Angioplasty and Longevity

  I'm sixty-two. After bouts of mild angina,I had successful angioplasty for a blockage in my right coronary artery.  The angiogram showed only a twenty percent narrowing in the left.  I'm taking aspirin, atenolol, and Zocor; my cholesterol reading is down to 169. I have no other health problems.  How much longer does the AVERAGE guy in my situation have to live?  Are there longitudinal studies?  If there are, what do they say?  Many thanks.

[CCF Cardio MD - MTR]

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Dear Buck, thank you for your question.  It's difficult to say what your longevity will be, but after a successful angioplasty and with the medications you're taking, your life expectancy should still be normal.  Angioplasty of one coronary artery does not affect survival, but has a more durable effect on relieving angina than medications do.  Overall, I think your prognosis is quite good, but you need to get your own doctor's opinion on your prognosis.  
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.  Good luck.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.   The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.