Angina questions

walkersteelhead · 12-11-2006, 03:34 PM

Does anyone here have Angina? What are the treatments? Last week I was having some issues and went and had an EKG and the doc said that's what she think's it is. They are scheduling a stress test and other stuff. I didn't think I would have to be dealing with this stuff at 35.

Fast Water · 12-11-2006, 03:43 PM

My grandfather had it. Felt like a horse was sitting on his chest he would say.

Took Nitroglycerin pills for years and then switched over to a patch when they became available.

Best of luck to you.

Abalone · 12-12-2006, 07:11 AM

I have angina. Had a stent installed last June.... Angina means you have a clogged artery. The pain is what you feel when an area of your heart isn't getting enough Oxygen. If it gets severe enough you will have a Mycardio infarction and stand a 50/50 chance of dying. They may or may not stent you depending on the results of your test. .......
Other treatments are open heart surgery or bypass surgery.

It would be to your advantage to get something done before a heart attack as usually heart attacks will result in some kind of permenant to your heart. Muscle Damage etc....

The best thing you can do now is change your life style.

I no longer eat Domestic Red meat, I eat lots of fruits and veggies.

Excercise, Get active...... and take prescribed medications, especially Lipitor or another Statin med.

Good luck... There are lots of good books on the market that deals with this.....

retiredgal · 12-12-2006, 07:31 AM

My husband I both have had bypass surgeries for this problem due to "Clogged arteries" from eating too much fat and grease for too many years.

I suggest you start taking a 81 MG aspirin ASAP daily? Locate a cadiologist you feel comfortable with and let him explain your present options if needed to you.

At your age, I would be inclined to think it cannot be too serious yet and a lifestyle change, along with watching your fats intake is appropriate. Generally, keeping your blood flowing freely by thinning is a basic step. IE: Aspirin daily!

They can do a exploratory operation and look inside of your heart by going through your groin artery. Real simple, not painful, just a day surgery generally.

Hope this helps? Stay calm, relax and check it out with qualified specialist.

fishboys · 12-12-2006, 07:41 AM

I would say start the diet thing now, and for brfore taking any medications see at least one doctor. Good luck with this

walkersteelhead · 12-12-2006, 03:02 PM

Thanks for all the replies. I'm going in for my Stress test on thursday. There goes my career as a couch potato. What's up with these BMI calculators. At 6'2" and 230 it's telling me I'm obese. I could stand to lose some weight but come on,what they want me at would be almost like a toothpick.

Costalot · 12-12-2006, 06:09 PM

A 44 I had a heart attack. At the time I was165 and fit. I had 5 stents installed

in a two-year period. Since then no problems and I am almost 56. I do take aspirin daily now. Good luck

Duckwheat · 12-12-2006, 06:24 PM

Do you know what your lipid profile looks like? If not, you need to. Sometimes it just pure genetics and diet will do very little to change an unfavorable profile.

Total Cholestrol >200 Hdl < 40 LDL > 100 not good.

Family Hx of Cardiovascular disease, not good.

Smoking, Not good.

Male, or menopausal female not good.

There are a newer meds that treat angina pretty well, if that is what really is. Don't get to comfortable with a good stress test. I have had a few patients have big MI after a great stress test. I am finding and research is to that a low HDL is probably a better predictor of problems. Ask your Doc to run hsCRP, I would want to know what your glucose is. Combo of Diabetes and High lipids, not good.

If you pass your stress test, ask them if it could be GERD? (Gastroesophageal Reflux)

Good luck.

Duckwheat

MikeN · 12-13-2006, 09:47 AM

I had some heart related issues when I was 38. I was in intesive care for 1 1/2 days with an apparent heart attack etc.

After numerous test, stress test and heart specialist dianosis---angina. I did not have blockages but certain pressures were the cause.

I was on BP medication for about 6 months got my BP under control and now no meds at all.

Stress is the cause of my angina and not taking care of stress relief. Just like the doctor said, "drinking a six pack and watching TV until bedtime isn't stress relief!!!"

Abalone · 12-13-2006, 10:30 AM

Duckwheat ! You sound like a proffesional. Now I am worried agian. I spent Friday night in the ER again. EKG's were OK Blood tests were OK.
They gave me a Treadmill test the next day without the Beta Blockers in my system. At HR 150 the bearings started to smoke on the treatmill,
Actually I think that was my Knees. They told me " It's not your heart stupid, Don't worry about it" So I quit carrying my nitro and decided to go about my business like I never had a heart attack.

Now you are saying " You've seen people have MI's after having a great stress test " GULP !

As I stated before. I have one stent ( Circumflux first artery branch ) Another 80% clogged Circumflux branch and a 70 % Anterior blockage both untreated.

Cohodependent · 12-14-2006, 12:57 AM

Like Duckwheat said, a good stress test does not prove a that you do not have a problem. The blood work and family history count for a lot. An Angiogram is still the most accurate test to show blood flow to the heart muscle. A bit invasive but not nearly as bad as you would think...