Chest Pain

I have a 80% blockage of my ramus branch of the coronary artery. I was initially hospitalized in the Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Sacramento in 1/1996 with chest pain and it was determined I had a LBBB. Since that time I have had 5 heart protocols after complaining of chest pain. My Dad, a patholgist, kept telling me to keep after it because it appeared nobody was believing me. Finally, in 11/2011 I was catheterized and a 80% blockage was found. Due to its small caliber it could not be stinted or survive angioplasty. I have been on Ranexa. I am not getting worse, nor am I getting better. I have type 2 diabetes totally controlled. I also have myasynthia gravis also controlled and Low T. My whole family is doctors. I was a USAF pilot and I also lettered in HS and College Football. Altough my height and weight is out of proportion, I look exactly like my Dad and Uncles look and none of them were athletic nor did any of them die of heart disease and all lived into their mid 80s. I have never smoked or used illegal drugs and was always acive. Unfortunately perhaps, I have a high pain threshold and on several occassion I have continued to function with serious wounds and disease until forced to stop.

I trust my current cardiologist, and he has indicated that no other method would have found my blockage. He also has told me that my prior heart protocols were invalid as my LBBB would have made them inaccurate. I also went over this data with my first cousin,  the senior pathologist at Cincinnati General or whatever it is called now, and he also confirmed this. My problem is that being a former veteran and exposed to Agent Orange, the VA is giving me an Effective Date of the day of my heart catheteriztion in 12/11.

Their definition of cornonary heart disease specifially includes angina which I have been complaining about for many years.

Nobody called it angina until the catheterization.

My first question is, with a small caliber artery blockage, what are the chances of a heart attack?, and second, why can't my complaint of chest pain be called angina? My dad passed away 10 years ago or I would be asking him. He also was a VA consultant. I feel sorry for vets who have do deal with the VA without help.

Dear Respected Sir

I am a Year 2 MBBS student and my dad is aged 59years.He is hypertensive and was doing well with 5Mg Amlodipine.(Norvasc).He is 96kgs/Height 174Cms. From the last 10 days he has been having chest pain which was more if he walked fast,it improved slightly with omeprazole.He has been on Etoricoxib 60mg from about 4 months due to arthritis.Before this he was taking Diclofenac Sodium from a eriod of 2 years.He is also taking Gabapentin 400 mg due to slip disc in c6. My dad did not want to visit a cardiologist as he claimis he dad similiar pain 30years ago. 

I forced him to see my professor in the hospital,A MRCP Cardiologist.The ECG was normal,he advised to come visit for a stress ECG.On doing the stress test,He started feeling pain at 4.5mins due to which test was stopped. The doctor advised to do an angiography and labelled the result as strong postive. He prescribed the following medicines: Clopidrogel 75mg,Bisoprolol fumerate 2.5mg,Aspirin 100mg,Atrovastatin 40mg.Amplodipine to be continiued. 

My dad has been in a state of denial and angry with me,he refiused to do the angiography and refused to take the medications,he calims that he is well and that I am trying to label him as diseased.He is being angry and sad. I have convinced him to take the other medication expect the beta blocker bisoprolol,he is takiing the Amplodipine 5mg. My question is whether the stress ECG can be false positive?Is there any other way to diagnose CAD non invasively. Is it Ok if he skips the Betablocker, His BP is controlled.It increased only while doing the strees till around 198 systolic. His right eye has been red from yesterday.Is this dangerous.(we did the stress ecg day before). 

I would like your expert advisein dealing wit this as I am extremely worried. Kindly reply at the earliest. Thank You for your time..

I dont smoke, nor drink, I am 37 yrs old fem with 3 children, 2 natural births, 1 c section. have hashimotos thyroiditis since i was 20yrs at which time was also diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse and mild regurgitation "not significant". Since then I've had 3 more echos , 1 said again mild regurgit , 1 was completely clear!!!! , and one last year said mild regurg in 3 valves really don't know what to think . all echos were done in different labs. also have gerd and erosive gastritis. I exercise on the treadmill or in a stadium nearby for 30mins to an hour doing fast walks.i also live on the second floor with no elevator so i climb about 40 steps. I watch my diet, and have very normal high hdl (61) low ldl and very low triglykerides.

question today i was taking my son to the hospital for a dermatologist apptment. I climbed 53 steps and i got something like a chest pain which scared me to death!! on the way back OF COURSE it didn;t happen again so I don't know what to make of it. no heart disease in my family. I suffer from anxiety/panic disorder with flashbacks of disturbing and intrusive thoughts ever since last year after a surgery i had where i had panic in the o.r (i was left to wait alone). anyhow, i am too scared to go to the doctors so i would appreciate your opinion.

I had night cold sweating every night in the last 5 years.6 days ago I had a heart attack and Angiografia was made in me,  2 stents put... there is no more sweating at night ! can you tell me what are your thoughts? can you define the long term consistent sweating?

I have been diagnosed with PVCS as of my mid twenties. Now I am fifty three and have in the last year been diagnosed with trigeminies. I feel pressure and discomfort in my chest when they are active and my pulse and blood presure is hard to establish?

I am a 43 year old male who had three heart attacks. One at age 34,35, and 36. I have five total stents due to the cholesterol build up. Six years later, I have angina induced by physical activity and stress. I did a stress test (treadmill) and angina cut it short. I did a catheterization with no significant obstructions observed. Any idea what the problem is?

I have been getting severe spasms everywhere,but a lot in my rib area I have been given muscle relaxers, 2.5 mil. valium and pain meds. but its not helping. could this be caused from my arteries? I have had a quad. bypass, and I'm diabetic. this has been going on over 2 years and getting worse. It's everyday all day long. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.I'm 59 years old also.

Hi; Is left ventricular diastolic dysfunction with trace pulmonary insufficiency beginning stage of heart failure? I am 41 and was just hospitalized for bad chest pain. I also have sob when active. Weakness in arms and legs. I also have moderate sleep apnea. My docs had me on Beta Blocker Topril 25 mg since 08'.But don't seem to be concerned with my symptoms. I feel I should seek out a Cardiologist who will listen. Thank you for any info.

My name is Sara and I am 54 years old. I smoke a pack of cigarettes a month. Lately on my left side of my arm,I have experienced numbness and pain in my chest.I thought that I was having a heart attack. So I went to my family doctor. She examined me with her stethoscope, and said that my heart is fine.My blood pressure was a bit high due to the anxiety of not knowing where the pain was coming from. The doctor prescribed me a muscle pain reliever and had me get some x-rays done on my chest.The x-rays came back showing arthritis on my left arm.All she recommended was physical therapy. Do you think that it's arthritis or something else and does cigarette smoking contribute to the pain? What do you recommend for arthritis?