The "Silent Killer" Was Here

A Nose Bleed For Warning

Just about a week ago I was forced to check into an Emergency Room, for a four hour nose bleed that had turned into an hemorrhage.

I honestly can say I was a little panicked seeing that I couldn't stop this nose bleed.

Never in my life have I had a nose bleed, except for the two days prior to this. Yes, three days in a row, I had a small and short nose bleed when blowing my nose.

It took over an hour for the Doc to stop the bleeding. And after an hour of observation, the bleeding restarted. The Doc then was forced to use what they call a Rhino Rocket or an inflatable tampon.

The Emergency room then transferred me to another hospital where they had a Nose/Throat/Ear specialist.

Yes, ever since I was a teenager, I've had chronic sinus infections and had learned to live with it.

Using a Neti Pot regularly was my routine.

Was it a blessing?

Thanks to that nuisance nose bleed, I learned that I now had High Blood Pressure, and had joined the ranks of the sick Seniors.

I had been clueless as to my evolving condition. They call it the "silent killer".

Untreated hypertension increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. These are the first and third commonest causes of death in the USA. Hypertensioncan also damage the kidneys and increase the risk of blindness and dementia. That is why hypertension is referred to as a "silent killer."

How did it come about?

Throughout  my life I had been a very physically capable individual.

At age five I started Judo. In my early teens I played Soccer in clubs. In my mid teens, instead of playing within my age group, the club I belonged to, after a medical examination, had me play in the adult divisions.

By then I already was a better athlete than most of my friends. My running speeds, accelerations, and durability were above those of my age.

In gym class I always excelled and was even a better Shot-put thrower than kids a foot taller than me.

At 18 years old (France), I started to practice Aikido in a club that had a very aggressive approach to the Martial Art. The advanced class was taught by a man nicknamed "Little Dragon" by no other than Nobuyoshi Tamura (a legend of his time and a direct student of the founder). Jean-Luc (the instructor's name), had defined the mat area as a battle zone.

He was very demanding of his students. The pace of his 2 hour class was not for every one. He often signed us up for training camps and seminars. Most seminars were 4 periods of 3-4 hours and depending on the Master, could be very draining.

In my mid 20's I took Karate (taught by a US full contact champion). In my In my early 30's I joined a TaeKwonDo Class.

In my mid 30's I returned to Soccer in the US, as the demand for qualified players and coaches increased. I was first asked to Help a YMCA for the kids.

A few years later a High School wanted to start a program and hired me.

South Western High (Hanover, PA) Soccer team

In the mean time friends and I were competing and that's when things went wrong.

I dislocated both of my knees multiple times playing indoors. Snapped ligaments in the knees remained this way for decades without reconstruction. I had enough muscle mass in my legs to compensate for the missing ligaments.

It went OK, until I got older, and my legs weakened. Then knee dislocations became daunting, as they started to occur at random.

Even so, until 2000, I always cured my colds by running 2 miles as fast as I could. Sweating it out, taking a hot shower, a Hot Toddy, bed and lots of blankets fixed me right up. I never was a 'visit the doc" for a cold type of individual.

Questions doctors ask: Are you taking medications? Are you allergic to anything? Do you have any chronic disease?
The answer was always: NO, unless weak sinuses fit in that category.

And then the dreadful "High Side" at 70 MPH during a motorcycle road race in 2001.
Now, my back was added to my body's weaknesses.

10 years later, I was deemed 'Disabled' because of knees and back injuries.

My years of physical abilities had ended, and I was OK with it. I just read and wrote more.

But, the problem was that I was now incapable of exercising and staying fit. I could barely walk more than 500ft without my knees swelling. I couldn't bend down for too long as my back would give me pains that only laying down could alleviate. By then I celebrated my 60th birthday.

End result, with no exercise, this once fit body of mine degraded and I am now, not only disabled, but also sick.

I do have a grand-son, that I must see grow a little before I croak.
So, I will heed doctors advices to prolong this so interesting and full life of mine.

Things I used to tell my students

In 2004, I had become a motorcycle technical instructor in a private school, and I used to warn my cocky Motocross racer students against the multiple injuries they bragged about.

"You'll be OK, but when you get older, you'll pay for all those injuries."