coronary blockage

[Millie307]

I have had cardiomyapathy for several years, then heart failure, coronary arteries were clear in 1999. April 2009 had chest pain, short of breath admitted to hospital, had all heart tests.  Doctors said my heart had weakend from 3 yrs ago, left side not moving and only working about 40%. Had a heart cath and had a "critical blockage in the bend of the circumflex artery, a stent was placed and for the first 2 weeks felt great.  My extreme shortness of breath that I have been batteling is gone, but now I seem to be sliding back a little.  I am taking cardiac rehab.  My question is: could I get another blockage and if so how long does it take for fat to cause a blockage?  I also have about 49% blockage in my left carotid artery.  Was told surgery isn't done till I have about 75% blockage, how long does that take?

[Dr J Singh]

Hi,
Possibly there could be another blockage in one of another coronaries and this can be assessed only with the help of coronary angiography. Yes, carotid endarterectomy (the surgery for blocked carotids) is done only if the blockage is > 70% but it’s very difficult to predict how much time it will take for the blockage to go to that extent. Actually, it depends on a number of factors, like the extent of deranged lipid profile, food habits, exercise, taking drugs like statins which improve the lipid profile. All these factors account for the speed with which atherosclerosis progresses.
You need to consult a cardiologist, get your lipid profile done and ensure that the bad lipids (LDL, triglycerides) are not increased and on the other hand, the good lipids (HDL) are high.
I sincerely hope that helps. Please do keep me posted. Kind regards.

[Encephalomalcia]

Cholesterol medication really helps a great deal in helping with blockages.  Take your heart medication as prescribed by your doctor.  The cholesterol medication will help reduce the chances of further building up of the cholesterol in your arteries and help with the blockage already there by reducing it a little bit.  Watch your diet closely.  Make sure that you are not eating a lot of fat, salt, or cholesterol. If you can limited your red meat or eliminate it.  Donuts and fried rolls are full of fat.  Eat fresh vegetables, fruit (organic is best).  Yellow potato that are organic are very tasty and you can get along with no margarine because they are so moist.  Brown rice is good to eat and if you mix a little bit of honey with it is helps taste better.  The arteries that are bent are the arteries get the buildup.  As the blood rushes through, there becomes a sticky spot like an inflammation where cholesterol sticks.  If you are taking a low dose aspirin daily, this will help with reducing any inflammation in your body and will help with the inflammation in the arteries.  If you take your medication as prescribed by your doctor, eat mostly vegetables, reduce your red meat intake or eliminate it, reduce your inflammation in your body there can be a chance that you may never need surgery. Medications really do help.  Take care.