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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Re: confused
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Re: confused
by CCF Cardio MD - MTR, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - MTR on December 22, 1998 at 21:41:44:
In Reply to: confused posted by lupette on December 21, 1998 at 20:45:28:
My husband had chest pains and turned very pale while working. He came home and
next day we went to the DR. office. He was sent to a heart specialist who did
a chest x-ray, an EKG and a stress test. He failed the stress test and was
sent for a angiogram. This revealed a 30% blockage in the main artery and a
70% blockage in a branching vessel. The doctor told me that angioplasti was
not an option because of the location of the 70% blockage. My husband was
given Zocor and sent home. (The doctor was supposed to call us for an appt.
this week but so far nothing.)
He is still experiencing continuous pain that he describes as moderate and like
a muscle ache. What do you recommend? Are drugs available to disolve the
blockagees? What are the pros and cons of such drugs (assuming they exist)?
Does anyone have any additional advice?
Dear Lupette, thank you for your question. I doubt the constant chest pain is caused by the blockages in the coronary arteries that were found during the angiogram. Your husband's cardiologist may have a better idea what is causing the constant pain. Coronary artery blockages are composed of cholesterol, inflammatory cells, calcium, and other substances. Once a blockage exists, it's hard to "dissolve" it, but we do know that aggressive reduction of the cholesterol level, daily aerobic exercise, and a low-fat diet all work together to prevent blockages from worsening. Zocor is in a class of drugs known as statins which dramatically reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. Statins thus may indirectly prevent further progression of existing coronary blockages but will not dissolve blockages that are already present. The best approach for your husband is this: avoid smoking, control blood pressure (with medications, if necessary), keep the cholesterol well-controlled through diet and medications, exercise daily, and have regular check-ups with his physicians.
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.
In Reply to: confused posted by lupette on December 21, 1998 at 20:45:28:
My husband had chest pains and turned very pale while working. He came home and
next day we went to the DR. office. He was sent to a heart specialist who did
a chest x-ray, an EKG and a stress test. He failed the stress test and was
sent for a angiogram. This revealed a 30% blockage in the main artery and a
70% blockage in a branching vessel. The doctor told me that angioplasti was
not an option because of the location of the 70% blockage. My husband was
given Zocor and sent home. (The doctor was supposed to call us for an appt.
this week but so far nothing.)
He is still experiencing continuous pain that he describes as moderate and like
a muscle ache. What do you recommend? Are drugs available to disolve the
blockagees? What are the pros and cons of such drugs (assuming they exist)?
Does anyone have any additional advice?
Dear Lupette, thank you for your question. I doubt the constant chest pain is caused by the blockages in the coronary arteries that were found during the angiogram. Your husband's cardiologist may have a better idea what is causing the constant pain. Coronary artery blockages are composed of cholesterol, inflammatory cells, calcium, and other substances. Once a blockage exists, it's hard to "dissolve" it, but we do know that aggressive reduction of the cholesterol level, daily aerobic exercise, and a low-fat diet all work together to prevent blockages from worsening. Zocor is in a class of drugs known as statins which dramatically reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. Statins thus may indirectly prevent further progression of existing coronary blockages but will not dissolve blockages that are already present. The best approach for your husband is this: avoid smoking, control blood pressure (with medications, if necessary), keep the cholesterol well-controlled through diet and medications, exercise daily, and have regular check-ups with his physicians.
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.
