Do I not need any treatment or advice?

[Whatsthestory]

Hi, I recently experienced strong palpitations, mild chest pain, & shortness of breath. I was sent for a ct and echocardiogram. They showed that I have a mild stenosis (<25%) of the LAD and a mildly enlarged left atrium. My discharge letter says that I don't need any further action. Does that mean that I don't need any medication? I'm quite surprised that I haven't been given any advice. I called the gp today to follow up and they said that as the cardio had said no further action was required, that was that. I'm an active 41 year old male with a bmi of 26. Thank you for your time.

[Ianc2]

How do you define active? Do you follow a Mediterranean type diet? A BMI of 24 is a good target to go for? Do you eat much fatty /sugary food, cakes , biscuits?

Did you get a copy of your last blood test so you can monitor your trends with electrolytes, triglycerides and blood sugar levels?

[Whatsthestory in reply to Ianc2]

Hi Ian,

Thanks for the reply!

Regarding physical activity, I walk a lot. When working (currently furloughed as I work in a restaurant), I walk to work and back every day (~6km each way) and am on my feet all day, I usually get 20 - 30000 steps in a day, sometimes 40k+. When not working, I try to walk at least 5-10km a day and often more (did a nice walk to Richmond and back from Kilburn last year and racked up 40km).

I used to eat loads of fatty foods - loads of red meat, loads of butter, lots of oil but since this started in January, I've changed my diet dramatically and believe that my diet is now quite healthy (lots of fruit/veg, oats for breakfast, only buy wholemeal/rye bread, lots more fish, only use olive oil, less salt, only minimal butter, etc.).

Recent (early January) tests show:

Result / optimal range

Glucose: 4.7 / 3-7.8

Triglycerides: 0.77 / <1.7

Sodium: 141 / 133-146

Potassium: 3.9 / 3.5- 5.3

I have spoken to a nurse from BHF since posting the original post who has put my mind more at ease as I was worried that I should e taking medication but she explained that medication only manages the symptoms rather than helping to treat the disease.

I just struggle to understand how I have just been given a "clean bill of health" (no further action needed according to the report from the scans) and there has been no follow up. I would have thought that even a mild stenosis should call for a discussion with my gp to give advice, set out a plan for monitoring.

Do you know when/if I should be having follow up tests/scans, like every year or something like that?

Thanks again for your time.

[Ianc2 in reply to Whatsthestory]

Your mild stenosis was probably a direct result of your previous diet, which you have changed, you take exercise and a long as you don't smoke or polish off all the left over wine at the end of the day I would agree with the medics and say keep an eye on your blood tests every year and enjoy life.

[Whatsthestory in reply to Ianc2]

Great, thanks for your time and input!