Has anybody else asked why Clinton's doctors didn't know before now

[slojim240]

about his condition? Was is on purpose or was it just more of the medical malpractice and incompetence that Bush claims doesn't exist because of those crummy lawyers making up shit?

[NMDemDist2]

1. neither, he was checked regularly

but you need an angiogram to see those blockages

[LisaL]

2. One would think they would have given him one

considering his family history of heart disease.
He almost had a heart attack, or so they say.

[sangh0]

9. Angiograms are risky

Not as risky as a heart attack, but if you haven't had one, you don't get an agiogram just to be safe. It could kill you.

[DemBones DemBones]

10. Bingo. And angiograms are not yet done routinely.

Since there is some risk involved, I'm not sure they ever should or will be. Several years ago, someone I'd known for years died after an angiogram that showed nothing wrong with his heart. He was only 61. (I realize that seems ancient to many DUers but remember Kerry is 61 or 62, Clinton just turned 58, and neither is a doddering old man, anymore than my colleague who died.)

On the other hand, heart problems in women are often overlooked because women have atypical symptoms, like a woman I know who has had two heart attacks and never had chest pain. Would routine screening have prevented those heart attacks? :shrug:

[BlackVelvetElvis]

3. My question is why did Clinton quit taking...

his cholesteral medicine? Did a doctor advise him to quit?

[LisaL]

4. How do you know he quit taking it?

I am just talking in general, but those medicines could have some serious side effects.

[happynewyear]

5. he was taking high blood pressure and cholesterol medications

but apparently by losing weight, etc. he no longer needed them is my understanding.

Who knows the whys of anyone's health?

:dem: :kick:

[BlackVelvetElvis]

15. Changes in lifestyle doesn't alter cholesterol levels much

if it's genetic. That medicine can be a life-saver. I don't understand why he stopped taking it.

[sangh0]

19. That's a little misleading

I have high cholesterol, as do all of my blood relations. Basically, my genes are such that I will never have low cholesterol. Even if I starved, my body would produce cholesterol, or so it seems. But I have been able to lower my cholesterol by almost 40 points by changing my diet

So basically, you're right. Genes are a more powerful determinant of cholesterol level, but ones lifestyle can have a significant effect, no matter how high your cholesterol is

[BlackVelvetElvis]

21. Maybe a little.

I'm just saying that if you are genetically geared towards having high cholesterol, diet and exercise may not help that much.
I had an aunt whose cholesterol level approached 300 and diet did little to lower it (as far as acceptable levels go). The medicine really is what helped her.

[alarcojon]

22. I'll second that

I've lowered mine over 40 points in half a year through diet and exercise.

[BlackVelvetElvis]

23. That's excellent! n/t

[sally343434]

8. "Cholesterol medicine?"

I didn't know he was on "cholesterol medicine." But if you are referring to statin drugs, they don't eliminate existing blockages by themselves. And they are practically useless without concurrent changes in diet and exercise. And high cholesterol and blocking of arteries has a very large genetic component. (There is some evidence that statins, diet change, exercise can reduce some plaques.)

Anyway, these things are practically impossible to identify ahead of time. The fact that his angina brought it to his attention before a heart attack is the best you can do. Virtually everyone who gets a bypass gets it only after they have a heart attack.

In my opinion, Clinton dodged a big bullet thanks to his decision to immediately go to the hospital at the first sign of trouble, and his doctors' adept prognosis and action.

[BlackVelvetElvis]

14. That's what my family calls it. Forgive the layman term.

I heard he had high cholesteral and quit taking his medicine. My family couldn't make sense of it.
I'm quite aware of what the drug does. My father died of heart disease.

[Miss Authoritiva]

6. Well, as usual, it all depends.

Given Clinton's age and family history of heart trouble, he probably has been monitored fairly closely (cholesterol tests, stress exercise tests, etc). But the tests that really prove whether the arteries are clogged are fairly invasive and uncomfortable, and probably are not done until patients complain of chest pain and shortness of breath.

Speaking from family experience here, Clinton was unusual for a male cardiac patient in that he actually went to the ER before he had a full-blown heart attack. I had a relative who went for days suffering a series of heart attacks without going to the doctor. When he finally did, half of his heart muscle had already been destroyed.

[LisaL]

7. Yes,

Clinton caught it just in time before the big one!
:bounce:

[napi21]

12. DITTO on that analysis. My hibby had same experience 11 yrs ago.

He was 50 at the time, and experienced chest pains several times before he spoke to the Dr. about it. They then did an angeogram to determine the extent of blockage. He also had the same quad BP surgery and has been fine since, although still taking Lipitor daily tests every 3 months.

Clinton will be fine I'm sure. He's a strong and otherwise healthy man.

[Boredtodeath]

11. His condition is known as "The Widow Maker"

Because it is a silent killer. This specific condition tends to show up as shortness of breath instead of chest pains and the "typical" heart attack symptoms.

The first symptom is usually a massive, life taking heart attack.

I know because my SO has the same thing.

[SharonAnn]

16. My husband has the same thing. Symptoms of shortness of

breath, had an angiogram, they put in a stent.

However, the worst blockage was in a tiny artery in the back of the heart. The first angiogram (almost 3 years ago) it was only partially blocked and there was nothing they could do. Too smal to bypass and too small to stent. The second angiogram, 6 months ago, showed the bloackage was really bad and the new stents were small enough to use one.

So far, so good.

[Boredtodeath]

20. My SO had a quadruple by-pass

Like Clinton, most arteries were 90-95% blocked but had no external symptoms except high blood pressure and then severe shortness of breath the day of the heart attack.

Unlike President Clinton, permanent damage was the result here. But the Big Dawg got treatment before the heart attack happened.

[ContinentalOp]

13. Whatever the reason,

I'm sure it's Clinton's fault :)

[theboss]

17. Oy vey

Do you realize how many people in this country have heart attacks every year?

Well...neither do I. But I'm sure it's a lot. Clinton got unbelievably lucky that he caught it when he did.

There was no malpractice here. Yours is a very silly post indeed.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

18. An angiogram is a sonofab*tch to undergo

I had one last year. Closest I've come to awareness of my own mortality.