Question 1

Could I have had a minor heart attack without knowing it?

Accepted Answer

Yes, It is fairly common to find clear evidence of a previous heart attack on the ECG (electrocardiograph) in patients who have never had any symptoms. These so-called ‘silent’ heart attacks are common in the elderly.

Question 2

How old do I have to be before I’m at risk for a heart attack?

Accepted Answer

Heart attacks are occurring in younger and younger patients. They are very occasionally seen in patients in their teens and twenties. By the late thirties and early forties they are really quite common.

Question 3

Does jogging lessen the risk of having coronary disease?

Accepted Answer

There is increasing evidence that H exercise requiring stamina gives some protection against coronaries. So jogging, cycling, swimming or walking is likely to be good for you as well as simply making you feel good. Muscle- or body-building exercises on the other hand are unlikely to give any protection unless they are part of a specially controlled gymnastic program. And if you have been sedentary all your life, do not suddenly start taking violent exercise; build up gradually.

Question 4

Why is my angina much worse in cold weather?

Accepted Answer

Cold weather commonly makes angina worse, and it may become worse still if you do physical activity in the cold. It is, however, quite all right to do as much exercise as usual once you are warmed up. The reason is connected with the fact that cold weather shuts down the circulation in the skin, increasing the resistance to the flow of blood, and the work the heart has to do.

Question 5

I have angina, but my doctor says I shouldn’t take the beta-blocker drugs as I am asthmatic. Why is this?

Accepted Answer

These drugs are safe for most people but should not be used by those with asthma because they cause wheezing and breathlessness.