VHawk, It's not just from rowing. And it's not just about heart attacks. Other heart conditions are not uncommon.

I noticed it just by hiking up to the fishing hole. I had some symptoms, fluttery feeling on the left side of the chest and ignored them. Didn't have a strong thump thump. Thought it was just anxiety. I was in good shape and excercised. Who cared? I would just croak and my body would decompose next to the river I loved.

I went to a physical and I had a murmor. My physician diagnosed it as Mitral Valve Prolapse(MVP). Then I went through some ultrasound tests, and noticed there was backflow and the upper chamber was enlarged. I was showing signs of heart failure. The valve leaflets wouldn't close all the way. I went through the angioplasty to ensure my arteries were good. Smooth as a babies butt. Then I went and had it repaired. John Ritter had something similar and didn't make it.

Now I don't have any symptoms and should be good to go until I'm real old fortunately.