Ways to reduce the chances of a heart attack ~ Just common sense.

[Paulbounce]

Common sense but good advice.

[mjames1]

Let me add some more important cardiac tests and markers

1. Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) Score. It will give a good indication of coronary plaque.

2. lp(a)

lipoprotein(a), is a hereditary blood marker that measures cholesterol-rich particles associated with increased cardiovascular risk, independent of LDL. You only need to take it once in a lifetime.

3. High-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) . An important marker for inflammation.

4. Homocysteine – elevated levels may contribute to risk

5. Fasting glucose / HbA1c – to assess blood sugar and diabetes

Jim

[Paulbounce in reply to mjames1]

Morning Jim.

Ty for adding your cardiac tests and makers. Anyone else got a few more to throw in the pot? If so, please post.

Rgds Paul

[Auriculaire in reply to mjames1]

You might as well wish for the moon as getting all that on a regular checkup basis- especially on the NHS.

[Paulbounce in reply to Auriculaire]

Hi Auriculaire.

True: However, you'll get a bit more if you push them a little further👍

Rgds Paul

[mjames1 in reply to Auriculaire]

Some of these tests are not very expensive and you can order them yourself Private. I've done the same in the United States.

Like yourself, I followed the lifestyle list And while I didn't have a heart attack, I did end up with severe CAD requiring six stents.

The list is a good one, But you also need ways to measure how it’s working. That's where these tests come in.

Jim

[Auriculaire in reply to mjames1]

Do you know whether you can get them cheaply in countries other than the US? Certainly in the UK having tests done privately is not cheap and would be way beyond the financial resources of many. Here in France the only one of your list of tests I have ever had is fasting glucose which I get once a year. I do have a glucose meter so I can test more regularly myself but the strips are expensive and only available on prescription for diabetics. None of the others have ever been ordered even by my cardiologist. I'm afraid you tend to see things through the lens of American medicine .

[mjames1 in reply to Auriculaire]

For example, at Medichecks you can get your lipoprotein (a) blood test for 59 pounds. An excellent investment for a test you only need once in a lifetime that will help stratify your lipid risk independent of LDL. I'm sure there are other as well. Here, in the US, we also don't always get the test so we need, or don't want to wait for the right specialist to prescribe them. And that particular tests cost about the same here if we order it ourselves.

Jim

[BenHall1]

Hiya Paulbounce,

These sort of "heart health mantras" are not good for everyone in the known universe equally .... not in the least. In my case if I adhered to that lot I'd be in a very poor shape (particularly #2) BUT if I removed numbers ....... 2,3,4 and 8, 10 and 11 ...... then I'd have a pretty good chance of survival without a visit to A & E. That said, I stopped smoking some 40 years ago. The advice on BP is very often nice text book theory ......... 120/80 is great if you are late teens and early twenties, and maybe fit thirties. Not really possible to achieve in your 70's and beyond without quite a fair bit of drug intervention to get it there and keep it there.

Looking at Jims list ......... there is only one of those that I could check for myself without going to my GP requesting blood tests, that one alone is the last ........... #5 . I do that several times a calender month and my results sit alongside my equally regular BP checks (and my INR checks should I have to do any) because my Dad acquired mature onset diabetes in his late 50's so there is an element of family history not to be ignored.

John

[Paulbounce in reply to BenHall1]

Hi Ben.

I agree about 120/80 ~ I too thought that was a little regamential.

It's just a general guide ~ I don't intend it to be anything else. Still, if it gets peeps talking about ways to help avoid a heart attack or stroke, then that's good in my book

Rgds Paul

[pusillanimous in reply to Paulbounce]

I think the 120/80 is the American standard - anything over is High BP, not only have I read it in serious articles, but I was watching a fictional 'hospital' series on Netflix, and the expression on the doctor actor's face when he announced to his patient that he e had high BP 'It's over 120/80' was priceless !!!!!

[Abbyroza]

I did all that for years and had a massive heart attack 7 years ago. 🙁

[Paulbounce in reply to Abbyroza]

Hello Abbyrozza. Sorry to hear that ~ I guess it happens sometimes regardless of what steps we take. I think the real art is reducing the risk rather than trying to prevent it totally (that won't happen).

Rgds Paul

[Vonnegut in reply to Abbyroza]

Poor you! One day it will be accepted that we are all different but great that you have survived! As agreed by all in the waiting area of an A&E my husband took me too recently in the early hours of the morning, a good sense of humour is essential!

