lulurs5
01-13-2009, 10:42 PM
hi i am a 50 years old woman who had a heart attack 5 weeks ago. 4 stents put in. my chol good, bp good,need to lose about 10 lbs. smoker but i have now quit. this has really changed my life i still dont understand why i had heart attack? now i chest hurts from time to time right where my heart is. is this normal?
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harka
01-14-2009, 12:37 AM
Hi there lulurs,
I am sorry to hear that you've had a heart attack--this must be quite a difficult time for you.
In terms of heart attacks: generally when one thinks about the type of people who is at greatest risk for a heart attack, invariably, one pictures a fat man who eats fatty food, smokes cigarettes and sits around the house all day doing no exercise. To a certain extent this is true. FOUR of the five major risk factors for heart attacks are reversible and they are:
1) Cigarette smoking
2) High cholesterol
3) High blood pressure
4) Diabetes
Things like obesity, sedentery life style etc. etc. are not major risk factors. They can CONTRIBUTE to one's overall heart attack risk, but they aren't as important as the ones above. What those four risk factors have in common is that they all significantly play a part in making the caliber of your coronary arteries (the arteries which get blocked when you have a heart attack) smaller.
1. Smoking results in inflammation which can lead to plaque deposition in the artery walls which lessens the caliber.
2. High cholesterol leads to the deposition of plaque in the coronary wall decreasing the caliber.
3. High blood pressure results in thickening of the walls of the arteries (including the coronary arteries thereby reducing the caliber)
4. Diabetes results in the injury of the insides of the vessels (including the coronary vessels) which results in laying down of inflammatory cells which leads to plaque formation which leads to the reduction of the vessel's caliber.
Are you sensing a theme here? :)
Anyway, the smaller the caliber of the arteries are, the more likely they'll get blocked. Additionally, if you have a rough plaque in one of the arteries, it can rupture, clot off and cause an acute heart attack. So it's possible that you have some of those risk factors and that is why you were prone to a heart. However, if you do NOT have any of those risk factors, the last risk factor is one you can NOT reverse:
5) A family history of premature coronary artery disease.
Are there any men in your family who had a heart attack before the age of 50 or a woman before the age of 55? If so, it's possible that your family just has the tendency to either have smaller caliber heart vessels, or more of a tendency to deposit plaque in these vessels or a combination of both. Unfortunately, you can't control your genes, so if you have risk factor #5, about all you can to is try to lessen the further amount of plaque in your arteries by taking your medications and by NOT developing any of the risk factors from 1-4.
I am sorry to hear that you've had a heart attack--this must be quite a difficult time for you.
In terms of heart attacks: generally when one thinks about the type of people who is at greatest risk for a heart attack, invariably, one pictures a fat man who eats fatty food, smokes cigarettes and sits around the house all day doing no exercise. To a certain extent this is true. FOUR of the five major risk factors for heart attacks are reversible and they are:
1) Cigarette smoking
2) High cholesterol
3) High blood pressure
4) Diabetes
Things like obesity, sedentery life style etc. etc. are not major risk factors. They can CONTRIBUTE to one's overall heart attack risk, but they aren't as important as the ones above. What those four risk factors have in common is that they all significantly play a part in making the caliber of your coronary arteries (the arteries which get blocked when you have a heart attack) smaller.
1. Smoking results in inflammation which can lead to plaque deposition in the artery walls which lessens the caliber.
2. High cholesterol leads to the deposition of plaque in the coronary wall decreasing the caliber.
3. High blood pressure results in thickening of the walls of the arteries (including the coronary arteries thereby reducing the caliber)
4. Diabetes results in the injury of the insides of the vessels (including the coronary vessels) which results in laying down of inflammatory cells which leads to plaque formation which leads to the reduction of the vessel's caliber.
Are you sensing a theme here? :)
Anyway, the smaller the caliber of the arteries are, the more likely they'll get blocked. Additionally, if you have a rough plaque in one of the arteries, it can rupture, clot off and cause an acute heart attack. So it's possible that you have some of those risk factors and that is why you were prone to a heart. However, if you do NOT have any of those risk factors, the last risk factor is one you can NOT reverse:
5) A family history of premature coronary artery disease.
