My husband had a heart attack at age 48 - he is now 58. It was pretty severe, very painful, left arm swelled up he eventually passed out. He was a very healthy person, ate right but smokes like a freight train. He did not go to the doctor until age 55 because of chest pains. No high cholesteral, no high blood pressure and no blockages. After all the tests they told him that 50% of his heart is dead. He has CHF, heart disease. They told him that he needed to be on the transplant list - but he will not quit smoking. they wanted to give him a defibrillator but he is active on the weekends and is scared that it will shock him while he is riding his motorcycle, which is the only thing he can do, pretty much now. His medications make him feel good - but I know they are just a band-aid. My question is - how long can you survive with 50% of your heart muscle dead - They cannot do surgery because of the scar tissue and the damage it has done.View Thread