I am a male , 59 years of age , who gave up smoking in March 2009 . I used to have a 20 cigs per day habit. I had been smoking for about 20 years.

I had an active lifestyle , which included going to the gym twice a week, and playing golf twice a week. Did not drink much.

I found quitting cigarettes a tough job. I had given it up last year for 4 months .

So to offset the desire I decided to workout and get really ripped like I did when I was 30 years of age!

So I worked up to 60 sit-ups and 60 push ups and then some work out with Dumbells, Bench Press , and Leg Presses 5 days a week.

On June 23rd after coming home from the gym , I did not feel too well.

It started with minor pain in the chest muscle , followed by pain in the mound of veins on my left palm , and a cold sweat after about 5 mins.

Called 911 , and was hospitalized . The doctors daignosed the pain as angina, and they found a blood clot in my LAD ,causing 90% blockage!

Had I not been working out really hard , I would probably have not found out for quite sometime as the other branches of the coronary artery were clear, and were compensating for the clot.

Looking back , I recollect about a few months prior, while working on the computer , the image on the computer screen becoming distorted, while I felt something move behind my eyes. About two years ago , I recall feeling something jelly like move thru my heart. It was just for a fraction of a second.

Both incidents must have been blood clots!

So if you ever go thru something similar , do not ignore it. Have it checked by your GP!

I was lucky. I found out just in time. The blodd clot could have lodged in my brain , and I could have had a stroke!

Lastly, if you smoke , please stop!