QuestionI am a 30 year old female with high cholestrol, (261) high tryglesrides (499) high blood pressure (average 147/100 with a pulse ranging between 80/106). My mother died at 52 of a heart attack and my father has been on high blood pressure meds since he was 22. He has had a stint put in, and almost a massive heart attack. The doctor has put me on dyazide, and now a med to lower my cholestrol and tryglesrides. Should I be worried or are there some other forms of tests the doctor should be doing? How would I know if there was a blockage? I am 5'4" and weigh 128lbs. (Please excuse my spelling)
AnswerTracy,
Given your age, your high blood pressure, family history, and high cholesterol, I would be very agressive with treating your cholesterol and blood pressure.
While at this point you won't know if you have any blockages in your arteries, the chances you'll develop them in the future is fairly high. A stress test may or may not help you decide whether you have any significant blockages in the arteries at this point. There are probably no other tests at this point that I would do, as long as you could get your BP down to 130/80 or less, and your cholesterol down to less than 200 (actually less than 170 would be optimal). Your BP and cholesterol don't need to be to those goals overnight, but I would try and get them there over the next 4-6 months. Chances are it will take 2-3 medications for BP control (on average), in addition to your cholesterol medication.
You and your doctor may consider a stress test in your 30's, though I wouldn't necessarily suggest one at this point. However, if you had any type of chest pain or shortness of breath, I would treat that very seriously.
