Borderline Artery Blockage

I'm a 57 yr. old male who went to the ER after shoveling snow and had some labored breathing for a time afterward combined with tingling sensations in the extremities. They took EKG and blood work and found nothing but referred me to my family clinic. The clinic doctor ordered a nuclear stress test where they found some "slight" blockage in one of the arteries but was not serious enough to go to the next stage which he said was an angiogram and that I should monitor myself for unusual symptoms after some stressful event. I should call him and then they would go the angiogram route.

That test result "consultation" was shorter than the time I took to type this and before I could recover from the shock of the news for any questions, he was gone.

So I would be so grateful if you could address these questions:

1. Isn't any blockage worth follow-up testing?
2. Does this blockage ever go away by itself.
3. If not, can I assume it will build and get worse as I get older?
4. Are there any medication that will help reduce or get rid of this blockage? Is this was is prescribed if I do have an angiogram and determine that the blockage is severe or is there another course of treatment?
5. Is there anything I can do to help myself so that it doesn't get worse?
6. He did say that I could continue with activities like tennis but to monitor myself for labored breathing, but since this blockage was found during the high-stress treadmill, wouldn't physical be bad for me? But then if I remain sedetary, that will be bad for the heart, right? Sounds like a catch 22.

Tough news on Christmas Eve but I guess at least I know to be careful. Have a Happy Holidays and many thanks for being on this board!!!

Kevin

[Cleveland Clinic]

1.  No, small areas of ischemia could be managed medically  If you fail medical therapy then you could go to the next stage, which is an angiogram.
2.  Not Typically, but medical therapy with beta blocker and statins can halt the progression.  Also, the beta blockers decrease the oxygen demand of the heart thereby making it less likely that the blockage will become hemodynamically significant.
3.  Yes, unless you follow you doctors recommendations and start the above mentioned medications.
4 and 5.  Regardless of the blockage severity you should be on statins and beta blockers.  There are also modifiable risk factors such as smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes and blood pressure that can be dealt with in order to slow down this process.
6.  Exercise is good for you.  I would not go to the point of chest pain or shortness of breath.  The beta blocker medications will help with controlling your chest pain.