octave

The blood test for a heart attack is to measure Troponin. Troponin is a protein released by damaged muscle tissue. Unfortunately, it is a measure of the damage already done; however, it does mean that treatment can begin, and further damage can hopefully be avoided.

But when it is not, the consequences can be bad. In a way, it is lucky if a heart attack is stereotypical because the extreme pain prompts most people to seek treatment. The silent heart attack has all the negative outcomes without the strong warning signs. "Approximately 45% of heart attacks are estimated to be silent, meaning they occur without the classic, noticeable symptoms like intense chest pain. These silent heart attacks can be identified through diagnostic tests like electrocardiograms (ECGs) and are associated with a similar risk of future death as heart attacks with noticeable symptoms"

On the subject of heart attacks, a problem is that we tend to have this dramatic idea of what a heart attack is like. Movies and even health adverts tend to show the victim clutching their chest and in severe pain. This is not always the case. Silent Heart Attack

I know right, there is no one more surprised than me. I think 12 years ago, I decided to try and exercise most days of the week, and because gaining fitness is a slow process, it crept up on me. Nah, I am way too lazy for that. I agree, but I would caution that we are primed to notice the typical heart attack, but many heart attacks are not typical. The crushing pain can be oesophageal spasms (I get this off and on), and also, you can have a heart attack without the crushing chest pain. If in doubt..... What I would say is that calling an ambulance or going to ER with something that does not turn out to be a heart attack will not be treated with derision by the medical folks.

In my case, my heart f*****g up was a bit of a lifesaver. Whilst my problem was equal parts lifestyle and genetics (thanks, Dad), it did encourage me to change my lifestyle (12 years ago). Last year, I did a stress test. I did this because I had some chest discomfort and went to ER. All tests proved negative. I had 3 choices: ignore it and hope for the best, have an angiogram (invasive and with a small risk), or have a stress test. I do exercise most days so I wasnt too bothered about this test.. When I am bushwalking and climbing a steep hill, I have often thought that maybe I could drop dead. I am philosophical about this, preferring to drop dead bush walking rather than wasting away in aged care. During the stress test they gradually increase the speed and incline, and you can tell them when you want to stop. After 12.5 minutes, I called it. Then they give you a quick echocardiogram to see how your heart behaves under stress. Although I have some abnormalities, I scored a METS (Metabolic Equivalence of Task) of 15.4, which is excellent (even for a 20-year-old). I keep the full report on my desk as it encourages me to keep up the exercise. This describes my situation: "A 63-year-old individual achieving a 15.4 METs score on a stress test with an ejection fraction of 48% indicates a very good to excellent exercise capacity, especially considering their age and heart function. The ejection fraction of 48% is slightly below the normal range, but the high METs score suggests good cardiovascular fitness and a favourable prognosis." These days, I am less concerned with longevity and more with remaining physically and mentally agile.

Because I have a Pacemaker/ICD, my heart is monitored 24/7, and twice a year the data is downloaded and analysed. Last time they detected a short episode of AFib lasting 32 seconds, which is not particularly noteworthy. This did lead to a conversation with my cardiologist about how long it takes for blood clots to form. In my case, 32 seconds is not enough to warrant treatment. In fact many healthy people have episodes of AFib and never know it.

Atrial Fibrillation is quite common, especially in older people. Around 5% of people over 55 have it, and its incidence increases with age. Many people have it without knowing it, and most people will have short episodes. AFib itself is not usually fatal but can lead to complications such as stroke, and over time, heart failure or cardiomyopathy. Because this condition is reasonably common and often not diagnosed, it pays to be aware of early symptoms. What Is AFib?

How so? A pacemaker is not the same as a defibrillator; it is very different.

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a common heart condition where the heart's upper chambers (atria) beat irregularly and out of sync with the lower chambers (ventricles). This can lead to a rapid and irregular heartbeat, reducing the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. AFib is associated with an increased risk of stroke and heart failure. This is incorrect. How do I know? I have a combined pacemaker/defibrillator also known as an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) A pacemaker regulates the heartbeat. It can only speed up the heartbeat it can not slow down a heartbeat. Most people with a pacemaker take beta blockers, which slow the heart down so the pacemaker can do its work. The defibrillator senses abnormal rhythms, most importantly ventricular fibrillation, which can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. Afib is of concern because it causes pooling of the blood and increases to risk of stroke. A pacemaker does not work as a defibrillator however, they can be combined (this is what I have). You can have a pacemaker (no defibrillator) or a defibrillator with no pacemaker I know this from 1st hand experience. ICD vs. Pacemaker: What’s the Difference? What is atrial fibrillation?

Just a slight correction I think, instead of atrial fibrillation (Afib) you may mean Ventricular. Afib is relatively common, and the risk it poses is that blood tends to pool and may clot, causing strokes. The treatment, if it is bad enough, is blood thinners. Ventricular fibrillation is the one that usually kills you when having a heart attack. People prone to this are generally treated by having an ICD (defibrillator) implanted.

