Heart diagnosis query

[Astonken]

Good evening my husband suffers from psoriasis, has recently had some light treatment. Following this, he was experiencing tightness of the chest, didn’t know if it was connected to the treatment. At the same time I received an appointment from the Roy castle foundation to have a lung cancer scan. Was clear, to our relief, but something there. When getting results from the doctor, was told that he has emphysema, doesn’t appear to have breathing difficulties and also and calcium build up on left side of his heart. Was given statins and blood pressure tablets and told he is a potential heart attack victim if he doesn’t take them. No health guidance or alternatives or advice. He is now worried sick that he could have a heart attack at anytime. I have changed his diet, with more fruit vegetables , nothing processed, all fresh cooked food, very low to no carbs. Could this help with his problems. Any advice at all from anyone please. My husband is 60, works as a gardener so exercises everyday, never taken medication at all. Feeling dizzy, could this be the tablets or change in diet?

[Hidden]

Statins are usually prescribed to reduce cholesterol within the body and thereby reduce further plaque laydown and to stabilise existing plaque that has been layed down over the years. Most people who have some form of heart disease are prescribed them and the majority probably don't have any serious side effects if any at all. Also if your husband has high BP the meds will reduce that. Both these medications reduce the risk of a heart attack but do not eliminate that risk. Anyone with heart disease has an increased risk compared to someone without, but that said people with heart disease can lead long happy and normal lives just like everyone else. Typically I was diagnosed with very high cholesterol and high BP over 20 years ago take meds for those conditions have had a mild heart attack but am still here. I don't worry about it, nor should your husband. Next there's plenty on the BHF website about a healthy diet, which will only further reduce the risk of heart problems, so look that up. The only thing your husband can't do is to exercise as much as he should due to his lung problems, but that's not a 'deal breaker', just do what he can comfortably, although in fact his gardener job may be more than enough! And if he is experiencing any possibly side effects due to prescribed meds, he needs to discuss that with the GP. A change in diet is unlikely to cause dizziness in my opinion.

Finally being diagnosed with heart disease is not the end of the world. It is an opportunity to reduce the risk. No one can predict the future. Just embrace the reality and enjoy life as it comes.

[Astonken in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your advice. I will tell him. He is very reluctant to take statins and would prefer to do this with diet. He was given statins about 10 years ago, but started to have really bad side effects where his legs would give in and nearly fell over. He has never had them since and only now seems to have had a bit of high bp and cholesterol bad was 5.1 and good 1.2. Most of our life we have had home cooked food, with lots of veg, but as we have had large portions, perhaps too many sugary foods in the past, has not helped, but my determination for the last three weeks to help improve the cholesterol with a much better healthy diet, I’m hoping we will see better results. Part of his problems are they he does stress as well as he has his own business.

[Hidden in reply to Astonken]

There are several statins to choose from if your husband is having side effects from one. And now there is an injection called inclisiran which can be prescribed if statins cannot be tolerated. Your GP can help on this. But I'm afraid statins are usually a necessary evil for those with heart disease since usually a diet alone approach doesn't get the levels down far enough.He should be aiming for better than the levels in here

nhs.uk/conditions/high-chol...

Finally if your husband is overweight or worse obese it is very advisable to lose weight to help the heart as well as other benefits .

[Qualipop in reply to Astonken]

MY husband waseth same with statins which he really needs as he's diabetic b ut one bad experience put him off. Do encourage your husband to try again. There are several different ones. I couldn't tolerate atorvastatin but simvastatin is fine. Everyone's different. He can't do it all with diet alone. Also statins reduce inflammation and as he has psoriasis he's at risk of psoriatic arthritis. ( I'm sure that's spelled wrongly.)

[Astonken in reply to Qualipop]

Thanks for your reply. His cholesterol in total is 6.2, In summer his psoriasis calms down, as he works outside. Can you get a cholesterol test over the counter at all?

[Qualipop in reply to Astonken]

No but his doctor can easily arrange a blood test and will not complain. Just ask. IT doesn't matter that he psoriasis calms down in summer; the inflammation is still there. MY dad had it and his did the same.

[Astonken in reply to Qualipop]

At the minute due to his stubbornness, he has never been used to taking tablets, so has done well for 60 years, he is trying, to reduce carbs, plenty of veg, fish which I completely commend him for. I know some people do produce cholesterol more. But we are going to review a month of healthy eating and if this not working, I will try and persuade him by re reading everyone’s very helpful views and advise to see if he will take the statins, thank you for those who responded, very grateful

[Hidden in reply to Astonken]

You need to gently suggest to your husband that if you have a health condition it is usually advisable to take any prescribed medication. No one likes taking medication, I certainly don't. But unfortunately it goes with territory. And there are no medals if you don't take it, just the possibility of increased risk of a deteriorating condition, or in some cases worse.

[Mentdent]

I have severe Psoriasis with a lot of the weird and wonderful complications including psoriatic arthritis etc. last year I had a cardiac stent as a result of psoriatic/rheumatoid vasculitis. I’ve had to learn the difference between angina, reflux and costochondritis. All of which can feel similar. Get it checked

[Astonken in reply to Mentdent]

Hi thank you for your reply, my husband has had light treatment for psoriasis. His psoriasis has been worse in the winter and due to covid, not going anywhere in the sunshine it has heightened. It has never been this bad. Since the treatment I feel he has had one problem after the other

[Heather1957 in reply to Mentdent]

I have had psoriasis for over 50 years and have also had a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis and didn't know it could lead to cardiac issues. I have cardiac issues already caused by other factors I could do without this extra one! Hopefully it won't have an impact on me!!

[Mentdent in reply to Heather1957]

The reality is that psoriasis is an autoimmune disease of connective tissues and can affect many different organs. I ended up in ICU once because my salivary glands were affected and they swelled up blocking my airway. Fortunately modern anti TNF drugs have calmed it down or I’d be dead.

[Heather1957 in reply to Mentdent]

In 1979 I was having PUVA treatment and was initially admitted to hospital, it was just after my father had died unexpectedly so a highly stressful time and my psoriasis went mad!! I remember the signs on display in the clinic which said 'Psoriasis is as harmless as freckles'! It seems they were telling lies!