I had one stent fitted 23 years ago. Since then I have climbed some of the most difficult mountains in the UK. I've completed 6 half marathons. Go on walking holidays twice each year. I continued going to the gym twice a week until I was 70 (I'm now 75). The only reason I stopped going to the gym was bad knees, hip and back caused through many years playing rugby. I still walk miles each week. Before this corona virus noesense I was playing golf three times each week. The point is, I'm still doing as much exercise as I ever did, although at a slower pace, with the exception of one asperin a day, I have never been on medication, my annual medical check shows normal BP, cholesterol and blood counts, and I am still classed as having heart desease. Why?
Why am I still classed ss having hear... - British Heart Fou...
Why am I still classed ss having heart desease?
Hi Billbobwales
Question is, does it really matter at 75
I wouldn't really give it the proverbial T**s Hoping you are staying well and Wales are recovering !!
Regards
Hello and welcome to the forum!
Firstly I like your post as it shows that stents can last a long time when combined with a healthy lifestyle.
Usually when a person requires treatment by stents or bypassing there is a degree of stenosis in other coronary arteries which may be quite minor but is by definition CHD (coronary heart disease). As Prada says why worry...
This is the kind of heart disease I hope I’ve got. What’s the label stopping you from doing Bill?
Me too 😁😁
Don't knock it! The NHS is full of strange people who do not always get it right! My uncle is 97 and in a care home; about 3 years ago I asked him how fare he walked, his answer was 12 miles in a morning! Keep on walking, it is what we were intended to do. Rugby was great for you and me. look after yourself and be thankful.
well once youve had it ur classed as a heart/cardiac patient and never leaves your gp notes etc,,i started with genetic heart disease at 23 and still working my way thu it all,i had stents fitted in 2017. two triple bypasses in 1992 and 2007 plus 10 pacers.once uve had heart probs,ur classed as at risk
Hey peter , how old are you now ? Did you undergo bypass 29 years ago ? It’s so much time,
Are you using statin ?
60 now,yes two triple bypasses at 32 and 46.im on statins but suffer pain all over and diareaha with em
Great to see this! I am 61 and I just had a stent in LAD. Triathlete, cross country skier, mountaineer, explorer..., I had no idea this was coming. My first post and way too many questions and concerns, but this is encouraging. I am on way too many meds but apparently the cardiac cocktail is standard procedure. Hopefully not for long! Way to go Billbobwales!
Hi I have noticed both on this forum and people I know that a lot of the very active and sporty people are the ones who end up with cardiac problems, I have a number of friends and relatives who have had cardiac problems all where very active apart from one couch potato who had a severe heart attack when he eventually moved ( benefits stopped and had to get a job). Could it be diet or just the luck of the draw, I do realize some could be genetic.
Hi there, At 34 years old I was diagnosed with non dangerous ectopic heartbeats. Over the next few years, although I have struggled with my weight, and changed to a healthier lifestyle I still got ectopic beats. About 15 years ago I did a treadmill test and was told my heart is fine. After numerous visits to my GP (who over time had listened and did some ECGs). I was sent to hospital in November 2018 and wore a heart monitor for a week where I had to press a button when I felt jumps in my heartbeat. I was again told my heart was fine. Last April I didn’t feel well and was taken to hospital to be checked over. I had heart tests and checks and it wasn’t until a final blood test revealed I’d had an Nstemi heart attack and we found out I was suffering from a genetic disorder called familial hypercholesterolemia (a genetic form of high cholesterol not necessarily as a result of what we eat) and that it was my arteries which had been affected to the point where I needed a triple heart bypass. I was informed that if I had been a size 10 and ran several marathons every year I would have ended up having to have the bypass and that I had less than two years left if I didn’t have it. I had to wait in hospital for 18 days for the emergency operation which has changed my life and made me realise that though I thought I wasn’t fit enough before it was due to clogging in my arteries. Everyone was stunned by my diagnosis. Even my GP was surprised. He had checked my cholesterol which was slightly high and asked me if I would consider statins which I was trying to avoid by following a healthy diet and regular cholesterol checks. As it’s genetic and doesn’t miss a generation it has shed light on the sudden loss of my brother (who must have had the condition as we have now found one of his children has it) and also that my mum’s own triple heart bypass over thirty years ago may not have been caused just by smoking and diabetes as we thought. Sadly we lost her some while back but my shock diagnosis has explained so many things which I had put down to what everyone thought may be poor lifestyle - despite changing so many things. I know I will be on medication for life and I also now suffer from some paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation but, as I have been informed, I’ve been mended. Sadly the shock of finding I had this at the tender age of 58 years and of realising it had unknowingly had such an effect on those I had lost that I loved so much, along with the sudden need for the op terrified me and left me with anxiety and some ptsd but I’m getting much better and am determined to make the best of things. It has also taught me that It wasn’t a result of anything I had done and that there are times when you are right to cry for help. I must add that our NHS were fabulous and they looked after me so well and we’re so tolerant of my shock, fear and anxiety.
Hi thanks for your replyTrog1. I am so glad you found out about your health issues before it was too late, and glad you are on the mend, the thing is you found out it is genetic too late to help your late relatives, but it could help other relatives in the future.
My point was I have friends who were the last people I would have expected to have heart problems, and I couldn't see why. Stay safe and keep on improving, I wish you well.
Many thanks for your response. After reading your original post, I just wanted to let you know that genetic issues can lie undetected for the bulk of your life - even evading discovery by the medical profession for many many years - sadly, too late for some. I understand and sympathise so much with the point you were making and hope that your friends were lucky enough to find and treat their problems as was I and my niece. I wish you all the very best. Stay safe.
Thank you, stay safe
I had a stent 5 years ago I'm now 50. I compete in Ironman's, I train hard, run, swim, cycle every week and eat as healthy as possible. A stent is actually a wired balloon that has opened your artery because of plaque build up and I'm guessing a blockage or potential blockage, this plaque will never go away, it cannot be removed and will sit there for ever, so effectively you still have heart disease because if you didn't have that stent you'd probably be dead (later not too harsh I hope!). That's the way I look at it and I just wouldn't worry about it at 75 you have done incredibly well and hats off to you to all teh great activities you have achieved since your stent! And when someone says I'd had a stent for 23 years that gives myself confidence, I had my stent is the dangerous LAD artery in and emergency situation....generally I wouldn't worry about it.
Well done Rouluer. Keep up the strenuous exercise and you'll have plenty of years ahead of you. To complete the stupidity of my "death wish", when I was 69 I subbed for the last 15 minutes of a rugby league match. Except for being extremely sore the next day, I had no lasting effects. Heart Desease my a...e!
Thanks and well done.
Really loved your post. Ranulf Fiennes ran 7 marathons in seven different countries in 7 days after his bypass . I think of him every time I feel lazy about exercise after my bypass and I now play tennis 2 to three times a week and walk every day. It may not work for everyone but I love the positive attitude that you have . You sound a lot fitter than many people who haven’t had heart problems . Well done.
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Why am I at risk doing outside exercise?
I am still having difficulties with my food
Am I classed as vulnerable?
Why I am still on Furosemide ?
any tips for exercising on a fluid restriction?
Coronavirus and the gym
Bisoprolol and exercise 
After effects of Angioplasty and side effects of drugs
Why am I made to feel a fraud. 
