A Health/Heart-related question

[auburngrad82]

And let me preface it by saying yes, I have had bloodwork done and I do have an appt set for a cardiac stress test next week , so I'm not trying to do a self-diagnosis.

I've been experiencing chest burning/pain, back pain and extreme fatigue for a while now. Additionally, my normally very good blood pressure has skyrocketed over the last six months so the dr is doing tests, etc.

My cholesterol test came back atrocious. I'm in the high risk category in everything. I know that high cholesterol can lead to clogging of the arteries which in turn can lead to a heart attack.

My question is this:

Can increased blood pressure, chest burning/pain and fatigue be symptoms of clogged arteries?

Just wondering what the heart doctor is going to be looking for next week...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear auburngrad82...........

Yes, all those, or some sub-set of those too, can be symptoms of clogged arteries.......

I'm surprised if your doctor hasn't already prescribed some medications for you to help all these symptoms....

Or has s/he?

I would NOT mess around with those, esp. not for six months....

Please take care of yourself.......

Keep me informed, OK? As a retired nurse, I am interested......

:hi:

[auburngrad82]

2. Cholesterol lowering drugs have been prescribed

After the stress test more may be in the works. I really don't want to start on BP drugs if I can help it since my BP has always been good until recently. But if I have to I will do it.

It's a bit scary. My brother had two heart attacks by the time he was 36 but I always said it happened because he smoked. I don't smoke but I guess it's just in the genetic makeup of our family.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. I can bet you're scared.......

But I'm glad you're taking care of things....

Elevated cholesterol can lead to heart attacks.

And elevated cholesterol can also be part of your family's genetic history...

In other words, it isn't just diet that influences that level.

My family has a history of high chol., and I'm taking a med for it.....

And now my cholesterol levels are normal!

It is definitely in your favor that you don't smoke, too.......

[5thGenDemocrat]

4. Three heart attacks here

My problem is with my right coronary artery. It is genetically undersized and will eventually require open-heart surgery (so far, I've had two stents implanted and take five different drugs every day). It's also more than likely going to kill me within the next fifteen years or so (mom died of cardiac problems at 63 -- it runs in the family).
I'm no doctor, but I'd say you seriously have cause for concern. Those symptoms indicate to me sometime is wrong, but I can't speak to whether or not it is due to clogged arteries. I can say that, at 50 next week, mine are about 30 percent occluded -- which is not out of normal for a man my age.
When I have an attack, it feels like I got shot through the left shoulder, just under the shoulder socket. There is a pain in the chest and a corresponding pain directly through my body in my back behind (or under) the shoulder blade.
But you and I probably don't have the same problem, of course. My blood pressure is fine (chronically low -- like 100/70, typically). My chest doesn't have any "burning/pain," aside from the muscle aches and so on that comes with age. And I'll tend to experience light-headedness or dizziness -- mostly because of the aforementioned low blood pressure and the Lopressor I take in spite of it because Lopressor has benefits besides merely lowering blood pressure (you wouldn't BELIEVE what my BP drops to at rest -- you'd think the reading would be that of a three-toed sloth).
Doctors can do marvelous things with the heart nowadays. I live in Saginaw, MI -- which is home to two different and exceptionally good cardiac hospitals. Get those tests done ASAP. I let my symptoms go for two weeks before I had them checked out, only because the pain had gotten so bad that I needed painkillers (I thought) and walked the three blocks to the hospital. Turned out I was literally within an hour of dying and was on an operating table twenty minutes after I walked through the door.
This is not shit to play around with. Judging by your screen name, you should be about three years younger than I am and, thus, a couple of years older than I was when my problem was found. So keep some optimistic thoughts and get your ass in there for whatever tests the doctors are telling you to get.
I wish you the best. DUmail me if you want to discuss your fears and concerns. We don't seem to have the exact same problem, but we both have a problem and I'll be happy to chatter with you about it if you wish.
And, if it IS high cholesterol, that's one of the easiest things to take care of. So that's good.
John
I'll be here all week. And hopefully a lot longer.