Sailing with heart condition

[DB_56___/)___]

All, hi.
I've just been diagnosed with Angina and am starting on medication. Bad timing at the start of the sailing season, can't see my boat getting wet this summer! So, to stay positive, I'm wondering if any others are on the forum who have got back into sailing after stabilising angina or any heart condition. Cheers DB

 

[PlanB]

No experience of angina, but partner and I have had other diagnoses which caused us to go into over-cautious mode initially till we worked out what the effect would be on actual daily life. Once we worked out that the medication got us on an even keel, we became braver. But that was on a mobo.
I do recall that my Dad had angina and had some horrendously expensive (luckily on the NHS) TNT or gelignite or some other explosive pills to take if he had an attack which worked like a dream.

Angina

 

[penfold]

What does the quack say? Surely you've not just been handed a script without some kind of pep talk? GTN is what used to be given for this kind of thing.

 

[mjcoon]

My own heart condition isn't angina. Although I have had open-heart surgery and a pacemaker I was unaware that I had a problem. I believe that is not the case with angina! And it did not cause me to miss any sailing holidays; the surgery was in Autumn.

However I sailed for several decades with a skipper who I believe did, and probably still does (haven't seen him for several years) have angina. I remember he was very cautious with the G&T...

 

[newtothis]

I do recall that my Dad had angina and had some horrendously expensive (luckily on the NHS) TNT or gelignite or some other explosive pills to take if he had an attack which worked like a dream.

My grandfather had nitroglycerin for angina. We were always waiting for him to explode.

 

[johnalison]

We all take the risk that we might experience sudden illness when at sea, but clearly there are some situations where the level becomes unacceptable. Angina in itself shouldn't prevent someone from sailing, but there will be provisos. As said, the condition being stable is important. There is a condition called crescendo angina, when sufferers experience increasingly frequent attacks, and this may precede a full-blown heart attack. I assume that investigations are going to be carried out, and they may well help to clarify the risk, or lack of, as well as exclude other conditions, such as anaemia that may have brought it on.

All being well, the OPshould take his specialist's advice, but on the face of it, there should be no great bar to sailing. For myself, I would start by setting modest targets, and avoid sudden strenuous activity, especially in the early morning and when cold.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Ironically I got back into sailing because a heart condition meant that I could no longer fly P1. Unsurprisingly, I agree exactly with what Johnalison said (if I didn't I would just have shut up as he actually knows what he is talking about). But yes, make sure it's stable and then listen to your specialist. Basically you're at a higher risk than you thought you were before and the thing with most heart conditions is that, if they do take a turn for the worse, then getting to sophisticated treatment (ambulance/hospital) quickly can be critical - which doesn't exactly blend with sailing offshore. Having said that I'd be very surprised if more than around 50% of forum members didn't have some kind of heart or cardio-vascular condition - given the typical age of the membership (assumed) then that would actually be about normal I think and it's possible a few don't know about their (probably very minor) conditions even in this day and age.

Don't let it get into your head too much - a million things could happen to ruin your life every day and now there another so just get on with things, whilst taking suitable precautions. I'm lucky in that my condition is more one of those that will gradually deteriorate so can be monitored but at some point my heart will say enough. I've had 65 years and I want a few more yet but they'll be on my terms and won't be spent wrapped in cotton wool but nor taking stupid risks either. If you can make some simple life-style changes as appropriate, such as losing weight if you are overweight, taking exercise if advised by your specialist and GP, just not getting angry at things if that's what you tend to do, then these can make a lot more difference than most people think.

 

[pvb]

 

[Andibs]

I had a heart attack in January, caused by a blood clot blockage. Couple of stents banged in and a handful of tablets every day and off i go.
I've even started jogging again!!

Andy

 

[doris]

I had a heart attack in January, caused by a blood clot blockage. Couple of stents banged in and a handful of tablets every day and off i go.
I've even started jogging again!!

Andy

You and me both. Mine were 18 months ago, easy . Just get assessed, sorted and out there. ? ?

