| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| dysautonomia | 11/22/2009 |
Q: I am 25 years old. I have been known to have a high heart rate at random times, whether or not I am ...
A: IWhy is it not POTS? Isn't POTS a subdivision of dysautonomia? POTS is defined as the development ...
|
| Chest Pain | 11/22/2009 |
Q: I am a 20 years old and for the past couple of years, I am having a sharp pain around my chest and ...
A: The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
|
| arrhythmia ectopic | 11/22/2009 |
Q: My dad was diagnosed for arrhythmia ectopic. He is 58 years old,173 cm tall, 75 kg weight, and ...
A: I don't know anything about those herbal meds. I suggest stopping all of them. If his symptoms ...
|
| PVC's | 11/22/2009 |
Q: Can you plz tell me what can help reduce the number of PVC's. I take Toprolol XL 50mg and Xanax, ...
A: Flecainide and sotalol are more effective in reducing PVCs than is Toprol, and are safe for someone ...
|
| cardiology | 11/21/2009 |
Q: known diabetic with rrbb and lahb 1999 with negative tmt,normal holter.trivial AR/MR FEELING OF ...
A: What doe palpitation mean? If you feel skipped beats, these are no threat to life or health and you ...
|
| Congestive heart failure/leaky aortic valve | 11/21/2009 |
Q: In October 2008 I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure due to a leaky aortic valve. I had an ...
A: A diuretic like chlorthalidone shouldn't make you fatigued. Nor should an ACE inhibitor like ...
|
| Congestive heart failure/leaky aortic valve | 11/21/2009 |
Q: In October 2008 I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure due to a leaky aortic valve. I had an ...
A: The lower the BP the better for your leaking valve. 110/70 would be nice. The only way to be sure ...
|
| heart attack | 11/21/2009 |
Q: went for stress test during the procedure the doctor did an EKG and had his nurse call for an ...
A: You should certainly be taking a statin such as lovostatin or pravastatin, and you should have some ...
|
| CARDIOLOGY | 11/20/2009 |
Q: AGE 48 YRS ECG-RBBB WITH LAHB SINCE 1999,TMT NEGATIVE,ECHO-TRIVIAL AR/MR HOLTER NORMAL KNOWN ...
A: LAHB stands for left anterior hemiblock and RBBB stands for right bundle branch block. The left ...
|
| problems | 11/20/2009 |
Q: and left hand numb ive been to the best goddamnn doctors but they dont kno in when i do the ekg ...
A: The heart tracking device is a little box you carry with you that records your EKG a few minutes ...
|
| cardiology | 11/17/2009 |
Q: 48 yr having NIDDM WITH CHRONIC BIFASICULAR BLOCK SINCE1999.ECHO TRIVIAL AR,HOLTER NORMAL PLEASE ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
|
| PSVT | 11/17/2009 |
Q: I was on my way to the doctors when I got about 2 or 3 heavy skipped beats and then my heart went ...
A: Neither sinus tachycardia nor APCs are life or health threatening. You will not die from sinus ...
|
| PSVT | 11/17/2009 |
Q: I was on my way to the doctors when I got about 2 or 3 heavy skipped beats and then my heart went ...
A: PSVT is extremely regular, and usually runs 180-220 beats a minute. 150 and somewhat irregular ...
|
| cold fingers and feet after running | 11/16/2009 |
Q: Talked with you before about pvcs, etc but this is different. I'm 63 and anavid runner-40 miles a ...
A: Cold fingers and feet are not listed as ill effects of Benicar. Raynaud's? Here's a summary on ...
|
| left side chest pain | 11/15/2009 |
Q: im a 24 yr old male. cholesterol 245, ive been having this left side chest pain for about a yr now. ...
A: 1. Angina is chest discomfort induced by exercise and relieved in five minutes by rest. Your pain ...
|
| Irregular heartbeat? | 11/15/2009 |
Q: I am experiencing what feels like an irregular heartbeat. My throat feels "full" and it seems like ...
