Let’s Chat: Is your heart healthy?

By Linda Tooth on March 11, 2026.

Sunday has always been my day to write for the Wednesday edition of the Medicine Hat News. It gives me a chance to reflect on the past week and it is typically a quiet day. So here we go.

It has been one week since I drove my partner to the Emergency department at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital for what he suspected was a heart attack. Looking back (hindsight is a wonderful thing), as we were leaving Walmart there were a few police officers redirecting traffic at Canadian Tire due to their closure.

I should have pulled over and asked them to drive him with their sirens on. Instead, I took control of the situation and drove down the highway with my flashers on.

Unfortunately, I do not have sirens on the top of my car… Anyway, they admitted him and sent him to Calgary for testing which confirmed that he does have blockages with a few being at 80 per cent. Now as we continue to sit at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, we are waiting for him to go back to Calgary next week for bypass surgery.

I went to the Heart & Stroke Foundation website to learn more about heart disease and what we can do to recognize what a heart attack looks like.

Here are the following signs we need to be aware of. First, is chest discomfort. Be aware of pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain, burning or heaviness. Second is sweating. Third is upper body discomfort. This can include your neck, jaw, shoulder, arms and back. Fourth is nausea. Fifth is shortness of breath. Last is light-headedness. I mentioned these symptoms to my partner and he indicated that he had experienced all of them.

According to the Government of Canada website, heart disease is the second leading cause of death among Canadians after cancer.

So what can we do to avoid being in this unimaginable and horrific situation?

One of the most obvious is lifestyle changes. Start with healthy eating. By eating more vegetables (I love Brussels sprouts), fruits (apples and oranges), whole-grain and protein foods (lean meats and eggs) and limiting those highly processed foods you are making a good start.

Also, make water your drink of choice. Drinks high in sugar, for example soft drinks (bye-bye Coca Cola products), are not good for you and should be eliminated.

Another thing we can do is stay active. By choosing physical activity we can lose weight, sleep better, reduce the decline we face as we age, and reduce stress.

I have been living a very stressful life lately and in order to deal with that I am going to make walking on the track at the South Ridge Y part of my morning routine, and when my schedule does not allow me to walk the track, chair fit it is.

I cannot stress enough the importance of a healthy lifestyle which in turn helps to have a healthy heart. What my friend has been through with the loss of their spouse at age 61 and myself with the hospitalization of my partner at age 58 has been hell.

Thank you to everyone for the hugs, text and Facebook messages. Your support is greatly appreciated. Also, to the therapy pets I have seen at the MH Regional Hospital, thank you for being you! Especially, Finnegan!

Have a Meowtastic Day and keep reading!

Linda Tooth is manager of philanthropy and volunteer engagement, YMCA of Southeastern Alberta