Hi XXXXXXX,

Thanks for writing in.
I am a cardiologist and read your question and background history with diligence.
I fully empathize with you for having needing an angioplasty at age 29. Did you have family history for coronary artery disease in young? Go through the list below and in follow up question please let me know what risk factors you have.

At any age, following is the list of risk factors for future development of Coronary Artery Disease. Let me enumerate and you can place yourself the risk you are carrying ('*' means you have the risk factor, '+/-' means I do not know and about others you know better, you can fill in the blank during your followup query):-

A: MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS
Diabetes +/-
Hypertension* (Stress in action is Hypertension or increased BP)
Smoking+/-
Stress*
Obesity and Sedentary Life Style+/-
High Bad Cholesterol and Lipid Component +/-
Total Cholesterol above 190 mg%, LDL above 130 mg%, VLDL above 40 mg%,
Triglycerides above 150 mg%, Apolipoprotein B above reference value
Low Good Cholesterol and Lipid Component: +/-
Apolipoprotein a below reference range for the lab and
HDL below 40 mg% for man & and 50 mg% for woman
B: NON MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS
Family History 0f Coronary Heart Disease +/-
Increasing age*
Being a Man (as opposed to women) till the age 45*

From the list, above I do not about most of the risk factors. Therefore, I will strongly recommend consulting your doctor; he may complete the list as well do the EKG which may tell us the present situation.
It is never too early or too late to change. It need not be cardiologist but your primary doctor can guide your way back to health - I am happy to read that you are interested. You need drugs for hypertension and he/she (or ask the dietitian) to advise you about diet low in calories and cholesterol, advise you on quantum of exercise. You ought to keep your weight under control for you do not want other attack. If you like non vegetarian you cannot take red meat but there is no bar (in taking certainly quantity had to be less) on egg white, roasted chicken and roasted fish.

Well, something difficult but easy to advise I kept for the last is, if you smoke, you will have to Stop Smoking (you can take help of nicotine patches, nicotine spray or nicotine gum; behavioural therapy and professional help). IF YOU DO NOT SMOKE THAT IS HALF THE BATTLE WON. We have to look into each factor after you have written back we will do so.

Looking forward to your reply.

Hope you found something useful in this answer. If you have any other follow-up query (other than the questions I have asked) I shall be happy to answer and guide you.

Regards
Dr Anil Grover
Cardiologist
MBBS, MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Cardiologist)

---