Russert's death is a reminder to be proactive about your health

By Marshall Loeb
NEW YORK , 22 june 2008-- The sudden, unexpected death of such a vigorous young man -- Tim Russert was only 58, a certifiable Baby Boomer -- caused many people to wonder if they, too, are vulnerable to a fatal, massive heart attack. And, if they are, how they might alleviate or even prevent such an assault on the system.
In fact, tremendous progress is being made to slow and even prevent the development of heart disease. Given the advances that are being made, Tim Russert appears to have had a rather extreme case of bad luck.
New medicines, some of them as simple as aspirin, now can prevent blockages from forming in the arteries. In the 1980s, statin medicines came along to lower cholesterol. Open heart surgery, with fewer side effects than expected, became common; so did angioplasty and implantable pacemakers.
Meanwhile, public health campaigns have reduced smoking rates and improved American diets. The result is that heart disease is largely concentrated among those who are 40 and older, often much older.
But according to Valentine Fuster, M.D., director of the cardiovascular institute at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, there still is much more to be accomplished.
"We need to stop focusing on treatment, and start emphasizing reaching a state of health," he said. "We have to move our thinking to preventive measures. Otherwise we are missing the boat."
For people who want even better odds to escape Tim Russert's fate, there are the commonplace good habits to be pursued: Eat a low-fat diet. Oh, yes: drink a glass of wine or two every day, preferably red wine. It contains resveratrol, which reduces bad cholesterol and prevents blood clots. Exercise every day, even if what you do is as simple as ballroom dancing. Also, get a thorough physical exam from your general physician every five years, or more often. If symptoms pop up, don't ignore them, ostrich-like, and presume you have had no warning, but vigorously chase them down. Ask your doctor if you need a stress test to measure the health of your heart, and if perhaps you need to take statins or other medications to preserve your health. Don't let your doctor off the hook. Ask her intelligent questions.
Even all that may not be enough, but at least you will have made every effort. And when still newer and better medications come along, you'll probably be among the first to get access to them.
Remember: Some say hypochondriacs live longer.