[Abbyroza in reply to Vonnegut]

I have now used 4 of the 9 lives that I’m entitled to, so I keep on living and kicking. In my head I’m 22, in my soul I’m a newborn… bit of a shame that my body does not always agree! 😂

Me in my dinghy

[Paulbounce in reply to Abbyroza]

Well done, Abbyroza.

Mastering yourself is true power😎👊

Rgds Paul

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

Yes Mr Bounce.

And follow 'Don't Worry" on one earring and on the other "Be Happy".

Red with black writing. Bought in Hawaii!

cheri jOY

[jeanjeannie50]

Thank you for the reminder Paul

[Paulbounce in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks Jean.

Rgds Paul

[Vonnegut]

All fine and my diet is like that but as I acquired chronic fatigue with my PAF after a virus, I am no longer able to enjoy the long walks I used to take or even any more than the 100- 300 or so steps I try to take outside every day after lunch if it’s dry!

[Paulbounce]

Sorry to hear that Vonnegut. Try to keep up with your steps after lunch if you can ~ don'tover exert yourself and listen to your body.

Rgds Paul

[Carnationmac]

Thanks Paul, all very true, if it can help one person then that’s a bonus. 😊

[Paulbounce]

Sure, Carnationmac ~ if the thread helps one person (including others' suggestions), then it would be a bonus indeed.

Rgds Paul

[Espeegee]

General all round good practice but cholesterol levels are not implicated in heart attacks, blood pressure is very individual and levels can vary wildly even in health people and salt is an essential, too little is worse than too much so arbitrarily reducing it is not wise

[Paulbounce in reply to Espeegee]

Hi Espeegee.

Thanks for your input. You make some good points in your post.

Rgds Paul

[Abbyroza in reply to Espeegee]

My high LDL-cholesterol caused 99% clogging of my ‘widowmaker’ which resulted in a massive heart attack, though…

[ForensicFairy in reply to Abbyroza]

Yes. I’m not sure why Espeegee has said it’s not implicated when it is a primary cause of blockages. High cholesterol leads to a reaction of the cells on the artery walls and it produces plaque as part of that reaction. Plaque builds up and blocks the artery or it can also break off and block the artery.

[Espeegee in reply to ForensicFairy]

It's become a subject for review, cholesterol doesn't cause the plaque but it can become attached to it. Interesting article here: wellwisp.com/does-cholester...

[ForensicFairy in reply to Espeegee]

Do you have a scientific peer reviewed article? All research to date shows cholesterol causes this reaction. I haven’t read your article and wouldn’t because it’s not substantiated. Happy to read any recognised legitimate research though if you can provide it.

If you think cholesterol doesn’t cause this reaction, what do you think causes plaque and ‘widow maker’ heart attacks?

[Espeegee in reply to ForensicFairy]

Seriously, do you think only "scientific" peer reviewed aricles are sound? Tell me how they all got the mRNA vaccine outcomes so wrong 🤔 There were 1000s all saying it was safe ...

[ForensicFairy in reply to Espeegee]

Umm, ok. Thats ok if you don’t have a factually based article. I’ve never yet come across an invalid claimed which is proven.

I’m sorry, but I have never bothered with reading popular opinion. I just deal with research. Every decision I make about my cardiac heath especially is linked to evidence based researched. I don’t have some little hiccup with my heart. I have something that will kill me and has killed everyone who has it in my family by the age of 65. That’s the longest anyone has lived for - right back to when before COVID came along, and before statins became the devil or where even prescribed for cholesterol, , and before anything that laymen now think causes cardiac deaths. My grandmother died in 1933 at the age of 32, leaving my mother and her brothers orphans. My own mother died in 1987, again long before any of this paranoid crap people now go on about. I trust science and that science and its advancement has managed to get me to 59 and I’m still going strong - so you’ll forgive me when I ask for evidence of claims.

You might right it off as not being needed but my life depends on research and it’s advancement. I don’t want witch doctors and unknown nobodies on the internet without any valid knowledge trying to dumb down the science that my life depends on!

[Espeegee in reply to ForensicFairy]

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/195... this is interesting, I don't know where you stand on Pubmed

[ForensicFairy in reply to Espeegee]

Yes! I can definitely accept pubmed as it’s science based and peer reviewed.

I will read this with interest! On a cursory glance it’s not saying that cholesterol isn’t an indicator or risk factor, it’s saying the reliance on it as sole deciding factor is wrong. I’ll come back to chat once I’ve absorbed it.

I should add - I don’t have high cholesterol nor do I have any calcium or blockages. I do have endothelial dysfunction though which is indicated by coronary artery spasms so I will read this with those qualifying factors in my head. Thanks!

[Abbyroza]

Sadly, I have experienced this process firsthand. My high LDL appeared to be hereditary.