Stephanie Feldman, MD Cardiovascular Health in MPN Patients

Dr. Stephanie Feldman presents on the Cardiovascular Health in Patients with Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
Did you know that patients with cancer are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease? This is because of shared risk factors (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking), factors related to the cancer itself, and factors related to side effects of cancer treatment.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is abnormalities of the heart and blood vessel system. If we think about the heart as having 3 major components: plumbing, pump, and electricity, then when we think about cardiovascular disease we can think about this as plumbing problems (coronary artery disease, heart attacks), pump problems (congestive heart failure, valve problems, high blood pressure going to the lungs aka pulmonary hypertension), and electricity problems (arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, heart block).
Like other patients with cancer, patients with MPN are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Patients with MPN are at risk for plumbing (heart attack), pump (stiff/weak heart, congestive heart failure), and electricity problems (arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation).
As a patient living with MPN this information is not meant to scare you, but instead to empower you to work with your care team to get the best possible treatment for your MPN while minimizing the short and long term risks to your heart. In order to protect your heart and prevent cardiovascular disease just follow the ABCDEs.
A= Awareness- it is important for you and your providers to be aware of the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and be on the lookout for symptoms such as chest pain, leg swelling, shortness of breath.
B= Blood pressure- Goal is less than 130/80. Know your numbers! If above goal follow a low salt diet, decrease alcohol, increase exercise, and talk to your doctor about medication.
C= Cholesterol- Goal is bad cholesterol (LDL) less than 100, lower if you have evidence of plaque on your heart arteries or have had a heart attack. This level should be checked once per year. Eat foods like avocado, olive oil, oatmeal to lower the LDL and talk to your doctor about medication like a statin if you are not at goal.
D= Diabetes- check bloodwork to screen for this at least once per year and make sure your average blood sugar over 3 months (hemoglobin A1c) is at your goal
E= Exercise! Goal is to work slowly up to 150 minutes of exercise per week (listening to your body) and 2 days of light weights.