Today at the Arizona state meet legend Ron Johnson after setting a new American Record in the 200 breastroke suffered a severe heart attack in the warm down pool. Thankfully the lifeguards and masters swimmer/physician Kurt Dickson and others we're able to start immediate life support until paramedics arrived and rushed him to the hospital
As of 5pm this evening all I know is that Ron had had regained consciousness, appeared to have not suffered brain damage and was breathing on his own...however he did have 5-6 clogged arteries and was going into immediate open heart surgery.....please send your prayers and thoughts this evening for his recovery....
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1- Jim Fixx ("The Complete Book of Running") died because he didn't do a stress test (free at his friend Dr. Cooper's Clinic), although he had a family history of heart disease and had been a sedentary, slightly obese, heavy smoker, before his running days started. He had related some chest pain and disconfort. This is the deal: at the stress test the doctor will see that you have some angina or have some problem in your coronary circulation, or not. Then you might have a catherism or other exam done and clean the tubes or put stents or whatever. Have I done a stress test myself? No, because I am immortal and don't follow the Greek saying "Doctor, treat thyself".
2- Compression is most important. You gotta get air into lungs, but you also have to get blood past the air to oxygenate the blood. Plus you have to stimulate the heart, and compression (and a slight closed hand punch to the sternum) will help. The main issue is to have compression and mouth to mouth respiration until the external desfribilator arrives or normal heart beat resumes and respiration resumes not in that necessary order. billy fanstone
P.S. I wish they wouldn't push us masters so fast to get out of the pool after nearly dying at the 100 I.M. or anydistance butterfly or 100 free. Hey, sometimes I hardly have the strength to go under the lanes to get out using the steps (I never use them at practice). Heheh, sometimes the young trainees or whatever taking our times at meets will look down at me and ask "Are you feeling okay, sir?" The sir part of it is what gets me. In running you always cool down and walk and so forth until your heart rate comes down, you NEVER should stop completely because that is what might cause trouble in your heart with all the blood pooling in your legs. Swimming however shouldn't be a problem because you are horizontal. But getting out of the pool and walking over to the other pool could be an issue if you had a bad heart. When in practice you always cool down in the same lane or pool you've been swimming...something to think about.
1- Jim Fixx ("The Complete Book of Running") died because he didn't do a stress test (free at his friend Dr. Cooper's Clinic), although he had a family history of heart disease and had been a sedentary, slightly obese, heavy smoker, before his running days started. He had related some chest pain and disconfort. This is the deal: at the stress test the doctor will see that you have some angina or have some problem in your coronary circulation, or not. Then you might have a catherism or other exam done and clean the tubes or put stents or whatever. Have I done a stress test myself? No, because I am immortal and don't follow the Greek saying "Doctor, treat thyself".
2- Compression is most important. You gotta get air into lungs, but you also have to get blood past the air to oxygenate the blood. Plus you have to stimulate the heart, and compression (and a slight closed hand punch to the sternum) will help. The main issue is to have compression and mouth to mouth respiration until the external desfribilator arrives or normal heart beat resumes and respiration resumes not in that necessary order. billy fanstone
P.S. I wish they wouldn't push us masters so fast to get out of the pool after nearly dying at the 100 I.M. or anydistance butterfly or 100 free. Hey, sometimes I hardly have the strength to go under the lanes to get out using the steps (I never use them at practice). Heheh, sometimes the young trainees or whatever taking our times at meets will look down at me and ask "Are you feeling okay, sir?" The sir part of it is what gets me. In running you always cool down and walk and so forth until your heart rate comes down, you NEVER should stop completely because that is what might cause trouble in your heart with all the blood pooling in your legs. Swimming however shouldn't be a problem because you are horizontal. But getting out of the pool and walking over to the other pool could be an issue if you had a bad heart. When in practice you always cool down in the same lane or pool you've been swimming...something to think about.
