Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer General Forum Have a family history of heart problems?

For you medical guys, how often should an overweight man with high BP get checked and how should he get checked? Meaning what kind of tests? I had a nuclear stress test about 5 years ago.

You do realize that high cholesterol can be dietary OR hereditary, correct. If you are on them, they test your liver function every 6 months. Grandfather died around 50 from a massive heart attack. Dad made it to 60 before getting 6 bypasses and it now doing great at 82. I will continue with Creator as dietary changes and weight loss did nothing for me.

Insurance issue? And didn’t want to have the burden of medical bills? That happens a lot.
Some folks, 90% are men, just dismiss symptoms because they think it can’t happen to them. Next thing you know someone is saying nice words about them at the funeral. Be proactive.

I fought indigestion for a few months. Complained to doctor the Nexium had quit working. He asked how long it had been since I had a stress test?
He got me set up for a stress test and I had two stents put in my LAD. Doc said they called it the widow maker. He said you don’t come back from it.
I never had a clue it was anything but indigestion!

Best money we ever spent. We’ve had it done 2x each. Both times all clear. It saved one of my buddy’s life tho. He’s a cyclist, hiker, runner, all that stuff. Had the scan and had a triple bypass 1 week later. Totally symptom free. He was a time bomb.

My wife is the epitome of health. Looking at her you’d never suspect she has slightly elevated cholesterol due to family history. Her dad sand brothers also have some heart issues so she’s super vigilant about all that. She eats right and does everything possible to stay off statins and other meds. So far it’s working. Me, I have zero knowledge of my family history. I’m good so far on all my labs and tests.

The scary part of all this is it seems that it can be so many different symptoms. What's a man to do, run to the Dr or ER everytime something feels off? Not being a smartass here at all. I know I'm a little too heavy and not in as good of shape as I need to be also.

You’re right. There’s a line between going too much and not going enough. I want to talk to this guy and see if he’s had any symptoms and if so, how long he’s had them.

You do realize that high cholesterol can be dietary OR hereditary, correct. If you are on them, they test your liver function every 6 months. Grandfather died around 50 from a massive heart attack. Dad made it to 60 before getting 6 bypasses and it now doing great at 82. I will continue with Creator as dietary changes and weight loss did nothing for me.

Guys. I have almost 30 years of Interventional Cardiology experience. Let me tell you a few things that are fact:

1. I see people die all the time that are just like you and me

2. Most men want to ignore symptoms. It is your life. Ignoring symptoms will kill you.

3. If you don’t like your doctor….find another one.

4. Most of cardiovascular disease is hereditary. So if you Dad, uncles, granddad, etc had a heart attack or heart disease, you need to get checked out!

5. Being healthy has nothing to do with cardiovascular disease.

6. Controlling cholesterol is super easy! Just take the damn medicine!!! Statins have been around forever!!!! They are super safe and can and will save your life!

7. Blood pressure is controllable! Take the damn medicines!!

8. Hereditary disease, smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, are all contributors to CV disease! The key is to eliminate as many as possible. You can’t eliminate family history so work in the others.

9. Big pharma and medical devices have saved tens of millions of people from death over the past few decades. People spend their whole lives trying to help people live better lives. Walk their daughters down the isle, enjoy retirement, hold their grandchildren, etc!!!!

10. A dead person never had a medical bill to pay. Hence being dead! You can pay off a bill if you can still work and if you are still alive, you can work!

Don’t be scared to have test done. I know it’s scary but a heart attack is much more scary! If you have a family history, you should know a cardiologist on a first name basis!!!

Big Bore.

Big Bore, I wasn’t feeling myself about 3 years ago. Went to the Primary Doc and it turned out my cholesterol was 370. He said it was the highest he had seen for a 24 year old. Been on Atorvastatin ever since. I’m currently on 80mg and was checked about a year ago at age 26. High cholesterol runs in the family plus I probably don’t eat great. Cholesterol was down to 220. Do you think I’m good to go down to 40mg or should I stay on 80? Is it normal to you for someone in their 20s to have this high of cholesterol. My checkup is in a few weeks but curious what you think as my doc is a bit of a lib and believes the Covid vax will fix everything…

Great post - hope guy comes out ok Fur

To save all the details - I would not hav made it to 40 - I had a problem that need care so I went to dr - dr said u need heart check - u hav murmur - I said my hole fam has murmurs so what - he made me go to cardiologist - I had to hav valve replacement. I was shocked - I was walking 18 holes and jogging and working out - in good shape in my mind. I thought - this cardiologist is going to see a healthy dude!! That was not the case and I had no clue - I hav to go every year now for check up but if I would hav never gone - I would not hav made it to 40 - had valve replacement at 36

