Medical Questions > Medications after Heart Attack and Stint
Matt:
Firstly, Congratulations on your efforts to date in lowering your cholesterol and triglyceride levels! However, to prevent further heart attacks or strokes, whilst lowering cholesterol levels are important, and this would not have been possible without the medications your doctor prescribed, just as important is to lose your extra body weight, stop smoking, keep your blood pressure under control and manage stress levels. We appreciate your saying that you have, since your heart attack "tried and tried to both quit smoking and lose weight" Well, you know, these goals are not impossible, but you will maybe require assistance to achieve them. Perhaps if you realize that smoking and being overweight are risk factors equally as important as high cholesterol/high blood pressure levels, for further heart attacks or stroke, you may have more incentive to continue making an effort. If you smoke, you are about 4 times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those who don't smoke. Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor which means it narrows the blood vessels and decreases blood flow which can cause high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and stroke.
The good thing is that the life style changes - heart healthy diet, regular exercise, no smoking, stress management, all necessary to help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, also help keep blood pressure under control and assist with weight loss, so you will be" killing several birds with one stone" so to speak! and lengthening your life. Regarding alcohol consumption, no more than 1-2 glasses red wine daily are best. One extra factor which you do not mention though very necessary for weight loss, but also important for heart health is Exercise, which must be sufficient and regular. There is no QUICK way to lose weight successfully. Eat Less and Move More is the simple key to weight loss. It means a life style change of course. Change which will include regular, sufficient exercise and a heart healthy diet, and it may take some time to accomplish, but when you lose weight slowly and you develop a new lifestyle it is more likely to stay off. It will take Effort on your part, as diet without exercise will not work. If you find you require more assistance than this, you may have a Weight Watchers Group near you, where you can obtain personalized professional advice, and the emotional support of others also needing to lose weight. Also, you may prefer to attend a gymnasium or aerobic classes in a group. Regular walking, swimming, gardening or sport are also valuable exercises. You now understand how important it is to stop smoking so the links below may assist you. You are very wise to have deleted coca cola from your diet, drinking water instead. Below you will see a link for "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension" (DASH) and is also a good guidance for lowering cholesterol and losing weight.
You say you wish to "stop your medications and see what happens", but with a long history of high cholesterol/triglyceride levels and high blood pressure it is very unlikely that a reduction would have occurred without them. No medication should ever be stopped without first discussing your condition with your own prescribing doctor, and since you have already had a heart attack and a stent inserted, it would be irresponsible to say the least to stop the assistance these medications are giving you. It may help you to know exactly what your mediations are:
Crestor and Zetia are statin drugs for lowering cholesterol levels. You need to know to report immediately to your prescribing doctor any muscle aches or pains.
Tricor is for lowering triglyceride levels.
Metoprolol and Altace ((ramipril) is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat high blood pressure.
Plavix keeps blood platelets slippery and discourages formation of clots, thereby improving blood flow to your heart, brain, and body. The drug is prescribed to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and serious circulation problems in people with hardening of the arteries or unstable angina (dangerous chest pain), and in people who've already suffered a heart attack or stroke.
DASH Diet:
http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/apr97/Dash.htm
Firstly, Congratulations on your efforts to date in lowering your cholesterol and triglyceride levels! However, to prevent further heart attacks or strokes, whilst lowering cholesterol levels are important, and this would not have been possible without the medications your doctor prescribed, just as important is to lose your extra body weight, stop smoking, keep your blood pressure under control and manage stress levels. We appreciate your saying that you have, since your heart attack "tried and tried to both quit smoking and lose weight" Well, you know, these goals are not impossible, but you will maybe require assistance to achieve them. Perhaps if you realize that smoking and being overweight are risk factors equally as important as high cholesterol/high blood pressure levels, for further heart attacks or stroke, you may have more incentive to continue making an effort. If you smoke, you are about 4 times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those who don't smoke. Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor which means it narrows the blood vessels and decreases blood flow which can cause high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and stroke.
