On 4 Aug, 16:12, "Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD"
<and...@emorycardiology.com> wrote:
> tonyzs...@yahoo.com wrote:
> > Joe Doe <N...@mail.utexas.edu> wrote:
> > > tonyzs...@yahoo.com wrote:
> > > > > > > > Where I do have difficulty is in understanding the distinction
> > > > > > > > between
> > > > > > > > stable andunstableangine. So far as I can make out it seems to be
> > > > > > > > the nature of the chest pain that makes the crucial difference ie
> > > > > > > > withunstableangine the pain can occur during periods of rest and is
> > > > > > > > not associated with physical activity.
> > > find one.
> > > > Tony England.
>
> > > The critical thing to know is if the plaque is stable orunstable.
> > > Currently outside of research labs no imaging is done that makes this
> > > distinction. Practically since no imaging is done routinely that makes
> > > this distinction the only option that most people have is maximal
> > > medical therapy as appropriate for you.
>
> > > For an idea about what is available do a google search on "unstable
> > > plaque imaging".
>
> > > You will find stuff like:
>
> > >http://www.forbes.com/business/free_.../0621/164.html
>
> > >http://www.biospace.com/news_story.a...ityId=18181320
>
> > > Not to scare you but I would not take any comfort from the fact that you
> > > can play a round or two of golf. Recently, I posted a link to an
> > > article about Alberto Salazaar (3 time New York Marathon winner) who is
> > > a trainer for Nike and runs 30 miles a week and got a heart attack at 48
> > > years of age (with some warnings of chest pain that were
> > > ignored/misinterpreted by him). Incidentally he had a decent lifestyle
> > > and was under medication for blood pressure etc.
>
> > > Roland
>
> > Thank you for that. The answer to my original questions seems to get
> > more confusing by the day. If the nature of plaques cannot be
> > routinely investigated I am puzzled as to how any diagnosis of
> >unstableanginacan be made.
>
> It is done clinically when the physician gets a sense there has been
> an **abrupt** change in the pattern of theangina(either new, more
> frequent, or with greater intolerance of exertion).
>
> > I have described in a reply to Marilyn
> > how I learnt about the diagnosis. I am still trying to work out
> > whether bypass surgery did anything to lower my risk of sudden death,
> > or whether it was really a waste of time.
>
> Its purpose was likely primarily for ameliorating/improving youranginasymptoms.
>
> Only when there is severe multivessel occlusive disease and impaired
> LV systolic function might there be a life-extension benefit.
>
> > I will certainly do the
> > google search you mentioned, but it seems that, in my case,
> > identifying the type of plaque could only be of academic interest.
>
> Correct.
>
> Be hungry... be healthy... be blessed:
>
> http://HeartMDPhD.com/PressRelease
>
> Prayerfully in Jesus' awesome love,
>
> Andrew <><
> --
> Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
> Cardiologist- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
None of this fits in with my own experience. There was no abrupt
change in the pattern of my chest discomfort. My performance in the
stress was excellent for someone of my age. I really ambeginning to
doubt whether I had real angina in the first place, let alone unstable
angina. Although I had plaques in the coronaries the crucial point
seems to be whether they were examined and found to be stable or
unstable. I am still very confused. I have not yet established
whether the bypassed plaques present more or less of a risk: I keep
coming back to the questions: (1) did I have unstable angina? (2) do
I still have it? (3) if I do, what on earth was the point of the
operation?
Tonyz, England.
Re: What is unstable angina? 
Linear Mode
