Me

[Shaz23]

Hi I’m sharon I had a heart attack on my 47th birthday last year. Coming to terms with now having chd

[Zena166]

Hi Shaz. It’s a shock isn’t it? Hope you’ve had good rehab and are recovering well. My philosophy is that I cannot change my past but can control my future. So I try and do all things healthy. Also I feel that in a way I am fortunate following heart attack and stenting I know exactly what state my heart is in as I have had every test going! So I can adapt accordingly. Whereas many people are walking round unaware of what is happening to them. So I view it that I have had a warning which I am acting upon so that’s a positive. Stay strong. Take care. Zena

[jimmyq]

If you are considering life style changes, I would recommend that you watch the film "Forks Over Knives". It is on Netflix and YouTube. It is about global medical heart research and the findings, including a massive study of 800,000 Chines people. You might find it helpful, I did.

[Dhomewood in reply to jimmyq]

I agree with Jimmy - I have gone plant based and feel great. Lost 2 stone. Cholesterol at 3.1 and Bad Cholesterol down to 0.7!

Also recommend watching “What the Health” too.

All the best

Daren

[jimmyq in reply to Dhomewood]

Saw “What the Health”. That's what inspired me to watch "Forks Over Knives". I have lost about 2st too. My Cholesterol is 3.3 but I don't know the HDL vs. LDL score. My BP has dropped down to 130s/70s (from 190s/90s) and my Heart Rate is down in the 40s. My doctors have reduced my dosages of Bisoprolol and Atorvastatin. I have found out that one of the GPs at our surgery is vegan so I am hoping that he will support me.

Good Health!

Jimmy

[Dhomewood in reply to jimmyq]

That’s great Jimmy

I’m reducing my dose of statin too - it really does work! I wish I’d done this years ago - I feel so much better!

I think GPs are trained to control your health with medication particularly after heart related matters. It’s good that you have a GP that might have a different view.

All the best

[jimmyq in reply to Dhomewood]

GPs do not get much training in Nutrition that's why they rely on drugs and surgery.

[CharlesL]

Yes you just need to forget about it and get on with life. C

[stevejb1810]

Just for a bit of balance in dietary advice, I have not become a vegan, my cholesterol is also 3.3 and my ldl:hdl ratio is also fine. My resting heart rate is typically around 50. I have lost over 9kg in weight and my BMI is below 25. I do not follow any special diet, I just eat sensibly - small portions of meat/fish big portions of vegetables, fruit and nuts. And I have largely cut out sweets, cakes, biscuits etc. I do a lot of exercise. I enjoy a glass of wine once or twice a week and a pint after around of golf.

At the end of the day it’s about lifestyle choices and you need to pick what works best for you

[jimmyq in reply to stevejb1810]

Agreed! Glad to see you are managing it well. The films I watched and the book I read convinced me to go vegan.