Low Cholesterol Yet Vessels Blocked

[jermartin]

I am a 67 yr old male. Never drank, never smoked except an occassional cigar. My cholesterol was never above 145. I was a soldier and physically active. No history of heart disease, except for 2 aunts, in my family. Drs. always said very low risk as to heart disease. Im Mar'96 I had a triple bypass. I have kept a very low fat diet, about 10 percent of total calories. Last week as a result of angina pains I learned that one of the grafts is totally blocked and there is another vessel, not a graft, that is 48 percent blocked. I go to the gym 3 days/wk and work on the treadmill for 45 min avg about 3.8mph with a high of 4mph. Earlier in my life I ate a high fat diet, but with cholestrol and triglycerides so low didn't worry. Is there any reasonable explanation for this blockage? I feel like a guy who fasted except for water for 10 days and when he weighed he had gained 3 lbs.  Thanks,  Jerry

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

In fact, your situation is not that unusual. Despite the fact that you have done all the right things, you still developed coronary artery disease. This is because a large part of coronary disease is influenced by what we inherit - this we cannot control. Furthermore, while cholesterol is a potent risk factor for coronary disease, there are other risk factors yet to be identified.