help

[scaredjo]

hi someone has posted on the anxiety forum which has spooked all us health anxiety sufferers (i am not going behind his back, a couple of us have posted back to him but he hasnt replied) anyway he had chest tightness and had an EkG and stress test both of which were normal but he pushed for an angiogram which showed a 99% blockage stent?? anyway a few people have severe heart anxiety including me and are freaking thinking the tests we had arent good enough and we all need angiograms. pls can anyone explain if an angiogram is the only test that would show this? and would the only symptom be tightness or other stuff
thanx

[scaredjo]

thanx a million guys i feel better x

[scottwvu]

I stand corrected. Your posts are some of the most intelligent, and well-written posts I have seen on ANY message board EVER. You are a TRUE friend to this board and therefore humanity. I applaud you and your efforts with awe! :) THANK YOU kenkeith!

[kenkeith]

Valves don't become blocked.  There are leaflets (flap appendages) that open the valve to pass blood from the upper receiving chamber (atrium) to the lower chamber (ventricles).  When the ventricles contract (pumps blood forward into the system) the leaflets close the valve opening (orifice) to prevent blood to back flow (regurgitate) into the atrium.

Sometimes the leaflets don't close properly or the valve opening is deformed and blood back flows into the atrium during the pumping phase.

An echo (doppler program) does view blood flow through the heart and enables the doctor to view the valve integrity in real time.  Backflow of blood is a different color than the normal forward flow of blood.  An echo also determines heart wall dimensions and movement, etc.

[scottwvu]

And to answer your question, there would DEFINATELY be abnormalities if your valves were blocked.

[scottwvu]

Let me tell you about what happened yesterday-

I was riding my Honda CRF450r (dirt bike) when a deer ran out in front of me causing me to slam on the brakes almost flipping over the handlebars. I was going WAY too fast. This HAPPENED TO ME. Just because this happened to me, does NOT mean that it will ever happen to you. Relax. If you hear hoofbeats coming down the road, look for horses, NOT zebras. Don't worry about what happened to someone else. Listen to your doctor, take care of yourself, and forget about the unlikely stuff!

[scaredjo]

if you have an echo i know this doesnt view the valves but would the heart be working properly if you had blocked valves?

[kenkeith]

An EKG has about an 80% senibility rating for ischemia so when a test is positive there should be a followup test.  Usually, the non- interventional procedure stress test is given and involves visional observation of the perfusion of a dye substance at rest and exertion.  If there is a coronary blockade, it is based on a lack of blood flow to a distressed area lacking the blood supply.

The question can an area with 98% occlusion not be observed with a stress test?  I have 100% blockage of the left descending artery, but there is blood flow to the area that should be ischemic, but collateral vessels have provided a natural bypass of the blocked LAD with (angiostenesis) and there is perfusion to otherwise ischemic area...so it seems a 98% blockade may not be observed with a stress test (perfusion may appear normal), but a cath angiogram can identify a blockage.

A cath angiogram is an interventional procedure that examines only the lumen for blockage, but an CT angiogram (64 slice) examines the lumen and the whole anatomy of the vessel.  The area between in the inner layer of cells and outer layer can develop plague (usually soft plaque), and almost all doctors know the danger for a heart attack results when the soft plague buildup ruptures the inner lining (endothelium cells), not the plaque within the lumen (causes angina, but can dislodge and dangerously block) seen by the cath.  The CT angiogram is an alternative non-interventional angiogram procedure.

Chest pain can be the only symptom of heart disorder, other symptoms as well, or no symptoms (silent heart attack).