atherosclorosis question

"searching" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am not sure if this is an appropriate forum to ask this question. I'll try.

Recently I was diagnosed with "high cholesterol." I read enough about it that I feel fairly well
informed - and I did make all the necessary adjustments, including cholesterol-reducing
medications.

But I am puzzled by one question. Say that a coronary artery has narrowed. Assuming that later
tests show an improvement ... what happens to the artery? Is it not as narrow? Not as blocked?

Thanks.

If by "later tests" you mean cholesterol tests, lowering cholesterol probably did not reverse the
narrowing unless you were very aggressive. This has happened, but it is fairly rare. Dr. Atkins
reported some of that for people of his diet - which is very strict. And Pfizer reported some
reversal recently for people on one of their drugs. Again it is possible, but fairly rare.

Bill - not a Dr.

"]news:[email hidden]...

|
| If by "later tests" you mean cholesterol tests, lowering cholesterol
probably
| did not reverse the narrowing unless you were very aggressive. This has happened, but it is fairly
| rare. Dr. Atkins reported some of that for
people
| of his diet - which is very strict. And Pfizer reported some reversal
recently
| for people on one of their drugs. Again it is possible, but fairly rare.
|
| Bill - not a Dr.

So, if I understand correctly, lowering your cholesterol is a wise step to take so as not to make
matters worse (i.e. further clogging of your arteries). However, if you already have, say, a
partially blocked artery, going on medication will not reverse the condition. Not likely, anyway.

If this is true, then what is one to do to understand to what extent these arteries may be blocked?
Are there any diagnostic procedures (forgive my ignorance) from which to infer if there is a
presence of atherosclorosis?

Thanks.

searching said:

I am not sure if this is an appropriate forum to ask this question. I'll try.

Recently I was diagnosed with "high cholesterol." I read enough about it that I feel fairly well
informed - and I did make all the necessary adjustments, including cholesterol-reducing
medications.

But I am puzzled by one question. Say that a coronary artery has narrowed. Assuming that later
tests show an improvement ... what happens to the artery? Is it not as narrow?

Possibly.

Quoted message said:

Not as blocked?

Possibly.

Quoted message said:

Thanks.

You are welcome :-)

Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
| searching wrote:
|
| > I am not sure if this is an appropriate forum to ask this question.
I'll
| > try.
| >
| > Recently I was diagnosed with "high cholesterol." I read enough about
it
| > that I feel fairly well informed - and I did make all the necessary adjustments, including cholesterol-
| > reducing medications.
| >
| > But I am puzzled by one question. Say that a coronary artery has
narrowed.
| > Assuming that later tests show an improvement ... what happens to the artery? Is it not as
| > narrow?
|
| Possibly.
|
| > Not as blocked?
| >
|
| Possibly.
|
| >
| > Thanks.
|
| You are welcome :-)
|
| Humbly,
|
| Andrew
|
| --
| Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD Board-Certified Cardiologist heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗
|

How likely is "possibly"?

I need to know more information. Can you guide me (or describe briefly) what sort of reversal can
take place to an artery after successful treatment
(i.e. results look better).

Thanks.

"searching" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"]news:[email hidden]...

|
| If by "later tests" you mean cholesterol tests, lowering cholesterol
probably
| did not reverse the narrowing unless you were very aggressive. This has happened, but it is
| fairly rare. Dr. Atkins reported some of that for
people
| of his diet - which is very strict. And Pfizer reported some reversal
recently
| for people on one of their drugs. Again it is possible, but fairly rare.
|
| Bill - not a Dr.

So, if I understand correctly, lowering your cholesterol is a wise step to take so as not to make
matters worse (i.e. further clogging of your arteries). However, if you already have, say, a
partially blocked artery, going on medication will not reverse the condition. Not likely, anyway.

If this is true, then what is one to do to understand to what extent these arteries may be
blocked? Are there any diagnostic procedures (forgive my ignorance) from which to infer if there
is a presence of atherosclorosis?

Thanks.

Yes. There are several, but none is 100% definitive. The simplest is an EKG which is often combined
with exercise - e.g. a treadmill. This measures electrical activity in the heart. If a part of the
heart muscle is being significantly deprived of blood this can show it. Another are various nuclear
tests where they inject you with an isotope that has an affinity for heart muscle and than take a
picture with a camera that is sensitive to that isotope. No or little isotope, means not enough
blood getting to that part of the heart, means a blocked artery. An angiogram is usually considered
the best. This is a surgical procedure where they thread a catheter up your leg (usually) and into
your heart and inject dye. You get a good picture of what the arteries look like.

Almost everyone has some atherosclerosis. If you are not having symptoms, you probably don't need
anything beyond an EKG in association with a physical every now and then. However, talk to your Dr.

Bill

"searching" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"]news:[email hidden]...

|
| If by "later tests" you mean cholesterol tests, lowering cholesterol
probably
| did not reverse the narrowing unless you were very aggressive. This has happened, but it is
| fairly rare. Dr. Atkins reported some of that for
people
| of his diet - which is very strict. And Pfizer reported some reversal
recently
| for people on one of their drugs. Again it is possible, but fairly rare.
|
| Bill - not a Dr.

