Been diagnosed with moderate LAD stenosis. At First they wanted to put me on beta blockers - but I thought these would affect my cycling - they booked me in for a stress test - in which I got to 105% of HRMAX - with no issues.
They have now suggested Dilatiazem - a calcuim channel blocker I believe - I wonder if anyone has any experience of this drug - especially if you are into cycling or other excercise.
I was on Bblockers for quite a while whilst cycling as was my hua dans, with no probs.
Good luck on your journey Topper60, I’m finding my way back into my fitness post Nstemi heart attack and quadruple bypass in July 2023. Still Tweaking meds, reduced beta blocker and change of statin. I’m still able to get HR into 170-180 with no side effects , resting is down to 45 .
One thing that really interferes with your cycling is having a heart attack ! I had a heart attack last year totally out of the blue after being fit and well all my life. Listen to the medics and try what they suggest and feedback any adversities. You can always tweak or change things as you go along as I have done on my journey to getting my fitness back. You're in an advantageous position as you know you have a problem that requires input to prevent escalation. My fitness levels are almost back to what they were which includes mountain biking and I'm now only on a couple of tablets a day as opposed to the 10 I was on 11 months ago. It's a matter of trial, error and time to get the right combination.
Best of luck on your journey.
I am OK cycling on 1.25mg Bisoprolol, but found difficulty with a higher dose, because my heart rate was too low and I found hard cycling difficult, particularly when going up hills. My cardiologist prescribed 5mg Amlodipine (also a ccb) instead of increasing the Bisoprolol, which seems to work very well.
There are certain types of beta-blockers that do not affect the max heart rate, I forget the moleculre unfortunately but the doctor will know. However, please have an angiogram (if you haven't had one yet) and make sure that the plaques in the LAD are calcified otherwise there is always a risk of part of the plaque getting detached at higher efforts and causing a blockage (infarction).
It's Mixed plaque
Thank you for your answer. I really, really don't want to scare you or anything but if you want to keep exercising at high intensities might want to discuss this with your doctor and perhaps consider a stent at some point in the future to mitigate the risk of plaque pieces breaking off.
hi I take Dilatiiazem they have been a game changer for me I do 3 spin classes a week they helped me loads with my training I walk and do gym sessions as well - good luck 👍
'Maximum' Heart Rate
Mysterious u-turn
Chest tightness
Exercsing with Arrhythmia
no suitable landing zone for stent to LAD