Lockjaw if u don’t trust him - find another - uab use to hav some of the finest heart Dr n the nation. What I had - there likely would hav been no redo - I likely would hav been finished - and that how the dr explained it

I’m 37….My cholesterol was “kinda high” (don’t remember the specific number but it wasn’t excessive…just “kinda”. My doctor put me on 5mg crestor daily which I took for about 18 mo. [quote][/quote]While it worked and my numbers were “perfect”, it made me feel awful. It was subtle at first and I didn’t notice it for a while but eventually I noticed it. Achy joints, got tired easily but most concerning it affected me mentally. Noticeably more forgetful and often felt “foggy”. To the point others noticed it. Did a lot of research (not just people on Facebook but actual medical journals) and found all were relatively common symptoms.

Talked to my doctor about my concerns and said I felt like maybe medicine was a little premature and asked what she thought about trying diet and exercise first. She felt that was reasonable so I came off it in mid-Sept. Within a week or 2 I felt noticeably better. All of the suspected side effects disappeared pretty much immediately. Since then I’ve cut back on red meat to about once/week, cut out “junk food”, significantly limited sugar and fried food, and started walking/jogging a couple miles 3-4 times/week. I’ve dropped 15 pounds and feel better than I’ve felt in a long time

I have a checkup in 2 weeks and I’m praying to God my diet and a little bit of exercise will have made an impact because I don’t know what I’ll do if I have to go back on cholesterol meds.

No disrespect intended, but I am not interested in a doc who manages numbers. Doctoring now is prescribing meds. That's all they do. It takes less time and let's them run their cattle thru faster.

They spend more time looking at the computer than doctoring.

Cholesterol numbers were lowered in 2013. Statins have side effects. Muscle pain, neurological issues, digestive issues, feeling tired. Guess what BP meds do, make you tired too.

I already have pain from a wreck, I don't want more, I want less. It's exhausting. Then add meds that .ake me more tired, no thanks. I have neurological issues too. Don't need to compound that. You'd think a doctor would know that they have my chart.

I honestly believe they get docked if my numbers aren't where corporate health cares deems they need to be.

I’m 41. Been having SVT’s for 13 years roughly and my cardiologist says my heart is in great shape (no blockage, no irregular beats, nothing. I think it’s anxiety. Either way I just know one of these times my heart gets up to 200bpm and holds there that’s going to be it. It’s frustrating to have all these tests ran just to be told that they don’t know what’s going on and good luck.

FreeStatehunter, we are about same age and I had same issues….had everything ran identical to what you are saying….started taking b12 shots and it went away completely just about! It changed my life! I was at the doctor everyday it seemed prior to those

I stopped on this post to reply. Stay on 80 mg. Get on zetia. If your triglycerides are high get on vascepa.
Now to finish reading.

Glad he’s ok and hoping he has no damage to his heart.

I’m like my dad. He had a stent and then quadruple bypass. I haven’t had the quadruple and trying my dangdest not to. I had 95-98% blockage of my widow maker. Only sign was the need to burp I have a leaky valve too. Probably due to excesses during my first 35 yrs or so. I’m trying to do right and take handfuls of meds. Being type 2, COPD and heart issues is a lot of fun. You m kinda skinny except beer belly but I don’t drink beer. LOL.

I think everyone is different but still certain things always true. My dad when he had his quadruple his only sign was the need to burp. I told the nurse practitioner at my heart doc that and she ordered a stress test. I was seeing my cardiologist only for high bp until this happened. I’ve had more signs since the stent than before. Maybe I’m more in touch with or whatever.


I’m extremely tired most days and trying to eat healthy. I think I feel tired from all my meds honestly.

Everyone needs to be honest and upfront with their doc. I watched my dad literally lie to his docs and have to correct him. He always said they got the degree then they should know already. LOL.

Lockjaw, man you have some serious trust issues and I mean that in the nicest way possible. We are honestly here to help you. You are correct meds have side effects. That doesn’t mean YOU will have them. If you are having health problems and refuse to at least try medication I pray you are making serious lifestyle changes. Also, find a new healthcare provider. One you can trust

Is vascepa really that much better than a good fish oil?

Yes it is the purest of EPA and can reduce your risk of a cardiovascular event by 25%. It’s good stuff but only works on the triglycerides

Carter being type 2 you need to ask your doc about jardiance