I have read a lot of your posts and wanted to ask you a question if that is all right. You said you did not have risk factors for heart disease. What symptoms did you have and when that led you to the blockage? I am just curious how someone at low risk and I assume healthy can get to the point that you did. Thanks...you give alot of good information on this board.

Actually I did have risk factors, but the cardiologist was surprised to find that I had blockage at age 41 and being female with the risk factors that I had. I did have a family history with my father being 59 when he had a heart attack. Also my cholesterol was normal but my trigs were slightly elevated and my HDL was low. I didn't have some of the more common risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, or high blood pressure. I have a theory of my own that eating too many carbs and not enough protein contributed in some way.

Although doctors would probably disagree I think I was having symptoms for years but they were so subtle that I ignored them. I would have occasional shortness of breath for about 2 years before the blockage was found. I also had alot of upper back and shoulder discomfort. Twice I had a quick cutting pain in the upper left side of my chest. I remember joking that I hope that's not my heart. Finally one day while cleaning my beauty salon I had pain between the shoulder blades which moved to the center of my chest and down my left arm and I felt like I could hardly breathe. I just knew it was my heart and I called 911 for myself after calling my husband to tell him that I thought I was having a heart attack. The night before all of this I had taken ibuprofen for pain in my left shoulder and about a week before I would get short of breath walking across the parking lot to go to work. I thought it was probably allergy related.

The advice I give comes from personal experience and what I've learned from others since being diagnosed with heart disease.

Thanks so much for your answer. The past year I have been having alot of strange symptoms that I believe is perimenopause even at 40. My gyn said no way...too young. The scariest for me has been the pains in my left shoulder, neck and arm. But again doc said too young for heart problems since I really have no risk factors. My tc is high but the hdl and trig are good.I do love carbs though.(lol) I have alot more symptoms though then the muscle ache so it does lead me to believe it is not heart related but it still scares me not knowing what is wrong. Thanks again for your advice and I hope you are feeling good after everything you have been through.

Being a woman at age 40 it's very difficult to get most doctors to believe it could possibly be heart related especially if you don't smoke. If you think these symptoms are heart related you will have to be very persistent. It took six weeks of returning several times to the ER and doctors office after my 911 incident before they decided to do an angiogram. I was given EKG's and stress tests but for some reason they never indicated blockage. You know your body better than anyone so go with your gut feeling and if feel like something is being missed then maybe seeking a second opinion would be wise. 40 is not too young to have a heart blockage. I thought I was a rare case, but I know now that it's does happen to people in their 40's.

Thanks for you advice.