Could Russert's Death Have Been Prevented?

(CBS)  It's the question of the day: How can somebody pass a stress test and then, weeks later, drop dead of a heart attack?

During a stress test, a patient exercises to raise their heart rate. They flunk when a clogged artery prevents adequate blood flow from reaching the heart muscle. But it takes a large blockage to do that, CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook reports.

"But the risk of heart attack actually relates to smaller blockages that don't limit blood flow but are at risk for breaking open and having a blood clot suddenly block off the artery, as was the case here for Tim Russert," said Dr. Christopher Cannon.

In Russert's case, cholesterol built up in the linings of his arteries - not enough to affect the stress test, but enough to leave a fatty deposit that eventually burst, causing a clot that blocked the artery. About 850 Americans each day die from this condition, many without even making it to the ER. That comes to over 300,000 a year.

Clearly, a normal stress test doesn't mean you won't have a heart attack. So why do it at all?

"Well, stress tests are important to look if someone has significant limitations of blood flow to heart - if they do, then they need angiography, stenting or bypass surgery," Cannon said.

But it's not all about finding blockages after they've occurred. It's about preventing them from occurring in the first place. That's why it's key to lower risk factors such as:

High cholesterol

Hypertension

Diabetes

Smoking

Lack of exercise

Obesity

"These risk factors are real; it's not just something that we talk about. And controlling them can also help prevent heart attacks," Cannon said.

... And help prevent sudden death.

[baileyccc]

Prescription drugs rush his dismise, it is not surprising his Doctors have not come forward and listed the drugs he was taking at the time of his death.

[eroosevelt08]

I am sorry for the loss to Mr. Russerts family. Even so, Tim Russert always appeared very anti-Senator Clinton to me. It is hard to forget the sexist remarks he made.

[oigen]

oktexchic:

Ever wonder why and how the current cholesterol levels were established. They were quite simply adjusted downwards by edict in response to complaints by the white coats conducting trials for statin efficacy some thirty years ago because they couldn''''t find enough people over the age of 50 with levels over 240 mg/dl (6.2 mmol/l), the then norm for that age bracket, to sufficiently power their trial studies. So the medical cartel to the glee of Big Pharma arbitrarily, by fiat, declared that 200 should be the norm for everybody. Of course this resulted in providing participants galore for cholesterol studies and statin therapy for practically the whole of the nation. And we have been stuck with these artificial levels ever since with the alarming result that our drinking water is now laced with it. The cholesterol hypothesis is the mother of all scams for cholesterol at any level is not a cause of heart disease.........http://***********/2nylp
n

[johno2626]

The factors to reduce heart disease is parroted in this news piece.
These are about the same steps advocated %u201Cad nauseum%u201D by the major doctors, and health officials.
In the meantime, the U.S. has dropped to around 70th in the world as far as health.
The major item affecting everyone%u2019s health is diet, anyone not paid by the drug companies or part of the official %u201Chealth care%u201D system knows this.

One of the biggest reasons is very aptly stated by George Mann, MD, former Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry at Vanderbilt University and a heart researcher: %u201CThe diet-heart idea (the idea that saturated fats and cholesterol cause heart disease) is the greatest scientific deception of our times.%u201D

Our nutritionists and medical practitioners have gone down the wrong path with the drug companies by focusing on dietary fat as the major culprit in heart disease. This idea leads directly to the early death of not only Tim Russert, but thousands of people each year.
Why not cover true pioneers in the area of nutrition like the Weston Price foundation?
Why not cover Gary Taubes who wrote %u201CGood Calories, Bad Calories%u201D, documenting the true reason for high levels of chronic disease and death in industrial societies?
It%u2019s our food, stupid!

John O''Donnell

[grammawhamma]

Posted by mspapillion at 12:11 AM

Did you ever hear of the concept of "working" and actually "earning" your money? This is an illegal scheme called pyramiding. Too bad you just posted your email address and that of others involved in this scheme. Whoops for you!

Why don''t you go write a book on how to get rich quick without working and maybe some idiots will buy it!?!

[wardoglrs]

Now if the rest of the media would die it would indeed be a good day

[rushlimpdrug]

"Could Russert''s Death Have Been Prevented?"

Can the ocean keep from rushing to the shore?

Can a baby not cry?

Can a fish not swim?

Can-can?

[mck1957]

I always admired Tim Russert because he nailed all of the big wigs to the wall. He did his research and had his sources ready to go. And while in all likely hood, Tim Russert did die of a heart attack, I have to wonder who was coming up to be interviewed by him. With all of the dirt coming out in behind the scenes politics, this little voice inside of me has me wondering if his death was really natural. Maybe I''m just paranoid, but he and his family had just returned from Italy and who really knows what he was working on? Tim Russert didn''t mind putting the cards on the table and exposing the truth. Could there have been someone that didn''t want to be exposed on National television? Either way, I hope Mr. Russert will rest in peace. Condolences to his family. Now who is going to drill these dirty politicians and keep them in line? Tim, we will miss you.

[rushlimpdrug]

One day you report the news,
the next day you are the news.

Who new he''d be the new news
or even yesterday''s news?

[boston1954]

This guy had stress? Posted by rushlimpdrug
___
They are not speaking here of mental stress.