atherosclerosis

[Mermaid007]

hello everyone I have just been diagnosed with atherosclerosis and have a full investigation of heart I am 52 female and very scared it’s from smoking 40 a day hate myself for doing this this to myself giving up is so hard anyway does this illness make you dizzy clumsy incredibly exhausted and what treatments do people have please I have been given statins aspirin and half a heart tablet isosorbite monoitate 60mg and seeing cardio in 3 months I so scared of having a heart attack help

[ChoochSiesta]

May not be smoking. I have never smoked a single cigarette but have the same problem 🤷.

[Mermaid007 in reply to ChoochSiesta]

Hiya Choochsiesta I think it probably is as I smoked for 30 years 40+ sadly. Poor you

[Franks-Nan in reply to Mermaid007]

Don`t beat yourself up, we are only human with many faults, i smoked rollups for 35 years and gave them up 2 years ago. When i had my heart attack i didnt smoke for a week because i was in hospital, however when i came home the stress of it all made me smoke even more, one morning i rolled a ciggy lit it and had a massive panic attack, i put the tobacco, lighter, fag papers in the bin and never touched one since. Even though i smoked i have not got heart issues except AF, mind you i now eat my own body weight in humbugs.

[Mermaid007 in reply to Franks-Nan]

Aw w yes me too roll ups for 30 years and first z20 without filters my poor heart! Wow heart attack too and you all play the whole thing is so scary so thank you for your positive reply so mind me asking what’s AF please

[Brambles_Mum]

My partner has been smoking for 46 years and is very fit and healthy, doesn't even get ill!

There are many factors that can be attributed to heart disease, such as too much sugar, vegetable oils and trans fats (All inflammatory) , stress, lack of certain nutrients etc.

[Mermaid007 in reply to Brambles_Mum]

My mum died of a suddenly overnight nothing wrong with her until the post mortem it was ischemic heart disease sister has aryhmia my other sister born with hole in heart so runs in family too

[Happyrosie]

It looks as if you are on the standard treatment. The next steps are really down to you: Healthy eating, plenty of exercise, no smoking.

Read the BHF website for lots of information

[Mermaid007 in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you will look now x

[davebal67]

Smoking is the number one risk factor for heart disease due to inflamation. It increases the overall risk and i was a smoker for 30 years. I stopped over 10 years ago. Any doctor will tell you of the dangers.

When i was in for my heart operation a guy who was a smoker had difficulties coming out of anesthesia from a simple Hernia repair.

[Mermaid007]

yes I thought so I got very conflicting replies on here ever so confusing and a bit of shock whe I just found out desperately trying to give up thanks for reply

[davebal67 in reply to Mermaid007]

I took Champix went from 30 a day to 0 in two weeks. I would defo reccommend it.

[cabgpatch]

Smoking is considered one of the highest risk factors for heart disease, but as people say, it isn't the only one. Bad diet and lack of exercise can both cause heart/circulation problems as well. I don't smoke but have a family history of heart/circulation problems and didn't have the best diet in the world earlier in life. At the very least, there is no way smoking is going to help your health, although I appreciate it can be very hard to stop.

As I understand it, isosorbide mononitrate dilates the blood vessels, so enables a better blood flow. Although it doesn't fix things, it makes it far less likely that you will have a heart attack because it enables a better blood flow to the heart. I was prescribed it after an angiogram showed severe stenosis (narrowing of the blood vessels) which supplied blood to my heart. It gave me a new lease of life, I had more energy, but it was only a short-term fix as my condition required bypass surgery. That doesn't necessarily mean you will need it though.

As has been said, you are on the standard medication to prevent heart attacks and I would have thought that you would have been given a sublingual spray as well if the doctors thought you were in imminent danger from a heart attack. Things may feel bleak right now, but it does get better once you have a complete diagnosis from the cardiologist and get sorted. All the best!

[Mermaid007 in reply to cabgpatch]

Thank you so so much for your advice very much appreciated and understanding thank you x