Narrowed artery

[Athena1969]

Hi looking to hear about people’s experiences of a narrowed artery. Cardiologist said we will start with statins and see what happens. Has anyone else just been treated with statins and not had surgery or stent and if so how long have you just taken statins and how did you did find out if it had improved. Mine didn’t show on an echocardiogram but only showed on 3d cardiac cat scan. Thank you in advance 😊

[Lowerfield_no_more]

I have been taking statins for over 25 years for very high cholesterol, likely genetically linked. I had an NSTEMI heart attack seven years ago and was told I had a variety of moderately blocked to severely blocked arteries around my heart. Due to the position of the worst of the blockages I was told it was too risky to insert a stent. I am now on the max dose of statin and ezetemibe and my total cholesterol is now down to an acceptable level. I do not get side effects same as the majority of statin users, and lead a normal life . My view is you only get to hear about the side effects from folks who have a bad experience, not the silent majority. But if you are prescribed statins to manage your lipid profile and stabilise laid down plaque, you are on them for life, for as soon as you stop taking them your lipid profile returns to it's natural state. You can reduce your heart health risk by lifestyle measures (diet, exercise, body weight management, alcohol, smoking etc) but as soon as you relax these measures your heart health risk goes back up again. Finally you won't know whether statins give you side effects until you try them, and if you get side effects from one statin there are others to trial. And if you are found to be statin intolerant, there is other medication available to manage your lipid profile.

[Athena1969 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Thanks so much for sharing, lots of food for thought, really appreciate your help. All the very best 😊

[JeremiahObadiah in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

This is an excellent reply.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

You have had a great response from Lowerfield_no_more

I was prescribed statins over 13 years ago, even though I don't have any significant cholesterol blockages in my arteries.

The reason is that statins can also help improve the function of the inner lining of your blood vessels, reduce inflammation and stabilise even small areas of plaque.

I live with a less common type of angina caused by vasospasms in my coronary arteries. Vasospastic angina can only be treated with medications.

I can ill afford developing cholesterol blockages along with vasospastic angina.

Taking statins, I hope along with my heart healthy lifestyle will help prevent this happening.

I have no major problems taking statins.

[Athena1969 in reply to Milkfairy]

Thanks so much for getting in touch, it’s a huge learning curve for me at the moment and everyone’s kind responses give such comfort about the road ahead, thanks once again, keep well 😊

[Jedi14]

So, you are lucky enough to be getting treatment before an actual HA. Which means you can be fixed in advance!

If you play your cards right, you may be saved from all the future heart aches!

[Athena1969 in reply to Jedi14]

Thanks so much @Jedi14, I am very humbled about hearing everyone’s Journeys which brings context to mine as you say. I do feel guilt for asking to be honest, all the women on my side of the family have had heart attacks, strokes so to find out what’s going on and in addition to having three leaking heart valves has knocked me for six to be honest. Thanks so much your comment has given me a lot of hope 😊

[Jedi14 in reply to Athena1969]

Glad to be of help xxx

[sandandkev]

I have cardiac artery disease since last year and have angina from narrowed arteries,I'm on statins now to reduce plaque build up by keeping cholesterol down, I had a ct angiogram and am happy at present,you have to trust the drs,they are so much more advanced in cardiac care these days

[Athena1969 in reply to sandandkev]

Thanks so much for your response, really is comforting, stay well xx

[Goonerboy6661]

I had a stent after a significant blockage, but I also have another area that’s being managed without intervention—just statins, lifestyle, and close monitoring. It’s more common than you’d think.

Your cardiologist’s approach—‘start with statins and see what happens’—is actually very evidence-based, especially if the narrowing isn’t severe or symptomatic. Statins don’t “unblock” arteries, but they can stabilise soft plaque, calm inflammation, and lower the risk of rupture, which is what really causes heart attacks.

That said, one thing I’ve really come to believe (and it’s backed by data) is:

You can’t out-prescribe a bad lifestyle.

Statins are a tool, not a shield. The biggest reductions in future risk come when medication is combined with things like weight loss (especially belly fat), improved fitness, stable blood sugar, and reducing stress and inflammation.

A large study published in The Lancet followed over 20,000 people and found that combining statins with healthy behaviours resulted in the lowest rates of heart events, while poor lifestyle negated much of the benefit of statins alone.

[Athena1969 in reply to Goonerboy6661]

Hi thanks for your message, yes I totally agree the lifestyle has to go hand in hand I have lost two stone in 8 weeks not going mad but just stripping everything back, little alcohol, salt, no caffeine and clean eating a Mediterranean diet. So the statins form reduce the plaque then I thought it did.

[Goonerboy6661 in reply to Athena1969]

Well done, sounds like you are on the correct path, Mediterranean diet is a great option but not pasta and pizza though 😂

[RutPet in reply to Goonerboy6661]

Lots of red wine!

[Goonerboy6661 in reply to RutPet]

😂

[JeremiahObadiah in reply to RutPet]

Haha. I think the recommendation is if you drink wine there is a small benefit in a very small glass of red wine ( and it is very small) .

However, if you don’t drink alcohol then it is thought better that you remain non drinking rather than have that tiny amount. Maybe because a small glass can easily become a larger glass or two which would outweigh the small benefit.

[30912]

When I was having some tests around my AF back in 2018, my cardiologist asked about family history. I told him my dad had a quadruple heart bypass at age 71. I was then booked in for an angiogram where they found an 80 to 90 percent blocked LAD - a partial blockage at the junction of another vein. It wasn't stented as I understood at the time that that kind of blockage was difficult to stent.

Due to the lack of any angina symptoms, it was decided to put me on Atorvastatin at 40mg daily and to keep my cholesterol down to around 4. Annual blood tests with my GP confirms this.

I've been on the same dose ever since without issue and no other symptoms. I guess I won't know of any improvement or change until I have another angiogram. Do I want to know? that is the question I ask myself. In the meantime, I try and have a life and not worry about it all the time I'm symptom free.

[Athena1969 in reply to 30912]

Thanks so much for sharing just trying to master the worrying side I suppose it’s early days only diagnosed two weeks ago.

Do you suffer from bradycardia my heart rate keeps going really low 49 today which is really scaring me.

[30912 in reply to Athena1969]

My resting HR is high forties/low fifties and the odd ECG that I've had recently does flag up bradycardia. But... there is a reason for that with me, which I'm more than comfortable with. I'm on a twice daily dose of 160mg Sotolol which slows my HR down and helps prevent bouts of AF and tachycardia which I've had some quite significant problems with about six months ago.

I can only reiterate what others have said about maintaining a healthy lifestyle - it really does help both physically and mentally.

So wishing you well on your journey.

[Athena1969 in reply to 30912]

Thanks so much @30912 everyone’s posts are such a comfort I’m totally on the lifestyle, my biggest struggle is coming to terms with my diagnosis and life never being the same again everyone is so brave on here and I feel terrified all the time feel like such a weak person.