So, if I understand correctly, lowering your cholesterol is a wise step to take so as not to make
matters worse (i.e. further clogging of your arteries).

I would think so, as my really common sense told me, but then i am not doctor.

FP
===================

However, if you already have, say, a partially blocked artery,

Quoted message said:

going on medication will not reverse the condition. Not likely, anyway.

If this is true, then what is one to do to understand to what extent these arteries may be
blocked? Are there any diagnostic procedures (forgive my ignorance) from which to infer if there
is a presence of atherosclorosis?

Thanks.

searching said:

"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
| searching wrote:
|
| > I am not sure if this is an appropriate forum to ask this question.
I'll
| > try.
| >
| > Recently I was diagnosed with "high cholesterol." I read enough about
it
| > that I feel fairly well informed - and I did make all the necessary adjustments, including cholesterol-
| > reducing medications.
| >
| > But I am puzzled by one question. Say that a coronary artery has
narrowed.
| > Assuming that later tests show an improvement ... what happens to the artery? Is it not as
| > narrow?
|
| Possibly.
|
| > Not as blocked?
| >
|
| Possibly.
|
| >
| > Thanks.
|
| You are welcome :-)
|
| Humbly,
|
| Andrew
|
| --
| Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD Board-Certified Cardiologist heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗
|

How likely is "possibly"?

If the lipid profile is optimal (LDL less than 100 mg/dl, HDL greater than 45 mg/dl, Trigs less than
150 mg/dl), the blood pressure is optimal (less than
115/75 mmHg), and weight is "ideal" (BMI is 20) then I would hazard a guess of 95%.

Quoted message said:

I need to know more information. Can you guide me (or describe briefly) what sort of reversal can
take place to an artery after successful treatment
(i.e. results look better).

Atherosclerotic plaques will be rendered invulnerable (unable to rupture to cause a heart attack).

Quoted message said:

Thanks.

You are welcome :-)

Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

When you start to lower your cholesterol you reduce the risks of suffering
from atherosclorosis and the possiblity of suffering heart attacks. You may
well find that the artery overtime may become wider depending on the changes
that have already occurred. the widening should happen as the cholesterol
should be able to be cleared from the arteries. If you smoke, it has been
shown that this can cause cholesterol to attach to the artery and still
cause the same problems, so look for all the ways to lower the problem, not
just diet.
theo
"searching" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am not sure if this is an appropriate forum to ask this question. I'll try.

Recently I was diagnosed with "high cholesterol." I read enough about it that I feel fairly well
informed - and I did make all the necessary adjustments, including cholesterol-reducing
medications.

But I am puzzled by one question. Say that a coronary artery has

narrowed.

Quoted message said:

Assuming that later tests show an improvement ... what happens to the artery? Is it not as narrow?
Not as blocked?

Thanks.

"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message snipped...

Quoted message said:

If the lipid profile is optimal (LDL less than 100 mg/dl, HDL greater than 45 mg/dl, Trigs less
than 150 mg/dl),

Could you help me out in translating my lipid profile? Mine is🙁LDL 2.94;HDL 2.10 and Trigs 1.13).

FP
==============================
the blood pressure is optimal (less than

Quoted message said:

115/75 mmHg), and weight is "ideal" (BMI is 20) then I would hazard a guess of 95%.

Quoted message said:

I need to know more information. Can you guide me (or describe briefly) what sort of reversal
can take place to an artery after successful treatment
(i.e. results look better).

Atherosclerotic plaques will be rendered invulnerable (unable to rupture to cause a heart attack).

Quoted message said:

Thanks.

You are welcome :-)

Humbly,

Andrew

francispoon said:

"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message snipped...

Quoted message said:

If the lipid profile is optimal (LDL less than 100 mg/dl, HDL greater than 45 mg/dl, Trigs less
than 150 mg/dl),

Could you help me out in translating my lipid profile? Mine is🙁LDL 2.94;HDL 2.10 and Trigs 1.13).

You can find the conversion factors on my web site under FAQs.

Humbly,

Andrew
--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

On Wed, 7 Jan 2004 12:14:09 -0500, Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD wrote
(in message <[email hidden]>😉:

Quoted message said:

francispoon said:

"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message snipped...

Quoted message said:

If the lipid profile is optimal (LDL less than 100 mg/dl, HDL greater than 45 mg/dl, Trigs less
than 150 mg/dl),

Could you help me out in translating my lipid profile? Mine is🙁LDL 2.94;HDL 2.10 and
Trigs 1.13).

You can find the conversion factors on my web site under FAQs.

Is that the one where all the "proceeds" go to charity?

--
Steve

Weeding the Lord's Vineyards Since 2003

Steve said:

Is that the one where all the "proceeds" go to charity?

Just a tax dodge. If anything goes, that is. Matt