Newly diagnosed

[ANDPUR]

I have been diagnosed with the following, 0-25% calcified blockage in Distal left circumflex, also 25-49% blockage to LAD distal. Is this really serious? Been worried ever since diagnosis.

[Dovaston]

Hi I think those percentages are not serious numbers. Intervention and stenting tends to be at 80% plus

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

At that level 99% of the time the patient will be conservatively treated, i.e.lifestyle changes and medication like a statin and appropriate b old pressure tablets.

[ANDPUR]

Thanks, the diagnosis was Sept.. I have been scared ever since. GP stated that everyone had 'furred up' arteries, but reading up on calcified blockages frightened me half to death.

[bobaxford]

Take the opportunity to research as much as you can - I was diagnosed early like you, prescribed statins and adopt low fat diet. But it didn’t seem to help me as 10 years later I needed a bypass. At this point I did the serious research, adopted a vegan diet for 6 months, lost 10 kg - since then I have adopted a lifestyle approach, good nutrition and exercise to managing my atherosclerosis and no longer take statins.

[ANDPUR in reply to bobaxford]

Hi, I am not vegan, but am making vegetables and fruit a larger part of my diet. Meat I try to keep to lean and am beginning to eat fish. I am also increasing my exercise routine, as I walk at speed for 30 mins a day not including lunch time walking, also will begin resistance training soon. My weight is coming down steadily as I have stopped snacking and only eat meals. I have lost 2 stone in 5 months. I have a lot more to loose, 4.5 stone to be exact, but am getting there. Fear is a wonderful motivator.

[bobaxford in reply to ANDPUR]

Well done, you seem to be doing all the right things - keep up the good work. Although I was vegan for a while i now have sardines every lunchtime, salmon once per week and chicken occasionally. I think a predominately plant based diet is good if you can do it but good quality meat is also supposed to be good for you. I cut out all the refined processed foods and sugars, basically try and eat real food - it seems to have worked for me but we are all diffenent. I am sure you will find a happy lifestyle choice that suits you - but I keep researching and refining depending on what I learn.

[Prada47]

Distal I believe means quite a long way from the supply point. I had a Total but Distal Occlusion of my Left and Right Stenotic Arteries which unfortunately gave me a Heart Attack !!! but please note Total Distal Occlusion a blockage at the bottom of my Heart and it has taken 35 years before any further work was required !!

Regards