Alexander Oen became a national hero in Norway last year when he won the 100 meters breast stroke at the world championships in Shanghai. This year he stunned not only Norway but the world by dying. Yes dying. Something each and every one of us is going to do. I guess this simply means when an Olympic god in his prime drops dead it scares the bejaysus out of us all.
His autopsy results revealed a cause of death about as common, mundane and routine as it gets. Atherosclerotic heart disease - blocked coronary arteries. These are the arteries that supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart itself. Turns out his only risk factor was a bad family history of heart disease. His dad died at age 42. The findings prompted the coroner to advise Mr. Oen's family to get screened for heart disease. What does this mean for you?
If you have a bad family history of heart disease you need to start screening yourself much younger than average. Whatever correctable risk factors you have, fix, agressivley. If you smoke, stop. NOW. If diabetic or hypertensive or have high cholesterol fix 'em. If you're obese lose some weight. And exercise! There's nothing that says if you have a bad family history of heart disease that you'll die before your time. The choice is yours.
