AboutDavid Richardson Expertise Adult heart function and disease. Not very good about children lesss than 12. Hypertension is o.k. Heart rhythm a special interest.
Experience Certified in cardiology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Was chairman of division of cardiology at the Medical College of Virginia. Am now mostly retired.
Organizations Fellow of American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology and member of American Physiological Society..
Publications Circulation, American Heart Journal, Hypertension.
Education/Credentials M.D. from Harvard Medical School. Residency training at Yale Uhniversity School of Medicine and Medical College of Virginia.
Awards and Honors Gold Heartt Award from American Heart Association in 1995.
Question Hi Dr Richardson,
IVE written to you before regarding my heart troubles.As i was offline for a while i havent been able to come on.
Im still going along with all the same problems.My heart is still racing and im getting alot of etopic beats.
Ive had all the tests ekg.stress test.echo.24 hour monitor they all came back normal.
Im on 50mg metropol.Ive had ekg at my local gp and it did show infero-lateral- ischemia with 3 different machines.
I informed my cardiologist and he said i dont have that.
Ive been waking in the middle of the night with my heart beating funny and then it starts racing.Also in the morning its racing.Sometimes i have to take my tablet early.
Ive woken from a sleep in the middle of the night with all my nerves shaking and body.
ive had to have a hot bath to settle it. Also ive been getting cramps in my legs when sleeping.
If im in a long line standing for a long time my heart will start racing .can you please help me im fed up . ive got young children and its hard .
i feel like my cardiologist isnt helping.he said he will just wait and see what happens.
also a friend of mine asked if ive been tested for dysautonomia that can affect your heart rate.how do i know if ive got that how is my cardiologist ruling it out?
please help dr richardson.
samantha
Answer Dear Samantha,
Cramps in calves are normal. They come from having the calf muscles short. Get a board at the foot end of your bed and press your feet against the board to keep your feet perpendicular.
If your racing heart beat doesn't occur every single day, ask for an event monitor, a little box you carry with you that records your EKG a few minutes before and after it detects an unusual rhythm. Ask your doc about flecainide, which is more effective than metoprolol in reducing ectopic beats and supraventricular tachycardia than is metoprolol, and is safe for peole with a normal echocardiogram.
Dysautonomia can cause fast heart beats. It's called Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia, but metoprolol should help that.
Please write back if this note doesn't answer all your questions.
