By: Tom Camacho
I have been healthy for most of my life as an avid equestrian, a ballet and jazz dancer, an actor and jet engine mechanic in the Air Force. I have exercised in some means almost every day and as a runner have 20 marathons and several ultramarathons along with one straight year of running every day outdoors in Chicago weather totaling 3,500 miles (about the width of the United States) run for charity. I was so trained that I could just run 20 miles at the drop of a hat. What I never considered was maternal and paternal hand me downs as hereditary problems that, no matter how physically active and in shape you are, can manifest quickly and out of nowhere. My body is a cholesterol factory.
I moved to the Albuquerque area from the Midwest in 2018. I had passed through Albuquerque while in the Air Force and fell in love with the Sandia Mountains, so I decided to make the move. Most of the Midwest is at sea level or below so I came out and experienced a 5500-foot altitude gain. I started to notice that I was short of breath and as an avid runner, I just figured it was my body working to become accustomed to the new altitude. It got worse instead of better. In late 2018, I had an unbelievably bad day and could not catch my breath so I went to the VA emergency room where they diagnosed a heart problem. After many tests, it was determined that I had blockage of up to 100% in all my heart arteries. I had quintuple bypass surgery in February 2019.
Since surgery and after some rehab I was able to run the Duke City Marathon in downtown Albuquerque in September of 2019 and am now training for the 2021 Duke City Marathon as a training run for the Deadman’s Peak 100-mile ultramarathon on November 9, 2021.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States, men on average die five years earlier than women and at higher rates from three leading causes of death including heart disease. Take care of yourselves and remember to watch for the warning signs and call your doctor even if you do not think it serious. Heart surgery is very survivable, and you can go on to live an amazingly vibrant life.
It is best to contact your doctor or go to the emergency room if you just feel off, here are some of the warning signs.
- Shortness of breath when you exert yourself or when you lie down
- Fatigue and weakness
- Swelling in your legs, ankles, and feet
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Reduced ability to exercise
- Persistent cough or wheezing
- Lack of appetite and nausea
- Difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness
- Sudden, severe shortness of breath
More Heart Disease Facts!
Routine checkups and screenings for men to have
