What Does My EKG Report Indicate?
My answer as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that an angiogram is not the best test to examine your valves.
This test is the golden standard test to examine your coronary arteries and the blood flow in them and exclude any possible narrowing.
As your coronary arteries have resulted with a normal diameter and normal blood flow, without any narrowing, they have concluded that your heart has a normal blood supply, just like a teenager (considering the fact that coronary artery disease does not exist in teenagers).
I am glad to hear that coronary artery disease has been excluded, considering the fact that you have known cardiovascular risk factors like high blood pressure and dyslipidemia. This should be a great relief for you!
But the angiogram does not give any information on your cardiac structure and function, including your valves situation.
In this regard, a cardiac ultrasound would be the best tool to examine your heart muscles and valves and also their function.
Anyway, this is just a routine check up. There is nothing to worry about, considering your normal coronary angiogram!
Regarding high blood pressure, you should know that it is not related to the heart valves.
But, uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to chronic changes to the heart chambers and valves and also to the blood vessels, causing narrowing.
The fact that you take painkillers like Aleve, can contribute in raising your blood pressure values too.
Menopause and the flashes and sweats, combined with the chronic pain from arthritis are other contributors to your high blood pressure.
Coming to this point, a close monitoring of your blood pressure values and blood lipid profile, in order to properly treat hypertension and dyslipidemia, would help have a normal life expectancy and avoid any cardiac diseases.
For this reason, I would recommend discussing with your doctor on optimizing your anti-hypertensive therapy (increase the doses or add new drugs), if your blood pressure values are above the normal ranges (140/90 mm Hg) most of the time.
I would also encourage you to follow a healthy lifestyle:
- low fat diet (Mediterranean diet is recommended)
- low salt and caffeine intake for a better blood pressure control
- be active (walking, recreational sports, Yoga) in order to have better blood pressure values and better blood lipid profile.
A periodical check up of your blood lipid profile (every 6months), in also necessary to be sure that dyslipidemia is under control.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask me again!
Wishing good health,
Dr. Iliri