All aspects of cardiovascular diseases

 I am a 45 year old male and just diagnosed with CHD following a stress
test using a Gates blood pool technique.  I have begun Dr. Ornish’s
vegetarian diet.  In his book he recommends having a PET scan to measure
the degree of blockage and progress in reversing plaque build up.
Recently I have seen ads for an Electron Beam Computer Tomogrophy (EBCT)
test by Heart Check America (1-800 NEW TEST) that claims the test is
moore sensitive than a PET scan.  The people at the 800 number read an
explanation from a printed sheet and cannot answer any technical
questions.  Can someone explain more about these procedures and
recommend one for following the progress of my CHD?

Hello,

I am looking for some information as to whether anyone who as taken Zestril
(lisinopril for High Blood pressure has experienced a lowered white cell
count and or dysphagia as long term side effects.  I have taken the
medication for about 2 years now and recently have begun to have these
problems. My doctor has been very little help and all other tests keep
coming out normal, so I am beginning to point to the Zestril.

If anyone has had these or similar side effects can you share your
experiences

 . . . somewhwere?   Yes, I’m new here.

regards,
Ken West

I thought I remembered reading that use of antibiotics affects the heart
in a negative fashion.  Can anyone tell me if the use of erythromycin
for an upper respiratory infection might provoke angina/myocardial infarction?

Are lasers now being in  bypass surgery? If so, where, and by whom can I
have it
done?

Are lasers currently being used in bypass surgery?  If so, at which
hospital, and
what is the doctor(s) name who does the work?

I have high triglycerides which don’t seem to go down with medicine
(Lopid, Zocor, 1500 mg. niacin etc) and reasonable diet (no alcohol
etc). Before really cranking down on a really Spartan diet, or
continuing this expensive medicine, I would like to know: is this stuff
sticking to my arteries or not? (I’m 54, physically active, no angina
etc. ). Someone suggested an angiogram would be invasive and possibly
dangerous. Another friend suggested that an MRI can show blockage. True
or false? What would be involved? Thanks for anyone who has info.  
—
Bill Spear <b…@wmspear.com>
227 7th Street. Juneau, Alaska 99801
907/586-2209 v 907/586-6858 f

"…I paid off four points to bring the starboard guns to bear…We
fired on the down roll…and they went down, right down, with their
sails set."

–Patrick O’Brian

Talismen, amulets and charms for an uncertain world.
http://www.carmelnet.com/spearpins

any one with info regarding a variant form of coronary artery
atherosclerosis whereby instead of discrete lesion one sees aneurysm
formation, ectasia slow flow withinm the coronary artery and even a
cardiolyte defect. I know this is a form of atherosclerosis, because
the patient has no history of KAwasaki, there are focal subtotal
occlusion occuring distally within the artery which is not seen in
Kawasaki and the patient’s cholesterol is very high.  my question is
what other than risk factor reduction should one use for thearpy; ASA
or Ticlodipine or even perhaps warfarin since flow down the artery is
really slow?

J. Minkowitz hartb…@cycor.ca

The newsgroup for people affected with or concerned by the Marfan
syndrome:      alt.support.marfan

Visit the National Marfan Foundation Web site at:  
               http://www.marfan.org/
E-mail the NMF staff at: st…@marfan.org

The National Marfan Foundation is located at 382 Main Street,
Port Washington, NY  11050.  Telephone:  1-800-8-MARFAN
An informative booklet on the Marfan syndrome is available
upon request.  Become a member of the NMF and recieve the
quarterly, "Connective Issues".

Marfan syndrome is a heritable disorder of the connective tissue
which can affect the following body systems:

      1.  The skeletal system: An affected individual will often
          be tall, slender, and somewhat loose-jointed or limber.
          The arms, legs, fingers and toes may be disproportionately
          long when compared to the trunk; the face may appear long and
          narrow in keeping with the general body shape.  Scoliosis may
          be present.  A protruding or indented breastbone (pectus
          carinatum or excavatum) may also be present.
      2.  The eyes: The lens of the eye is off-center or dislocated
          (ectopia lentis) in about 50% of people with Marfan.  Detection
          is possible only through fully enlarging (dilating) the pupils
          with eye drops. A slit lamp then must be used for examination.
          Dislocation of the lens occurs in relatively few other conditions,
          and is, therefore, an important hallmark of Marfan syndrome when
          present.
      3.  The lungs:  Pneumothroax, or spontaneous collapse of a lung.
      4.  The heart and blood vessels:  Mitral valve prolaspe occurs in 75-
          85% of people with the syndrome.  However, m.v.p occurs in 5% of
          general population, and is not in and of itself diagnostic of
          Marfan.  Mitral valve regurgitation can occur.  As well dilation
          of the aorta (widening often referred to as an aneurysm) can result
          in a dissection or rupturing of the aorta.  A dilation or a
          dissection for that matter can only be detected through the use
          of an echocardiogram or MRI.

It must be stressed that all of the preceding symptoms need not be present
in order for a person to be diagnosed with the Marfan syndrome.  A
variety exists in manifestation.  As well, it can not be assumed by sight
that since a person appears healthy, he or she is unaffected.  Cases in
point are the NBA players as well as Flo Hyman, the Olympic volleyball
player who all succumbed to the syndrome mid sports career.  

Mutations or spontaneous occurances can occur in the syndrome.
There is a 50-50 chance that the offspring of a person affected will
also be affected.  The syndrome does not skip generations.

There is hope once diagnosed.  Follow-up monitoring (usually done annually
unless otherwise needed); treatment with beta blockers (to ease pressure
on the heart); and if necessary, surgery to repair valve or aortic dilation
(done with great success and improving yearly) all offer positive results.

The essential nature of diagnosis should be evident.  No specific lab
test exists at this time.  It is important therefore to be seen by
physicians and subsequently echo and MRI technicians knowledgable
with the Marfan syndrome.

Best wishes,

Angela

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I have been following this program for over five years now and have at
the very least stopped the progression of my heart desease.  I encourage
everyone with heart desease to read the book "Dr Dean Ornish’s Program
for Reversing Heart Desease".

If anyone has questions for me I would be happy to help.

Tom Berney, tj…@ix.netcom.com

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<DT>I have been following this program for over five years now and have
at the very least stopped the progression of my heart desease.&nbsp; I
encourage everyone with heart desease to read the book &quot;Dr Dean Ornish’s
Program for Reversing Heart Desease&quot;.</DT>

<DT>&nbsp;</DT>

<DT>If anyone has questions for me I would be happy to help.</DT>

<DT>&nbsp;</DT>

<DT>Tom Berney, tj…@ix.netcom.com&nbsp;</DT>

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