# No such thing as a sudden heart attack

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-cardiologist-heart-attack-signals
- Themes: health, awareness, listening, body
- Life situations: health anxiety, mindfulness

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Cardiologist summary: heart attacks don't come out of the blue — many body signals precede the big one; people aren't listening.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

cardiologist and he said and I really took this on board he said that there was no such thing as a sudden heart attack it does not come as they say out of the blue before you have a heart attack you have many signals which the heart gives you gives you before the big one comes but you're not listening to them you're not here not aware of your body

## Teaching point

The body warns long before the ambulance arrives.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

A cardiologist told Ajahn Brahm there's no such thing as a sudden heart attack. The body sends many warnings first, but we're not listening. Mindfulness helps you notice: as a student he found his body shaking with tension and relaxed it away. Listen to your body, and see a doctor about the signals it gives you.

## Source

- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 2 Jan 2016](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOBEXGQ0I_I) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 14:58 to 15:29: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOBEXGQ0I_I&t=898s