cad????

[thomasdp21]

I'm 24 yr old male. I smOke age 15 to 21 or 22 now I dip.  I have been physically active whole life. The only medical issue I have is generalized anxiety disorder.   I was lifting weights and runnuning 9 to 12 miles a week.  Until 3 or 4 months ago. I got out of my routine. My anxiety got bad in Jan.  All day panic attacks. Been controlling them better. Been taken lexapro for 4 yrs.  Now I have this horrible fear of heart disease like my heart is severely damaged from tobacco use.  I feel like if I run or workOut I'll die. Never had issue before.  I been to lots of cardiologist in past since I was 15. Never found nething. All I have r anxiety chest pains. Well I think since I haven't worked out in 4 months  I'm a little out of shape.  I bring groceries upstairs my heart speeds up I breath harder chest feels tight.  This is normal right??  Do I severe blockage?   What's the likelihood?  I'm in terrible fear I really want to workout.  This only thing cardio gave menwas beta blocker for PVC.  I dont use it cause I only get them occassionally. Please help

[cindy707]

I dont know Thomas but this sounds like you are taking this to a level you don;t need to be at.  From what you've said you have pretty much been given the green light from the docs so you need to maybe do a little adjustment and move back into life and not let this take over your whole experience of living.  At 24 years old with a great cholesterol level this chances of you having CAD are fairly remote unless there is something you aren't telling us.  Yes smoking dilates the arteries but normally does not cause blockages..that comes from diet, lack of exercise all sorts of things and we all know that smoking and dip is not a good thng it can cause all types of pulmonary issues and sounds to me like you already are aware of this.  I think if any of us no matter what shape we are in carry bags of groceries UP stairs that yes its pretty normal to get short of breath and our hearts speed up...part of the reaction of the extra work we are putting on our hearts.  Unless a doc has told you something we don;t know about i would simply make a call to the doc that put you on the beta blockers (calls are free) and ask them if there is any reason why you can't start back into your workout regimen...just remember to hydrate during the workout so that your heart doesn't get dehydrated which can make it irritable and cause it to jump around a little like it does with most healthy humans.  I personally think you are on the right track and are fighting your way back to your life and just need the okay from your doc...i would bet anythng that you are in for a world of happiness once you start doing the things you used to do and put this behind you...and remember no cheating and dipping during the workouts...thats a big no no.....call the doc...no worries and relax a little ....sometimes our minds take us to places where we should all be writing books on what we have gone thru and congrats on being on the edge of starting a new and happier life...let us know how it all pans out thomas and we are all here for you.

[thomasdp21]

My total cholestral in dec was less than 200 hdl was a little low