 

[Praxinoscope]

According to tests my heart is operating at only 50%, at 74 years old, and was supposed to have a heart by- pass, Covid has rather shunted tis op' to don't know when, so am just carrying on.
I can still drag my tender up the slip, and am not gasping for breath so am just carrying on as normal and still going sailing,
Beginning to wonder whether I really want to put myself through surgery until things get really bad.

 

[johnalison]

According to tests my heart is operating at only 50%, at 74 years old, and was supposed to have a heart by- pass, Covid has rather shunted tis op' to don't know when, so am just carrying on.
I can still drag my tender up the slip, and am not gasping for breath so am just carrying on as normal and still going sailing,
Beginning to wonder whether I really want to put myself through surgery until things get really ad.

If your heart were operating at 50% you would be short of breath just talking. I have a feeling that they mean that your coronary arteries are delivering half what they should, which would be well worth treating but leave you OK within your limit. I can’t answer your quandary, but in the end it’s their advice that will guide you.

 

[pvb]

If your heart were operating at 50% you would be short of breath just talking. I have a feeling that they mean that your coronary arteries are delivering half what they should, which would be well worth treating but leave you OK within your limit. I can’t answer your quandary, but in the end it’s their advice that will guide you.

Is this what they mean by "online consultation"?

 

[SaltIre]

According to tests my heart is operating at only 50%, at 74 years old, and was supposed to have a heart by- pass, Covid has rather shunted tis op' to don't know when, so am just carrying on.
I can still drag my tender up the slip, and am not gasping for breath so am just carrying on as normal and still going sailing,
Beginning to wonder whether I really want to put myself through surgery until things get really bad.

What, exactly, do you mean?
Ejection Fraction Heart Failure Measurement

 

[Praxinoscope]

What, exactly, do you mean?
Ejection Fraction Heart Failure Measurement

I'm beginning to wonder, had various tests including a cardiac angiography, and consultant advised having a by-pass, mentioning that heart was operating at only 50% efficency. I'm no medic so have to rely upon others advice.
As stated in my OP can still drag tender up the slip, and haul up the sails,, sure, can get a bit breathless sometimes, but not excessively and am still chain sawing and splitting logs for the wood burner, so feel that things aren't too bad yet!

 

[SaltIre]

I'm beginning to wonder, had various tests including a cardiac angiography, and consultant advised having a by-pass, mentioning that heart was operating at only 50% efficency. I'm no medic so have to rely upon others advice.
As stated in my OP can still drag tender up the slip, and haul up the sails,, sure, can get a bit breathless sometimes, but not excessively and am still chain sawing and splitting logs for the wood burner, so feel that things aren't too bad yet!

He was maybe talking in general, almost non-medical, terms; but a 50% reduction in ejection fraction might mean it is down from 60% to 30%...

 

[jamie N]

I've angina, and take a couple of pills a day for that along with my Hypertension; nothing abnormal in either, but lifestyle familial history stuff gives me a predisposition. I've also just had cancer surgery, an appendectomy and retained my offshore medical. Angina isn't going to interfere with you as long as you listen to the best advice and understand it with relation to you, and respond to it.
Some of the people replying on this thread aren't sufferer's of it, but do have expert knowledge.
Best of luck to you, but you've got to keep positive, because that works.

 

[mjcoon]

What, exactly, do you mean?
Ejection Fraction Heart Failure Measurement

I had to follow that link to compare with my case. My problem was the mitral valve and I was given the figure of 60% regurgitation. Several times before the surgery I was asked how far I could walk but I was never aware of a limitation. I had to have an angiogram before surgery and was told my arteries were "pristine" so the valve was my only problem and I was therefore candidate for mere "repair". Even then there was no hurry, the timing more to give the best chance of recovery rather than an early fix.

An advantage, sort of, of taking no exercise is that you remain ignorant of your lack of capacity!

 

[rjandhl]

I know of one boat that carries a defibrillator just in case ...............................

 

[SaltIre]

I know of one boat that carries a defibrillator just in case ...............................

Do catamarans need two?