May 25, 2012
Topics A-Z Heart Disease Coronary artery disease in young men and women
Coronary artery disease in young men and women |
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Dear Ask The Doctor: I am a 31 yr old female, no previuos heart problems. Last year while pregnant my blood pressure went up but didnt come back down after the birth. Since then my Diastolic blood pressure is usually in the low 90's and my Systolic pressure is high 120's. Also, I have been having pain in my heart for quite some time, it donst get any worse with excercise but can pain for hours at a time and I have been having pain in my left arm on the inside of my elbow. My doctor dosnt seem to think its anything but I am worried because there is a lot of heart disease in the family. Reccomendations? Dear Dana: The chest pain you describe does not sound typical of pain arising from the heart. If your blood pressure is consistently elevated >140/90, then you require a trial of dietary and lifestyle modifications, for a 3 month period, prior to any medication therapy. This is a modifiable risk factor for the development of heart disease, in addition to smoking, diabetes and high cholesterol. If there is a significant family history of premature coronary artery disease <50 years, I would advise attending your family doctor or a cardiologist for a detailed history of your symptoms and clinical examination. He may refer you for an ECG (electrical trace of the heart), exercise stress test, or myocardial perfusion scan to exclude any premature heart disease. |
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 13 July 2010 ) |
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