Question to general practitioner Maarten: Do I have to have a heart catheterization performed?
Maarten Vasbinder lives in Isaan. His profession is general practitioner, a profession that he mainly practiced in Spain. On Thailandblog he answers questions from readers who live in Thailand.
Do you have a question for Maarten and do you live in Thailand? Send this to the editor: www.thailandblog.nl/contact/ It is important that you provide the correct information such as:
- Age
- Complaints)
- History
- Medication use, including supplements, etc.
- Smoking, alcohol
- Overweight
- Any laboratory results and other tests
- Possible blood pressure
Photos and attachments can be sent to [email protected] everything can be done anonymously, your privacy is guaranteed.
Dear Maarten, I
I am 72 years old, 69 kg, 1,80 m. Never smoked never alcohol and running since 1976. Run many marathons. Pr 2:40. Now I run 10 km every other day at 11 km/h.
Recent cardiac examination following the skipping. That passed again. But the CT showed that my cholesterol was too high (LDL 3,8). In addition, a narrowed coronary artery. Doctor prescribes statins against cholesterol and blood thinners, aspirin (which I already use preventively) and clopidogrel.
I do not understand this? Don't worry about anything. No chest pressure or fatigue. Condition is perfect. Heart rate while running avg. 150. At rest 50. Blood pressure on average 125-75. The exercise test at the cardiologist was also perfect. Do I have to have a cardiac catheterization? Should I take that medication?
Regards,
R.
******
Dear R,
A difficult question. You seem to be in perfect health.
I think the meds are a bit over the top. The statins are pointless. The clopidogrel doesn't really seem necessary to me either.
I cannot judge whether you need to undergo a catheterization.
You probably have an enlarged heart because of the sport you practice. This can cause a kind of short circuit, which can cause an arrhythmia. Endurance sports can be practiced until death follows. Many do and accept that.
You can also slowly taper off, which does not mean that you will live longer. Nobody knows.
My advice is to get a second opinion from another cardiologist. There is no hurry. There is no need to panic.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Maarten
Do you have a question for Maarten and do you live in Thailand? Send this to the editor: www.thailandblog.nl/contact/ It is important that you provide the correct information (see list at the top of the page).