Re: coronary heart disease PLEASE HELP!

msmollymac@xxxxxxxxx wrote in part:

My father went to the doctor 4 days ago because he had been having
chest pains. The doctor sent him immediately over to the hospital to
have testing done on his heart. They went in today to do a balloon
angioplasty but after inserting the catheter the doctor decided my
father could not have the stints put in nor was he a candidate for
heart surgery. I'm so confused because they are planning to put him on
medication-- it just seems like something more could be done & now I
feel as if he's just waiting to have a heart attack.
I'd like to talk to someone who is more educated on coronary heart
disease or maybe someone who has had experience with heart disease in
the past. Any information would be appreciated.
Some things you might ought to know are that my father is 60 years
old... his father died of a heart attack at 53. He has smoked for over
40years and drinks heavly. However, he is not overweight and very
active for his age. Also his diet could be better.
I'm worried sick over this and have no clue who to ask about the
disease and what other options he has. I'd really like to know if the
chances of him dying soon are high or not but the doctors and my mother
seem to want to keep me in the dark. Please help if you can offer any
information or advice. It will be greatly appreciated.

If you don't know what his evaluation showed, there's not a lot anyone can
say. Heart disease isn't something that is just suddenly there, it usually
takes decades to produce it. Chest pain is usually due to heart arteries
becoming so narrowed by atherosclerosis that the heart muscle doesn't get
enough blood (oxygen).

Usually, this requires a stent or bypass surgery to alleviate the pain and
reduce the chance of a major heart attack. But sometimes doctors decide that
drugs and lifestyle changes are a better treatment. You need to find out the
reason your father is not receiving stents or surgery. He may not need them
or he may not be able to benefit from them or he may not be able to
withstand them.

In any case, options should always include major, carefully arrived at
lifestyle changes.
--
Jim Chinnis Warrenton, Virginia, USA
.

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