Their spouse has been trying to get them in for a checkup, but they keep putting it off. (Sound familiar?) “What if they find something? It might mean that I can’t go hunting anymore!” they confide. I say, “Of course, you realize that you’ll fish a lot longer if you’re alive!” No choice is a choice! As they wheeled me into surgery, I wondered if I would ever be able to fish or hunt again, too.
Put your ego aside. It’s not about if you can still do what you did at 20. Quit procrastinating and rationalizing why you don’t need to see your doctor, especially if you suspect something. And face your fear. Dealing with health issues early and proactively is always the best course of action.
Fear of the unknown, procrastination, our egos and our very upbringing – any or all can keep a normally logically thinking person from taking the right course of action. Protecting your health also means protecting your dreams. If you haven’t already done so, make a doctor part of your fishing team.
Never give up!
Roger George is The Bee’s fishing expert: rogergeorge8000@sbcglobal.net, Rogergeorgeguideservice on Facebook and @StriperWars
This story was originally published November 06, 2018 11:57 AM.