Would Anybody Know

[jennyjoan]

If you have had a heart attack and stents put in etc - could you possibly have a little memory loss probably with being in hospital for over a month or so and the body coming through an ordeal. TIA for any answers.

[Maydup]

Its possible that things are all a bit foggy for someone recovering from a heart attack and a stay in hospital.

Takes a while to get on track.

[jennyjoan]

I thought that Maydup - thanks

[jourdain2]

Wait for sqad and monitor the situation! Seriously, I believe that heart problems can affect the brain. I know of 2 people (1 now deceased) who had memory problems after heart attacks. The alive one lost it completely and is now wandering around in a home.

[jennyjoan]

thanks Jourdain - every answer helps.

[woofgang]

Loss of circulation and thus oxygen to the brain can cause memory loss I guess it depends how bad the heart attack was....or there may have been circulatory blockage for some time.
Was the person under a general anaesthetic? There is also a suggestion that this may affect memory in very minor ways, but of course if there was already some minor unnoticed memory loss then it could be cumulative. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5424067/Anesthesia-cause-memory-problems.html

[jennyjoan]

your answer makes sense Woofgang - friend in question dropped down but very lucky for her a nurse was nearby who gave her CPR and the CPR must have been severe as some of her ribs were broke.

it helps me understand when she says she can't remember this and that. thanks

[jennyjoan]

just read your link - yes she too was in an induced coma for about a week or maybe more - she is lucky to be alive.

[237SJ]

My Grandfather had vascular dementia after surviving three major heart attacks.

[spathiphyllum]

The answer to your question is yes. This can be a direct affect of a heart attack.

[Peter Pedant]

yes deffo - being ill and in hospital causes memory loss.

Mike Inman showed this for ICU and length of stay in 1980
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-2044.1980.tb05093.x

[Sqad]

Unless the heart attack was so severe that it rendered one unconscious, I can see no reason why there should be a memory loss following such an incident.
Stents are put in under local anaesthesia so no episode of loss of consciousness there.
I do not know how old the patient is, but loss of memory, particularly short term is very common in the elderly....heart attack or no heart attack.

[spathiphyllum]

Lack of oxygen to the brain?

[rowanwitch]

Induced coma yes it can happen if certain drugs were used I have certainly cared for people who couldn't remember what happened preceding their admission, and although they were bright and chatting before we transferred them to the ward they didn't recognise us when we saw them a few days later. But never huge chunks of time.

[Sqad]

JJ....just noticed your post at 22.29.
Yes, that severe an episode could produce a memory block.

[jennyjoan]

thanks all - I do see a little memory loss in her and in fact she can't remember a thing before the episode either

[rowanwitch]

Might have been a mini stroke under the anaesthetic, that can do it as well.