Severe Plaque in LAD

[Sniy]

My husband had a HA in June, and is trying to get back into things, he had two stents fitted. He has changed his lifestyle and is eating healthy. He underwent a stress test and ECHO for employment reasons privately, the cardiologist told us he has severe plaque in his LAD and they couldn’t open a small branch of vessels. My Q is can he still live a decent life. He gets breathless when he tries to exert himself and now he is worried he will end up having another HA. He 46 yrs old.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hi... I recall replying to you about the stress test. Were the stents inserted inserted in his LAD? What is the percentage blocking in the LAD and other arteries?

[Sniy in reply to MichaelJH]

Hi Michael, yes two stents inserted in LAD, I don’t know the percentage, however when we had the stress test and ECHO, the doctor sent me an email which read ‘angiogram report shows he has quite severe plaque in his LAD and it’s essential he continues to take his medicines as there is a risk of further heart attacks. There was one small branch of a vessel that they could not open’. He’s stopped smoking, trying to lose weight, however his blood pressure is still high. I really don’t know what to do! I was thinking of paying for some private PT lessons. I’m thinking is this blockage in the small branch of vessels causing the breathlessness when he over exerts himself.

[Chappychap]

Try not to forge too close a link between the angina (the breathlessness that your husband feels when exerting himself) and his risk of a heart attack.

Yes they are related, but the relationship is a loose one. So some people will have heart attacks without experiencing any angina symptoms and while having relatively clear arteries; while other people can have very severe angina with seriously blocked arteries, and yet live long lives without ever having a single heart attack.

The critical thing is that your husband is taking steps to adjust his lifestyle. You mentioned healthy eating, but does he need to lose weight, quit smoking, or cut down alcohol? And is he taking exercise, at least within the limits of his angina?

If he still experiences angina, and especially if his angina is not controllable with his GTN spray, or if he gets angina episodes when he's at rest. Then his cardiologist may recommend more stents, different medication, or ultimately a heart bypass.

I had a heart bypass and found that it completely re-set the clock. There is never a complete cure for the heart disease that your husband and I have, but a heart bypass allied to serious life style changes can deliver a radical improvement. I guess what I'm saying us don't be too alarmed if the doctor mentions a bypass as a future option. Although major surgery it really is very routine these days, and the benefits can be absolutely transformational.

Good luck!

[Sniy in reply to Chappychap]

Thank you for your reply, he’s given up smoking, trying to lose weight what he can’t get rid of his beer belly, he has cut down on drinking and does exercise daily, but I can’t see an improvement after several months, I think there is an underlying issue, and maybe they didn’t unblock completely. I’m scared and confused. So his breathless is angina? As he doesn’t have chest pains or any other symptoms. It’s a shame due to COVID the rehab is closed as this would have help him tremendously, however many others are in the same boat. Fingers crossed, I really love this forum so much advice and reassurance. So glad your back on the mend after your by-pass.

Thank you for sharing your experience and advice..

[Speakeazi]

Can you both have a chat to his cardiologist to ask if a PT or even a physio would help. You would need someone who understands cardiac rehab.

Are there any virtual rehab classes taking place?

It is really hard to motivate oneself at the best of times, but adding in the pain and the stents it may be your husband isn’t working hard enough. From what I understand during cardiac rehab, blood pressure and heart rates are measured to make sure they are pushed but safely so.

Keep in touch

[Ianc2]

Get him an apple watch or a fitness tracker like a fitbit to track the number of steps he takes every day. If you can get in a daily mile in - ten minutes out, ten minutes back , on a regular basis , it will help. It will also tell you how many calories you burn every day. For a man it should be about 2000 calories a day, which means that sugary foods, cakes and biscuits, have got to go and bread/pizza /pasta has to be chopped back. One full size pizza will wipe out your daily food allowance in one day.

The BHF advise the mediterranean diet. There is a LCHF - low carb healthy fat site inside Health unlocked where low carb diets are introduced. Worth a look.

[Sniy in reply to Ianc2]

Thank your advice. I will check out site to get more info.

[Esselstyn]

Do check out the work of Dr Esselstyn

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Esselstyn]

Here is the BHF's comment about the research

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[dunestar]

There are cardiac rehab classes on the BHF Youtube channel for different levels. I would just check with your GP first though as your husband hasn't gone through the normal cardiac rehab process.