Are there any men in your family who had a heart attack before the age of 50 or a woman before the age of 55? If so, it's possible that your family just has the tendency to either have smaller caliber heart vessels, or more of a tendency to deposit plaque in these vessels or a combination of both. Unfortunately, you can't control your genes, so if you have risk factor #5, about all you can to is try to lessen the further amount of plaque in your arteries by taking your medications and by NOT developing any of the risk factors from 1-4.
lulurs5
01-14-2009, 02:21 AM
hey thanks that did help !
Kane780
01-14-2009, 05:14 AM
I"m sorry to hear about your Heart Attack. Follow the certain guidlines in maintaining good health. I'm glad to hear that you quit smoking. Make sure you make an appointment with a cardiologist and have routine check-ups from now on. Stay heart happy.
kimpossible67
01-14-2009, 06:23 AM
hi i am a 50 years old woman who had a heart attack 5 weeks ago. 4 stents put in. my chol good, bp good,need to lose about 10 lbs. smoker but i have now quit. this has really changed my life i still dont understand why i had heart attack? now i chest hurts from time to time right where my heart is. is this normal?
I'am sorry to hear that as well. I, too just found out through an ekg that I also had a heart attack. Obviously it was the silent type, I guess. I just turned 43 and he thinks it's "older." What a mind blower that was. I too smoke. Less than half a pack a day. I'm allowing myself 5 a day and then down from there.
I just wanted to let you know that I empathize with you and I hope you are doing okay.
I'am sorry to hear that as well. I, too just found out through an ekg that I also had a heart attack. Obviously it was the silent type, I guess. I just turned 43 and he thinks it's "older." What a mind blower that was. I too smoke. Less than half a pack a day. I'm allowing myself 5 a day and then down from there.
I just wanted to let you know that I empathize with you and I hope you are doing okay.
Fizzickle
01-16-2009, 01:35 PM
I had a severe heart attack at the age of 47. That was in the 1970 time frame, I smoked like a chimney (2 packs/day), was travelling internationally and was under a lot of stress. Had to have bypass surgery.
I quit smoking, started strenuous exercising, taking cholesterol reducing statins and have now reached the ripe old age of 82. Lots of enjoyable life after a heart attack if you take reasonable care.
Bill
I quit smoking, started strenuous exercising, taking cholesterol reducing statins and have now reached the ripe old age of 82. Lots of enjoyable life after a heart attack if you take reasonable care.
Bill
brianbur1
01-18-2009, 12:04 PM
hi i am a 50 years old woman who had a heart attack 5 weeks ago. 4 stents put in. my chol good, bp good,need to lose about 10 lbs. smoker but i have now quit. this has really changed my life i still dont understand why i had heart attack? now i chest hurts from time to time right where my heart is. is this normal?
I was 37 when i had my heart attack and had my stent placed in my lad I too still have pains in my chest and have had angigrans done and there are no blockages the doc says the pains are normal as there is no way to get rid of all the pains i probable have a small pain a day but no biggie i just keep my nitro close by incase the pain get severe
I was 37 when i had my heart attack and had my stent placed in my lad I too still have pains in my chest and have had angigrans done and there are no blockages the doc says the pains are normal as there is no way to get rid of all the pains i probable have a small pain a day but no biggie i just keep my nitro close by incase the pain get severe
harka
01-18-2009, 02:44 PM
When the cardiologists do stenting, they are widening the large vessels; unfortunately, in people who have coronary artery disease, they can also have narrowing of the microvasculature which is NOT amenable to angioplasty. It's for this reason, many people still have some degree of chest pain, but no resulting heart attacks after angioplasty.
tjlhb
01-19-2009, 01:38 AM
FOUR of the five major risk factors for heart attacks are reversible and they are:
1) Cigarette smoking
2) High cholesterol
3) High blood pressure
4) Diabetes
Things like obesity, sedentery life style etc. etc. are not major risk factors. They can CONTRIBUTE to one's overall heart attack risk, but they aren't as important as the ones above.
But don't obesity, lack of exercise, and unhealthy diet cause or increase the problem with high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, and poor blood sugar control in type II diabetes?