The good thing is that the life style changes - heart healthy diet, regular exercise, no smoking, stress management, all necessary to help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, also help keep blood pressure under control and assist with weight loss, so you will be" killing several birds with one stone" so to speak! and lengthening your life. Regarding alcohol consumption, no more than 1-2 glasses red wine daily are best. One extra factor which you do not mention though very necessary for weight loss, but also important for heart health is Exercise, which must be sufficient and regular. There is no QUICK way to lose weight successfully. Eat Less and Move More is the simple key to weight loss. It means a life style change of course. Change which will include regular, sufficient exercise and a heart healthy diet, and it may take some time to accomplish, but when you lose weight slowly and you develop a new lifestyle it is more likely to stay off. It will take Effort on your part, as diet without exercise will not work. If you find you require more assistance than this, you may have a Weight Watchers Group near you, where you can obtain personalized professional advice, and the emotional support of others also needing to lose weight. Also, you may prefer to attend a gymnasium or aerobic classes in a group. Regular walking, swimming, gardening or sport are also valuable exercises. You now understand how important it is to stop smoking so the links below may assist you. You are very wise to have deleted coca cola from your diet, drinking water instead. Below you will see a link for "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension" (DASH) and is also a good guidance for lowering cholesterol and losing weight.
You say you wish to "stop your medications and see what happens", but with a long history of high cholesterol/triglyceride levels and high blood pressure it is very unlikely that a reduction would have occurred without them. No medication should ever be stopped without first discussing your condition with your own prescribing doctor, and since you have already had a heart attack and a stent inserted, it would be irresponsible to say the least to stop the assistance these medications are giving you. It may help you to know exactly what your mediations are:
Crestor and Zetia are statin drugs for lowering cholesterol levels. You need to know to report immediately to your prescribing doctor any muscle aches or pains.
Tricor is for lowering triglyceride levels.
Metoprolol and Altace ((ramipril) is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat high blood pressure.
Plavix keeps blood platelets slippery and discourages formation of clots, thereby improving blood flow to your heart, brain, and body. The drug is prescribed to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and serious circulation problems in people with hardening of the arteries or unstable angina (dangerous chest pain), and in people who've already suffered a heart attack or stroke.
DASH Diet:
http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/apr97/Dash.htm
September 23, 2006 |
Heather RN
Heather RN
I was taking statin drugs, Crestor 5, mg. and Tricor 145.mg. I began experiencing excruciating muscle pain, especially in my lower back and hips to the point where I could hardly walk. Also, I was almost homicidal in my approach to people. I couldn't sleep and my legs feet and hands tingled and went numb. I mentioned this to my doctor as possible side effects of the statin drug, and he looked at me as if I had some nerve questioning his judgment. Needless to say, I dropped both him and the drugs.
Today, I've lost 8 pounds, have no muscle pain, no numbness, I'm human again and best of all, I'M OFF STATIN DRUGS FOREVER! I can lower my cholesterol naturally. I think the whole business of cholesterol is over=hped!
Today, I've lost 8 pounds, have no muscle pain, no numbness, I'm human again and best of all, I'M OFF STATIN DRUGS FOREVER! I can lower my cholesterol naturally. I think the whole business of cholesterol is over=hped!
May 4, 2008 |
Letty
Letty
Since the heart attack i have tried and tried to both quit smoking and lose weight. I continued to gain and 2 years later I weigh in (10 weeks ago) at 273. My cholestral was at 400 and my triglycerides were at 608. I have been battling this, but this was the first everything went this hig. I was ANGRY and decided I was not going let go of life so easily.
After 10 weeks, I lost 51lbs and now weigh 222. My goal is 180. My cholestoral has dropped (new lipo profile) to 1175 and should be less that 1400. My triglycerides went from 608 to 125 in 4 weeks, and the next 4 weeks dropped to 75. For the first time since I was 19, my tryglycerides are below 200.
I take 6 pills a day - Crestor - Tricor - Zetia - Altace - Metoprolol and Plavix.
I want to stop all and see what happens but realize that since I had a Heart Attack and a Stint that I will need to take something. I am not looking for THE answer but would just like some direction of what to expect before I visit my doctor again.
Thanks,
Matt
I immediately cut Coca Cola from my diet and replcaed it with water, I have a banana for breakfast, grapes for lunch, a pickle or two when I get home, a lean cuisine or healthy choice meal for dinner, peanuts (recommended serving) for a snack and also beef jerky. And maybe more pickles.