Vikings assistant Sparano died of arteriosclerotic heart disease
By National Football Post
Minnesota Vikings offensive line coach Tony Sparano died from arteriosclerotic heart disease, the Hennepin County (Minn.) medical examiner’s office announced Monday.
Sparano was found dead at his home in Eden Prairie on Sunday morning by his wife. He was 56 years old.
“This individual’s cause of death is arteriosclerotic heart disease and manner of death is natural,” the medical examiner office’s press release stated. “There is no further information to release at this time.”
According to the Mayo Clinic website, arteriosclerotic heart disease “occurs when the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from your heart to the rest of your body (arteries) become thick and stiff– sometimes restricting blood flow to your organs and tissues.”
Sparano died at 8:54 a.m. on Sunday, shortly before he and his wife, Jeanette, were going to head to church.
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that Sparano had gone to the hospital complaining of chest pains on Thursday and was released on Friday.
Sparano, the former Miami Dolphins head coach, joined the Vikings in 2016. He went 32-41 in parts of five seasons as an NFL head coach.
He began his NFL coaching career in 1999 as an offensive quality control coach with the Cleveland Browns, then was promoted to the offensive line coach in 2000. After stints with the Washington Redskins, Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys, he was hired by the Dolphins as their head coach in 2008.
He went 29-32 with the Dolphins over nearly four seasons.
He also worked as interim head coach with the Oakland Raiders in 2014, finishing the season 3-9, but was not retained.
Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer paid his respects on Sunday after hearing the news.
“I love Tony Sparano,” he said. “He was a great teacher, a grinder of a worker and had a toughness and fighting spirit that showed in our linemen. He was a great husband, father and grandfather and a great friend to me. This is just sinking in for us but Tony will be sorely missed by all.”
Sparano went 41-14-1 at Division II New Haven from 1994-98 before beginning his NFL career.
Sparano is survived by his wife Jeanette and three children.
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What You Can Do to Prevent Atherosclerosis
Your good health has an enemy — atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is common. And its
effects can be very serious. This condition can lead to strokes, heart attacks, and
death. But, you can take steps to protect yourself from this disease.
What is atherosclerosis?
The inside walls of healthy arteries are smooth and clean. This makes it easy to transport
the blood your body needs. But arteries can become clogged. Fatty substances like
cholesterol can stick to artery walls. These deposits are called plaque. Plaque can
eventually slow or block the flow of blood. This blockage is atherosclerosis. It can
affect any artery in your body. When atherosclerosis affects the arteries that supply
blood to the heart, it is called coronary artery disease. Two things may occur where
a plaque develops. A plaque may break off or a blood clot may form on the plaque's
surface. If either of these situations occur, it may lead to a blockage of an artery
and ultimately a heart attack or stroke.
How is cholesterol measured?
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends that all adults older than
20 have their cholesterol level checked every 5 years. This is done with a blood test.
The test should measure total cholesterol, LDL ("bad") cholesterol, HDL ("good") cholesterol,
and triglycerides. Talk with your healthcare provider about your target cholesterol
levels.
Am I at risk?
These factors put you at greater risk for atherosclerosis:
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Smoking
-
High blood pressure
-
High cholesterol
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A family history of atherosclerosis or heart disease
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An inactive lifestyle
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Overweight or obesity
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Diabetes
Having more than one risk factor can increase your risk even more. You can control
most of the above risk factors. The following tips can help prevent atherosclerosis
and improve your general health. If you have atherosclerosis, you may be able to stop
it from getting worse.
Smoking
If you smoke, stop. Scientists have shown smoking damages the artery walls which can
lead to atherosclerosis. This makes it easier for plaque to build up. Smoking is even
more risky when you have other risk factors like high blood pressure or diabetes.
If you want help quitting, talk with your healthcare provider. He or she has information
on medicines, nicotine replacement products, and programs to make it easier. Also,
avoid places where there is cigarette smoke. Research suggests that smoke from others
can increase your risk of atherosclerosis.
Diet
Make changes to your diet. A diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol can raise
your cholesterol levels. When you have high cholesterol, there may be more plaque
to line artery walls and narrow your arteries. The American Heart Association recommends
that you reduce the amount of meat, eggs, milk, and other dairy products in your diet.
Check food labels to find the amount of saturated fat in a product. Also, avoid large
amounts of salt and sugar. Be careful with processed foods like frozen dinners. They
can be high in fat, sugar, salt, and cholesterol. Choose lots of fresh or frozen fruits
and vegetables, lean meats and fish, as well as whole-grains like oats and whole-wheat.
Choose unsaturated vegetable oils like canola oil instead of saturated fats like butter.
Exercise
Exercise regularly. Regular aerobic exercise can help fight atherosclerosis by reducing
the amount of fat in your blood, lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol, and
controlling your weight. It's never too late to start exercising. Brisk walking, swimming,
and bicycling are good choices. It's OK to start slowly and work up to at least 30
to 40 minutes, 4 to 5 days a week. But before you begin, ask your healthcare provider's
advice about what kind of exercise program is right for you.
Checkups
Get regular checkups. Have your healthcare provider check your blood pressure and
cholesterol. High blood pressure can further complicate atherosclerosis by causing
artery walls to harden and thicken. This condition is called arteriosclerosis. Talk
about your health and your risk factors for atherosclerosis with your provider.
Diabetes
Control diabetes with your healthcare provider's help. People who have diabetes develop
atherosclerosis more quickly. If you have diabetes, control your blood sugar level
carefully.
Will I know if I have it?
Because symptoms appear only after the damage has been done, don't wait for symptoms
to develop before doing something about atherosclerosis. Begin by making the above
lifestyle changes even if you feel well.
Together, you and your healthcare provider can decide what steps you need to take
to stay healthy.