Heart Disease Community

Hi:

As various medical literature and the worldwide media have reported, clinically significant (blood flow-limiting) coronary artery disease (CAD), sometimes leading to a dreaded heart attack, is increasing in those in their mid/late 30s to early 40s.

CAD actually begins (the process and progression of) very early in life, even as early as in the pre-teen/teenage years. Fatty streaks (represents the earliest precursor to plaque development and plaque is the pathological hallmark of atherosclerosis) are the beginning of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries. Soft plaque (more dangerous and unpredictable than hard or calcified plaque) is the early stage of atherosclerosis.

CAD is a lifelong unpredictable (can exhibit periods of stabilization, acceleration, and even some regression) condition.

Coronary stents (drug-eluting or bare-metal) are only a Band-aid or spot-treatment, as this doesn't address the disease processes and what drives the progression.

Good doctor-patient/patient-doctor communication and understanding is so very important, essential at ALL times.

Best of luck down the road of life.

Take care,

CardioStar*

WebMD member (since 8/99)



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Be well-informed

WebMD

Living with Heart Disease

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

When you have CAD, it is important to take good care of your heart for the rest of your life....

This is especially true if you have had an interventional procedure or surgery to improve blood flow to the heart....../It is up to......

Recognize the symptoms. Reduce your risk factors. Take your medications. See your doctor for regular check-ups...

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/living-with-heart-disease

Coronary artery anatomy

Starting with the LAD, the most critical, next to the ultra-critical LM.

http://www.heartsite.com/html/lad.html

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The symptoms of artery-narrowing atherosclerosis are highly variable. Those with mild atherosclerosis may present with clinically important symptoms and signs of disease and heart attack, or absolute worst case scenario, sudden cardiac death (SCD) may be the first and only symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, many individuals with anatomically advanced disease may have no symptoms and experience no functional impairment.
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Heart-Healthy Foods

Avoid foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol. Choose skim or low-fat milk, low-fat yogurt and reduced-fat cheeses. Eat more fish and poultry. Limit servings to five to seven ounces a day. Trim visible fat. Limit egg yolks. Substitute two egg whites for one whole egg or use an egg-substitute. Eat more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, breads and cereals. Use less salt and fat. Season with herbs and spices rather than with sauces, gravies and butter

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Good to know, for the primary and secondary prevention of heart attack and brain attack

Epidemiologic studies (EDS) have revealed risk factors (encompasses some new, novel, or emerging) for atherosclerosis, which includes age, gender, genetics (gene deletion, malfunction or mutation), diabetes (considered as being the highest risk factor), smoking (includes secondhand), inactivity, obesity (a global epidemic, "globesity") high blood pressure (hypertension), high LDL, small, dense LDL, RLP (remnant lipoprotein), high Lp(a), high ApoB, high Lp-PLA2, high triglycerides, HDL2b, LOW HDL (less than 40 mg/dL, an HDL level of 60/65 mg/dL or more is considered protective against coronary artery disease), high homocysteine (now questionable), and high C-reactive protein (CRP/hs-CRP).

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Quote!

"Be a questioning patient. Talk to your doctor and ask questions. Studies show that patients who ask the most questions, and are most assertive, get the best results. Be vigilant and speak up!"

- Charles Inlander, People's Medical Society.

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It's your future......be there.

I have a similar story... I'm 33 and had two stents placed in my right coronary artery (100%) last May; also taking Effient (at least for another month or so, according to my doctor).

It's been a year since your post, but let me know if you're still on this board and how we can discuss further. It's really nice to find people in similar situations to network with.

Still hanging around. Is your doc going to take you off anti-platlets altogether? My cardiologist told me I'm pretty much on effient (or something like it) for the rest of my life. He mentioned switching me to Plavix once it goes generic.

Both stents were in the same artery? How did the others look?

Don't worry about coping. Either you alter your lifestyle, or have it alter you.

