Cardiologist to talk about family heart history

[Anonymous]

My husband's family has a terrible history of heart disease at a young age. My husband, unlike his family, is otherwise in great health and takes care of himself at age 40. But the genetic component looms large. His primary care doctor has confirmed his test results are great every year.

We are thinking of having his see a cardiologist to really cover our bases to make sure he is healthy, to see if there is anything he should be doing as a preventive matter, etc.

Can anyone recommend a cardiologist for this? Prefer in downtown DC where we live and work.

[Anonymous]

I saw Dr. Cynthia Tracy at GW MFA for a congenital heart condition. She took lots of time with me, going over my concerns, especially related to TTC.

[Anonymous]

Get yourselves checked for anxiety instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get yourselves checked for anxiety instead.

Thanks. His mother died this weekend of a heart attack. His dad died of a stroke at 60. His 3 brothers have each had either a heart attack or stroke by age 50. You think we need to be medicated for anxiety? Or do you need a doctor to remove the foot from your mouth?

[Anonymous]

Just remember there are different degrees of problems. Some folks might have a problem so bad that it lands them in the hospital and limits what they are physically able to do. Some folks have a "problem" that never really becomes a...problem for them.

It's important to understand your family history but don't live in fear of it. Living in fear of what *might* happen is no fun.

[Anonymous]

I never said he was living in fear. Just wanted to cover our bases to make sure we are doing what we need to be doing to ensure he can live as healthfully as possible for as long as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get yourselves checked for anxiety instead.

Thanks. His mother died this weekend of a heart attack. His dad died of a stroke at 60. His 3 brothers have each had either a heart attack or stroke by age 50. You think we need to be medicated for anxiety? Or do you need a doctor to remove the foot from your mouth?

I think if his mother died this weekend, you should both be focusing on that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never said he was living in fear. Just wanted to cover our bases to make sure we are doing what we need to be doing to ensure he can live as healthfully as possible for as long as possible.

With his family history - YES! He should see a cardiologist. Get things checked out and you will both feel better. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get yourselves checked for anxiety instead.

Thanks. His mother died this weekend of a heart attack. His dad died of a stroke at 60. His 3 brothers have each had either a heart attack or stroke by age 50. You think we need to be medicated for anxiety? Or do you need a doctor to remove the foot from your mouth?

Sound like his mom lived a long life if she had children older than fifty.
Sorry about the loss but everyone must die of something. How old was she?

[Anonymous]

After my father had a heart issue last year, I saw someone at Cardiology Associates (2131 K Street NW, 2012 K Street and other locations) and had a good experience. If you look at the doctor list on the website, it says consultative cardiology for most. I can't remember who I saw, maybe Dr. Susan Bennett?

http://heartcapc.com/handler.cfm?event=practice,physicians,main&nid=3339

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get yourselves checked for anxiety instead.

Thanks. His mother died this weekend of a heart attack. His dad died of a stroke at 60. His 3 brothers have each had either a heart attack or stroke by age 50. You think we need to be medicated for anxiety? Or do you need a doctor to remove the foot from your mouth?

You are doing the right thing, OP.

In my case, there was no strong history of heart disease in the family and I used to run 45 miles a week as well as eat right. Not diabetic or hypertensive.

One fine day, I felt an ache in my left arm which I dismissed because I was exercising heavily with absolutely no symptoms. To cut a long story short, I reluctantly had an angiogram at Washington Hospital Center. To my shock, the angiogram showed that I was 95% blocked in two locations in my right coronary artery and 85% blocked in my LAD (also known as the "widow-maker" artery). I had to have four stents put in and the interventional cardiologist said that it was just a matter of time before I would have had a heart attack.

So being in peak condition does not does not offer any guarantees and given your husband's family history, you are wise to be cautious.

[Anonymous]

How old was the MIL?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old was the MIL?

And what kind of health/life-style?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old was the MIL?

And what kind of health/life-style?

Of course she is not answering, she was probably 85-90.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get yourselves checked for anxiety instead.

Thanks. His mother died this weekend of a heart attack. His dad died of a stroke at 60. His 3 brothers have each had either a heart attack or stroke by age 50. You think we need to be medicated for anxiety? Or do you need a doctor to remove the foot from your mouth?

You are doing the right thing, OP.

In my case, there was no strong history of heart disease in the family and I used to run 45 miles a week as well as eat right. Not diabetic or hypertensive.

One fine day, I felt an ache in my left arm which I dismissed because I was exercising heavily with absolutely no symptoms. To cut a long story short, I reluctantly had an angiogram at Washington Hospital Center. To my shock, the angiogram showed that I was 95% blocked in two locations in my right coronary artery and 85% blocked in my LAD (also known as the "widow-maker" artery). I had to have four stents put in and the interventional cardiologist said that it was just a matter of time before I would have had a heart attack.

So being in peak condition does not does not offer any guarantees and given your husband's family history, you are wise to be cautious.

NP- how old where you?