Thomas Herrion played college football for the University of Utah, and in 2004 played on a couple of practice squads in the NFL. He played in NFL Europe and did well enough to earn a spot with the San Francisco 49ers as offensive lineman. 2005 was going to be a good year for Thomas Herrion until a fateful night in Denver.

After playing in a 14 play series at the end of the game, Herrion joined his fellow teammates in the locker room for a post game prayer. Thomas went to one knee, but never made it back up. He collapsed and died.

Though medical staff were attending to him within a minute of the collapse, there was nothing they could do as Thomas Herrion had died from Ischaemic heart disease.

Ischaemic heart disease is best summarized as a lack of blood flow to the heart. As a muscle, your heart needs constant blood supply. When that blood supply is constrained the heart begins to die. This is not a sudden onset disease, but a progressive one.

How heart damage occurs with Ischaemic heart disease

Thomas Herrion had significant blockage in his right coronary artery and Herrion's heart was enlarged slightly.

There isn't much you can do when a heart attack occurs, but once medical help arrives they can begin the fight to save your heart and restore blood flow.

To prevent Ischaemic heart disease you should:

• Not smoke.
• Exercise regularly.
• Monitor blood pressure.
• Watch your weight.
• Avoid transfatty acids.