Heart Disease Community

Cardiac catheterizations and nuclear stress tests expose patients to radiation. It is believed that too much exposure to radiation could be related to both short term and longer term health risks - the most concerning to many people is cancer. It is difficult to say for any individual person how one or more procedures or tests will impact cancer risk, but I believe that doctors should try to minimize that risk by only recommending these types of procedures when they are necessary, and avoiding doing routine surveillance procedures or tests just to "keep an eye on things."

Hi:

"Is it possible considering the high number of procedures 25 that my body is starting to react to possible internal damage that is a result of all these procedures?"

Anything medical is seemingly possible (though sometimes improbable) today.

"Is 25 procedures considered to be a high number for one person?"

At first one would think yes, unless, each and every time, a specific diagnostic-only procedure (non-fixative) or a fixative procedure (such as angioplasty with or without stents bypass surgery) was deemed absolutely necessary.

One example, is that the patient really wants to avoid a "full metal jacket", that is, in which the entire length of a native coronary artery (or bypass graft) is stented.

"Are there long term side effects from having so many procedures?"

Radition exposure was already mentioned. It is known that excessive exposure may/can damage coronary arteries and even heart valves, and in isolated cases, a procedure itself may inadvertantly cause/trigger off problems.

The bottom line

Coronary stents (bare-metal or drug-eluting) are only a Band-aid or spot-treatment, and bypass surgery is only a clever way of temporarily circumventing the problem (atherosclerosis), as these procedures do not address the disease process and what drives the progression.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a lifelong unpredictable (may/can exhibit periods of stabilization, acceleration and even some regression) condition requiring a continuum of care.

Best of luck down the road of life.

Take care,

Cardiostar*

WebMD member (since 8/99)

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WebMD

Living with Heart Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD)

CAD is chronic disease with no cure. When you have CAD, it is important to take care of your......

This is especially true if you have had an interventional procedure or...

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

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The coronary arteries are classified as so-called 'end circulation' since they represent the only source of blood supply to the heart muscle.

Coronary artery anatomy

Starting with the left anterior descending (LAD), the most critical, next to the ultra-critical left main (LM).

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


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Heart-Healthy Foods

Nothing complicated, just plain and simple

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/stroke

Epidemiologic studies (EDS) have revealed risk factors (encompasses some new, novel or emerging) for atherosclerosis, typically affecting the carotid, coronary and peripheral arteries, which includes age, gender, genetics (gene deletion, malfunction or mutation) , diabetes (considered as being the highest risk factor), smoking (includes second and thirdhand), inactivity, obesity (a global epidemic, "globesity"), high blood pressure (hypertension), Low HDL (now questionable, according to recent studies) high LDL, small, dense LDL, RLP (remnant lipoprotein), high Lp(a), high ApoB, high Lp-PLA2, high triglycerides, HDL2b, 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.

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