Ashamed That You Had a Heart Attack?

Once I treated a very healthy looking heart attack patient. At the time of discharge from the hospital, he confided in me that he was nervous about going back home. He told me that he was seen as an epitome of good health in his little town. He felt that he had somehow let his people down by having a heart attack.
Whenever a new heart patient comes to the hospital, it is routine to ask if the patient smokes, exercises, eats right, takes good care of his or her diabetes or blood pressure. It seems that these questions may somehow make the patients feel guilty; guilty of bringing the problem on themselves.
Against this background, I wonder if there is a stigma attached to heart disease. And if this stigma prevents some people from seeking medical attention leading (at times) to fatal consequences.
If you have had heart disease, here are my two questions:
- Did you feel like people made you feel like you single-handedly brought it to yourself?
- Do you think a perceived stigma attached to heart disease may have delayed your seeking medical attention?

(c) Keshav Chander

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