Lowering Risk

[Robert__0]

  I am 29 years old and a bit overweight, but nothing too terrible.  I have never had any heart or blood pressure problems, although both of my grandfathers have had heart attacks.  Last year I was experiencing a fairly consistent pain in my arm and in my side.  I went in for the usual tests, including an ECG which was fine.  However, my cholesterol level was around 260.  Since my tests were all negative, my doctor ruled out any heart problems but suggested I work on lowering my cholesterol, which I have since gotten down to around 215 although my good cholesterol is far outnumbered by the bad.  Because of my age, my doctor suggested that medication would not be necessary unless I am unable to continue to lower it on my own over the next few years.  From searching your site, I think that it takes many years for cholesterol plaque to form to the point where it could block an artery and so I am therefore doing the right thing by trying to prevent that now.  Am I on the right track or am I being too cautious?  I would appreciate your opinion.

[CCF CARDIO MD APS]

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Dear Robert,
Your certainly are not being too cautious, especially given that we now know how much elevated cholesterol contributes to coronary artery disease, and as you say, it starts when you are young (the plaque build up) and by the time you are 60+, you have a heart attack.
There are plenty of other things you should be doing Robert other than trying to lower your cholesterol and they are:
1. start a daily exercise program, work up over the next few months to 45minutes of aerobic exercise a day (swimming, jogging, etc.).
2. NEVER SMOKE  and stay away from second hand smoke.
3. drink alcohol in moderation only.
4. eliminate as much meat from your diet as possible.
5. follow regularly with the doctor and seriously consider going on a "statin"/cholesterol lowering drug when and if your cholesterol numbers don't improve.
6. DIET or better still-change your eating habits altogether and lose ANY EXTRA WEIGHT.
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for
general purposes only.  Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies.
Feel free to write back with further 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 (i.e.preventive cardiology)