Changes in lifestyle based on Echo and lab work

[ChickaBoom]

I just had an echo done and it will be about a year before I go back to my doctor so I want to go ahead and start making some changes while waiting for my annual exam. I am a 50 year old woman with adult-onset diabetes controlled by diet and exercise. Otherwise, no real problems. I am about 60 pounds overweight. My lab work fine except LDL > 140 and HDL <40. My resting heart rate is usually in upper 50's. My resting blood pressure is usually 110-130/70-80. I take a baby aspirin each day and just started Zocor 20 mg each night.

Echo showed right and left atrial enlargement, mild concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, right ventricle normal in size. Aortic valve with sclerosis, left mitral valve normal with trace regurgitation, tricuspid valve normal with mild regurgitation, pulmonic normal. RVSP 41 mmHg.

After reading a bunch of stuff, I am still not sure why my left ventricle is a bit large since my blood pressure is fine. I am guessing it it from the extra weight. I am planning to do the following things over the next year. My question is - am I missing anything?

1. Follow weight-loss diet and increase exercise to lose extra weight over next year.
2. Follow Mediterranean diet
3. Follow low salt diet. (Do I really need to do this? The other stuff I can do but this would be difficult for me.)
4. Fish oil 600 mg morning and evening
5. Vitamin supplement each day
6. Glass of wine at least every other day.

Thank for reading my posting.

[erijon]

Be careful with your heart rate when you start out, if you are deconditioned you will want to work up to a higher level slowly. You should discuss your target heart rate with your doctor. I am also 50 years old and I started out as 50 - 60% of my maximum heart rate and worked up as I became better conditioned.

I hate it too but you get used to it!

Jon

[ChickaBoom]

Thanks Jon!

I will check into the fish oil more and will try to get my heart rate up with exercise. (Not my favorite thing!)

[erijon]

The only thing I would do is increase the fish oil, I take 1200 mg three times a day. Also, look closely at the label, some are much more potent than others. You want one with the highest levels of EPA & DHA, some have as little as 300 mg of each.

Also, really work the exercise to your limits but don't push it. Make sure your doctor is in agreement with what you plan on doing. I use a treadmill for 45 -60 minutes a day and tailor my work out to keep my heart rate between 75 - 85% of my max heart rate (220 - age). For me that's walking at 4 MPH on a 3 -5% incline. This will not only help you lose weight but will help raise your HDL.

Good luck, I hope some of this helps!

Jon