Some people substantially improve their blood cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and blood sugar control by losing excess body fat, adding exercise, and cleaning up their diet.
1) Cigarette smoking
2) High cholesterol
3) High blood pressure
4) Diabetes
Things like obesity, sedentery life style etc. etc. are not major risk factors. They can CONTRIBUTE to one's overall heart attack risk, but they aren't as important as the ones above.
But don't obesity, lack of exercise, and unhealthy diet cause or increase the problem with high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, and poor blood sugar control in type II diabetes?
Some people substantially improve their blood cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and blood sugar control by losing excess body fat, adding exercise, and cleaning up their diet.
harka
01-19-2009, 08:07 AM
Hi Tj,
Yes absolutely obesity can cause that; however, there are many people who are obese (or at least overweight) who surprisingly don't have any trouble with diabetes or high blood pressure (though they have other health problems). What's more important though, there is a HUGE HUGE chunk of people who are NOT overweight or obese, but do have the above risk factors. In other words, those risk factors are independent of obesity, and are more important to cardiovascular outcomes.
Arguably, the most important risk factor is family history. There are just certain people who are more prone to forming plaque in their coronary arteries and having these plaques rupture, and this is not even related to smoking, diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Yes absolutely obesity can cause that; however, there are many people who are obese (or at least overweight) who surprisingly don't have any trouble with diabetes or high blood pressure (though they have other health problems). What's more important though, there is a HUGE HUGE chunk of people who are NOT overweight or obese, but do have the above risk factors. In other words, those risk factors are independent of obesity, and are more important to cardiovascular outcomes.
Arguably, the most important risk factor is family history. There are just certain people who are more prone to forming plaque in their coronary arteries and having these plaques rupture, and this is not even related to smoking, diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure.
lulurs5
01-20-2009, 11:40 PM
to all that answered my questions thank you so much boy it has really helped!!!!:wave:
krisreid
02-07-2009, 02:15 AM
Hi Bill,
Your story fills me with some hope. I am 36 and just had a heart attack. Non-smoker, no drugs or alcohol, great blood pressure and lipid levels, terrible genes.
I hope to do as well as you have done - I am working hard to change what I can, and on medication - the attack was in a small branch and they couldn't fix it with angioplasty or a stent.
Anyways - thanks for the message. It helps!
Your story fills me with some hope. I am 36 and just had a heart attack. Non-smoker, no drugs or alcohol, great blood pressure and lipid levels, terrible genes.
I hope to do as well as you have done - I am working hard to change what I can, and on medication - the attack was in a small branch and they couldn't fix it with angioplasty or a stent.
Anyways - thanks for the message. It helps!
sarmadqureshi
02-24-2009, 01:12 PM
Hi Kim
Have u sought help for quitting smoking. I am also unable to quit completely and do smoke 4-5 a day.
Have u sought help for quitting smoking. I am also unable to quit completely and do smoke 4-5 a day.
thomas1234
03-01-2009, 03:11 PM
hi i am a 50 years old woman who had a heart attack 5 weeks ago. 4 stents put in. my chol good, bp good,need to lose about 10 lbs. smoker but i have now quit. this has really changed my life i still dont understand why i had heart attack? now i chest hurts from time to time right where my heart is. is this normal?
hi sorry to hear about your heart attack i had my 4 heart attack my last one was 3 weeks ago i was 27 when i had my 1st then 2007 had stents 2008 stents then feb 2009 which had stents my weight is good my chol is very good bp good no family history no anwsers to why the thing is not to worry about the pain that is normal you have to stay of the cigs the heart will cause you more pain i used to smoke also stress of what has happened remember you are still hear and live life to the full:)
hi sorry to hear about your heart attack i had my 4 heart attack my last one was 3 weeks ago i was 27 when i had my 1st then 2007 had stents 2008 stents then feb 2009 which had stents my weight is good my chol is very good bp good no family history no anwsers to why the thing is not to worry about the pain that is normal you have to stay of the cigs the heart will cause you more pain i used to smoke also stress of what has happened remember you are still hear and live life to the full:)