Trump did confuse Alaska and Russia during his press conference

I had a bit of a search and I believe it is a bit premature to think that over-80s will be banned from driving in the UK. Here are some news quotes from the most alarmist and sensational news sources. https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/2094131/maximum-driving-age-over-80s-banned-roads An expert has suggested that a new “maximum driving age” should be considered, with motorists forced to get off the roads past a certain age. In other words, an expert has suggested it. Experts make all kinds of suggestions that are not put into practice. Ths same article goes on to say: Labour is understood to be looking into a crackdown on road rules, including the introduction of mandatory eyesight testing for over 70s. However, officials are not believed to be looking into a maximum cut-off point for licences, with campaigners believing this was the best way forward.

The Apple air pods are for mild to moderate hearing loss. They work best when paired with an Apple iPhone although I believe they will work with Android but more of a pain to setup I believe.

Here is an interesting opinion from Adam Savage (Mythbusters), who has significant hearing loss.

I saw trolley buses in Wellington, NZ, a few years ago. They ran until 2017. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolleybuses_in_Wellington

Yep, can't complain. They are a little noisy inside. When we fly, which is 4 or 5 times a year we work out the break-even point between train plus Skybus and decide how to travel. During our recent NZ trip, we travelled on an Electric bus from the airport into the city, very smooth and quiet.

Here is a cameo appearance by Jim Lovell in the film Apollo 13. He plays the captain of the recovery ship.

We use SkyBus around 8 times a year, and it gets the job done, but very noisy. I look forward to travelling electric to the airport. SkyBus to go electric in Melbourne

Some electric cars fall short of claimed range by up to 23%, Australian motoring group finds Here are a few relevant points from this article A government-funded program to test the true performance of vehicles has found the driving range of five popular electric cars is between 5% and 23% lower than results from laboratory testing. The Australian Automobile Association tested vehicles from Tesla, BYD, Kia and Smart – the first EVs to be put through its four-year, federally funded Real World Testing Program to give consumers more accurate information on vehicle performance. The extended range variant of the BYD Atto3 had the largest discrepancy, according to the AAA, with a real-world range of 369km, 23% lower than the 480km achieved in laboratory testing. The Smart #3 had the lowest, with only a 5% difference. The Tesla Model 3 had a real-world range 14% lower than the lab test. Tesla’s Model Y and the Kia EV6 both had a real world range 8% lower. Is this just an EV thing? No The results come after the AAA released a summary last month of tests on 114 petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles that showed 77% used more fuel than advertised. One in five also broke noxious emissions that were advertised from lab tests.

Whilst it is early days for this technology, it does show enormous potential in many areas. World’s first metal-free electric motor boosts conductivity by 133%, cuts weight 80% Researchers in South Korea have developed the world’s first fully functional electric motor constructed entirely without metal components. This advancement, utilizing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) instead of traditional copper coils, represents a significant step toward ultra-lightweight transportation systems. The motor exhibits a 133% improvement in electrical conductivity and is 80% lighter than conventional designs.

I think the frustrating thing is that the anti-EV crowd scour the media for anything negative about EVs or, indeed, anything that can have a negative spin put on it. I read an article from Sky News that used terms like EVs were no good for Australia, and it invoked the "wide brown land" stereotype as if the average Australian drives through the outback on a daily basis. You can just imagine a group of journos looking for anything negative and ignoring anything positive. So often, there will be a story about an EV fire, and the comments posted will be along the lines of, "these EVs are dangerous". When it turns out that the vehicle was not an EV, suddenly these people move on, "nothing to see here" The Luton airport carpark fire is a prime example. I don't dispute that quoted ranges often are not achieved in the real world. Indeed, my petrol car no longer gets its stated mileage as it ages. One problem is that people's anxieties about range are exploited by those who, for whatever reason, want to halt EV adoption. Many criticisms may have had some validity a few years ago, but things have moved on since then, and the doubters never seem to update their knowledge. Range continues to increase, prices continue to fall, and infrastructure continues to improve. The doubters really are fighting a losing battle. Electrically driven vehicles are not going away because they are simply a more efficient way to turn wheels. How those motors are powered could be by battery or some other method; only time will tell.

Red it would be good if you could post a link or give a clue as to where these figures were published. I am not questioning these figures, but it would be useful to know whether these are Australian sales figures or world sales figures

Surely this video is in the funny videos section because how idiotic this fu***it is. If this weren't presented as humour I would happily fact check it

Here is a video of my son's business partner and his EV mini track vehicle. He designed and built this EV. Most of these parts were 3D printed on a printer that they built themselves. My son owns a huge house (2 houses in one) with his business partner and best mate. When we visit (NZ) we roam the whole house, and we're quite likely to sit on a sofa and find we are sitting on a circuit board or other device. etank.mp4 etank.mp4

There is something pathetic about Trump in that he always needs to be the hero. There is no self-deprecation. I did not much care for President Bush, but at least he could make jokes at his own expense. Has anyone ever heard Trump admit to performance less than perfect? No reasonable person would expect an amateur golfer to be as good as a pro. He believes he is demonstrating strength, but most of us (other than his sycophant fans) see weakness. A real man would say, "I fucked that up" and not feel diminished.