Former President Bill Clinton appears to be recovering well after a four-hour quadruple bypass operation Monday at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia. On Wednesday, Clinton was moved from an intensive care unit to a private hospital room, which signals that his condition is steadily improving.
Physicians said Clinton's heart disease was extensive, with blockages in some arteries more than 90 percent. Dr. Allan Schwartz, chief of cardiology, said there was a "substantial likelihood" that Clinton would have had "a substantial heart attack."
Clinton's experience is instructive. Despite having recently lost weight, resuming a regular workout schedule and curbing junk food, Clinton's health was compromised by genetics — a history of heart disease on his mother's side of the family — and eating habits that, over time, resulted in clogged arteries.
Heart disease takes years, even decades, to develop. Until there is substantial blockage of an artery, there are often no symptoms of disease. For many people, a heart attack is the first sign of trouble.
Still, much is known about heart disease, and many people underestimate known risk factors. They include genetics, gender and age, which are factors out of people's control, as well as issues that can be controlled through diet, medication or lifestyle changes — high cholesterol, being overweight, high blood pressure, smoking, sedentary lifestyle and an inability to cope with stress. Diabetes is another serious risk factor. While many people tend to think of heart disease as a male malady, heart disease is the leading killer of men and women.
No one likes to contemplate their mortality, but people need to be realistic about their health risks and have frank discussions with their health-care providers about what they need to do to optimize their heart health.
The American Heart Association provides a wealth of information on its Web site, www.americanheart.org. In the Salt Lake area, call (801) 484-3838 for information.
As President Clinton recovers from his heart surgery, Americans should take the time to educate themselves about their risk of heart disease and changes that can be made to improve their overall health. It is not a foregone conclusion that people with a family history of heart disease will also suffer heart attacks. With knowledge, lifestyle changes and the benefit of medical science, many people can outwit the silent killer.