Heath Risk

[jeffcampbell777]

I just found out that I have 25% blockage of my LAD and 64% blockage of my circumflex artery.  I am 45 years old and work out a minimum of 6 days a week.  My workouts tend to be 4 intensive and 2 moderate.  I was just told by my doctor to not worry about it and to continue my life as is.  Only suggestion was to continue to take current medication plus a baby aspirin.  The only other thing I was told was to eat healthy.  I don't smoke and only recently started drinking a glass of red wine 3 times a week at the suggestion of my cardiologist.

How worried should I be and do I need to get a second opinion?

[CCF CCF]

Given that you are not having any symptoms and if you can continue to exercise without problems, then medical management is appropriate.  You should be aware that you do have at least moderate coronary artery disease and that this could progress and thus continuing to eat healthy, taking all your medications as prescribed, exercising, and avoiding smoking will help prevent progression.  Your doctor will also help monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol levels which will also help decrease the risk of progression.  If you notice any chest pain, shortness of breath, or decreased ability to exercise, you should consult your physician.

[Occupant]

What's interesting is that, although there is definite proof that free radicals will affect heart health, the rest is a little murkier. I read about research that was done with roundworms that were given a herbicide to increase their free radicals and then some of them were put on antioxidants and the rest not. The once that were not treated increased their lifespan on average by 58%. The whole thing seems a little more complicated now.

[ed34]

Firstly, not sure what your Cardiologist has been reading about red wine, but if there are any antioxidants to be had, they are in the skin, which of course is not in the wine. You would be better eating red grapes a couple of times a week rather than drinking wine. For the blockages you state, then intervention is not required at this stage, but there may come a time when it will be. A good healthy diet is essential, and you need to look at your stress levels. It's great that you don't smoke, and exercise regularly. As an additional thing, I would avoid high levels of sugar, especially energy drinks. There seems to be a correlation between sugars and heart disease.