If you dedicate yourself to low stress, eating smart, cardiac rehab and a regular daily exercise plan of mixed walking and more strenuous exercise with warm-up, in about 4 years you may be able to do almost anything you want. Its up to you.

Available research shows even more stuff than you can find published. I'm an excellent resource if you have any specific questions. You received stents. I had emergency triple bypass, but at 53. And never smoked, never overweight.

DMW

Have you seen the documentary "Forks Over Knives" yet.

Its available on Netflix, or you can buy the DVD

I know this thread was started a year ago, but just recently had a stent placed in circumflex. 37 yo male. Woke in the middle of night with what I thought was indegestion. Took 2 antacids and the pain did not subside. I then began having pain in an area of my jaw. I told my wife that maybe we should go to the ER. 1/2 hour after arriving at the ER I suffered MI. Rushed to heart specialist hospital in Hartford CT. Cath revealed blockage in circumflex and 1 stent placed. taking Effient, Atorvastatin,Lisinopril,Metoprolol and an aspirin.

I found this thread because I have been having a rough time coping. Some days I feel great. Good outlook and other days I have the "why me?'s" and panic attacks.

I too was looking for others with the same situation. I was very active prior to the MI. softball and gym 3-4 days a week. No I feel like I will never be close to the same as I was.

No I feel like I will never be close to the same as I was.

In a year or two many people report that they feel better than they ever have.

The good thing is that you got to the hospital on the first symptoms. Any heart muscle damage should be none or limited.

Too often people put this off until more damage is done to the heart.

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT GOING TO CARDIAC REHAB.

To a lot of people that gives them confidence to return to their previous level of exercise (or more). And they also discuss things like the emotional problems, diet, meds, etc.

I'm 46, and experienced chest pains about a month ago while at the Atlanta airport. I broke into a cold sweat but felt a little better so took the plane home. The chest pains would come and go until finally I woke at 3 AM with pain radiating through my shoulder and left arm.

I called 911 when I felt weak and out of breath. The ambulance came and I almost stayed at home as I was feeling better. I did cram 2 aspirins in my mouth during this episode.

I was transported to the hospital and they detected I had a heart attack by my blood. Later that afternoon I had a stent and two angioplastys. All I heard in the hospital was "You are so young."

Been quite a while since you posted this, but just to let you know - it does get better. Time heals a lot of the mental scars. It will be 2 years here in a couple of months and I would be lying if I said I don't still think about it, but it doesn't have me living in fear. Life goes on and hopefully it has for you. Hope you are doing well.

Glad you were able to get to the hospital and get the problem addressed. I remember walking through the halls at the hospital after my MI and stents and wondering what in the hell I was doing there. Everyone I saw was in their 50's and 60's. Everyone looked at me odd and all the nurses wondered why I was there. It was the same way with Cardiac rehab. Met some great people in rehab though who really helped me despite the age difference.

By the way - the Atlanta airport is enough to give anyone chest pains!

: )

prior to my heart attack i was in good health but i did smoke and over weight i decided that i wanted to lose weight so i started to go to the gym 5 day a week and chang my diet and slow down the smokeing after 3 months i lose 32 pound then one day i had pain in my arms and jaw i though i was have a panic attack because i have been under a lot of stress. my grandma was diagnosed with terminal cancer and i was planing leaving my husbean and my work what i can say is that i wanted to scream so i though to take deep breath it went away then the next day had the same pain but it hurt more i told my husben that i need to go to urgent care thats when they said i was having a heart attack i was scared they called 911 to take me to the hospital were they that i need to go to surgery thats when the major heart attack started im a women age of 33 had a 100 persent blood clot in my left artery they said it like a 25 year old man having a hart attack they dont know how it happen im going to see other doctor to find out the problem.

I feel the same way. I am now 44 yo had four stents two years ago. My life has definitely changed. I am always tried, worry, have pains, soreness around my body. I am on baby aspirin, annalaprel, benicar and simvastatin. I excersize regularly, eat relatively healthy, no smoke or alcohol but feels okay sometimes but other times feels weak and tired.