Already a member? Sign in
What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.
Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.
How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!
I am a 30 year old female smoker who has a family history of heart disease I have been experience chest pain for the last month consistently and am getting really scared. Am I too young to already be getting heart disease?
Heart disease Cancer Surgery Bypass surgery Angina Pain Heart attack Stent Stress Isosorbide mononitrate
Heart disease begins forming in our mid-teens. Why that isn't drilled into our heads along with "Just Say No" is beyond me. People with risk factors accelerate the progression of the disease with things they can control like smoking, sedentary life-style, etc. Progression can also be accelerated by risk factors we have no control over like heredity.
I have a strong family history of early onset heart disease in family members. I also was not very active. I got my first stent at 39 for a 98% blockage of the LAD. 2nd at 40 and had triple bypass surgery followed by a heart attack at 41. You are NOT to young for heart disease. Please see your family doctor as soon as possible and ask for a referral for a full cardio evaluation. If I had not listened to the signals my body was sending out, I would not be alive today.
There are a lot of younger women on this site with heart issues and heart disease. Don't let any doctor tell you you are too young. It is a myth that younger women don't get heart disease.
Take care - Welcome to WomenHeart.
Dianna
Thank you so much Dianna! As soon as I read your response I made an appointment with my doctor for tomorrow!
Thank you,
Crystal
I'm so glad you are taking it seriously and seeing a doctor right away. I worked in an emergency room for years, and the most common thing we heard was people who thought that for whatever reason it couldn't be happening to them. We always told them that we would rather rule out problems, than see their pictures in the obits! Just to give you a little hope, it may also be the signs of stress or panic attacks. You may not even be aware of the stress, as it builds up so slowly, and we get so used to carrying it around with us - however, a full evaluation is the only way to make sure, so please keep your appointments and know we all will be sending our good wishes your way.....
When in doubt check it out......
Please better to be safe then sorry.
Love and Happiness Debbie Ann
Dianna,
Since my heart attack, I am now in touch with the two angina symptoms that I have. One I trace back to my 20's and my cardiologists disagrees with me. Since my genetics carry heart disease on both sides wouldn't just make sense! How did you feel after your second stent? I am dragging....
After my second stent, I struggled somewhat also. I never felt 100% after that one. That is why when my symptoms returned, I took them seriously. I think we get to know our bodies better over time with experience. I was told by my surgeon after bypass surgery that heart disease begins in our teens. That is when the body starts laying down plaque. If you have a family history, that plaque build-up may be somewhat out of your control. Of course, contributing factors like sedentary life-style, smoking etc. don't help a whole lot. I developed high blood pressure at 19 but doctors never took it seriously. They gave me meds, but I was normal weight and since I was female, they did not follow me closely. I know that contributed to my later issues.
Dianna
Dianna,
Do you think that the actual cariac cath procedure causes scar tissue-resulting in this fatigue? And can you feel either of your stents, I swear I can feel the one on the LAD...and it's not in my head!!!
I have always been active, ballet instructor, biked, walked, hiked, etc. Grew most of my veggies, never over weight or blood pressure issues. BUT I smoke, and obviousely have to give it up. They really need to get the real truth on smoking out-American Cancer Society certainly should re-invent a campaign for this younger generation that are smoking.
Clematis :
No, I can't feel my stents. I have 3 now. 1 active and 2 that aren't in use anymore thanks to bypass surgery. For the first month or so after eachy were inplanted, I had a strange feeling in my chest like something was stuck in there. The doctor attributed it to inflammation of the artery where the stent was placed. Since the stent is a foreign object that makes sense. It went away so I guess he was right in my case.
I think your fatigue may come from any variety of factors. It could be your meds, it could be the stress of having to have a 2nd stent or any number of things. You mention in one of your discussions that you continue to have angina. When I had active angina, it knocked me flat. The pain was often like being kicked in the chest by a mule and the soreness would last for days, only to be reactivated by a new attack. I was eventually diagnosed with Prinmzetal's angina. A lot of ladies on this board have this "rare" condition. Since I began taking a calcium channel blocker and got the right one and the right dose, I have been mostly angina-free, knock on wood. I know when my angina comes back it is time for a med adjustment or to go back to the cath lab. I think that CCBs can help some people with small vessel disease also. If you are not on one, it might be worth asking your cardio about.
Dianna
Dianna,
Fabulous advice, and logical. Only med change since the stent is back on isosorbide mononitrate-helping the daily angina that occured after the procedure. Inflamation makes sense, wish someone would have mentioned it from the medical field!
Will further check into this prinmzetal angina, never heard of it, although my cardiologists by definition still doesn't reflec on mine as angina but chest pains, since I almost always get it during rest.
thanks..
Add to the discussion