A: You're probably feeling skipped beats. Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life ...
|
| fast heartbeat | 11/14/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I'm 41 healthy male, who has had 4 episodes in last 6 months. Each time, I've had ...
A: The fast heart rate is a normal response to getting over nausea. I don't know what causes the ...
|
| HEART PALPITATIONS / SHORTNESS OF BREATH | 11/14/2009 |
Q: I AM CURRENTLY 9 WEEKS PREGNANT. ONE OF THE FIRST SYMPTOMS I NOTICED WHEN I FIRST REALIZED I WAS ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
|
| skipped beats | 11/14/2009 |
Q: richardson... i am a 28yr old male 16 stone 6ft 2in. i regularly visit this site as i found the ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
|
| Constant heart palpitations & shortness of breath | 11/14/2009 |
Q: "I'm currently 25 weeks pregnant with a history of PE and severe preeclampsia in a previous ...
A: The test results are not concerning, but your shortness of breath is.There's a blood test for PE ...
|
| Muscle aches or angina | 11/13/2009 |
Q: R. My question is.........can constant aching or slight tightness on my chest area (tightness that ...
A: The most common cause of chest and back pain is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If you ...
|
| cardiology | 11/13/2009 |
Q: 48 yr having NIDDM WITH CHRONIC BIFASICULAR BLOCK SINCE1999.ECHO TRIVIAL AR,HOLTER NORMAL PLEASE ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
|
| slow r wave progression | 11/13/2009 |
Q: doctor, I am a 53 year old male, 5'10" and 220 lbs. I applied for 20 year level-term Life Insurance ...
A: Go to a doctor of your own or the one chosen by the insurance company and ask for an EKG with chest ...
|
| arrhythmia ectopic | 11/12/2009 |
Q: My dad was diagnosed for arrhythmia ectopic. He is 58 years old,173 cm tall, 75 kg weight, and ...
A: Is the ectopic rhythm premature beats, not atrial fibrillation? Premature beats don't usually cause ...
|
| Ongoing chest pain | 11/12/2009 |
Q: I am a 25 year old female. For around 4 years now I have been having left sided chest pain that ...
A: Most likely not heart related. The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the ...
|
| Heartbeat in stomach. | 11/12/2009 |
Q: How are you doing? Have a question about something that i noticed last week. I'm 6'2, 220 with a ...
A: Probably normal. The heart rests on the diaphragm and heart beat is easily felt in the abdomen ...
|
| Hope you can help | 11/11/2009 |
Q: I HAD ONE EPISODE YESTERDAY AND ABOUT 4 TODAY. MY HEART STARTS TO BEAT FORCEFULLY FOR A FEW SECONDS ...
A: You're probably feeling skipped heart beats. Each skip is followed by avery forceful beat. Skipped ...
|
| Leaking valve | 11/10/2009 |
Q: I just got back from my annual cardio visit. I am 5'10" and I weigh 182 lbs. I run an average of 15 ...
A: There's controversy about when to operate on a leaky mitral valve, but my opinion is that as long as ...
|
| Emotions after a triple bypass | 11/10/2009 |
Q: My father had a triple bypass in June of this year. His recovery was very quick and he was back to ...
A: If he goes untreated, he will probably slowly recover. Expression of suicidal thoughts should lead ...
|
| Emotions after a triple bypass | 11/10/2009 |
Q: My father had a triple bypass in June of this year. His recovery was very quick and he was back to ...
A: Yes. Post-surgery depression, or loss of some control mechanisms in the brain as the result of ...
|
| Heart spasms | 11/9/2009 |
Q: I am a 21 year old female weighing between 122-126 lbs and am 5 foot 4. I have been a pretty active ...
A: The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
|
| Chest Pain | 11/9/2009 |
Q: I am a 37 year old woman - I am not overweight, I don't smoke, and I exercise fairly regularly. ...
A: The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
|
| mitral valve symptoms | 11/8/2009 |
Q: My husband had endocarditis due to a bacterial blood infection. He now has a "leaky" valve. He sees ...
A: I wouldn't live with it until every possibility has been looked out. How fast does his heart beat ...
|
| heart flutter | 11/8/2009 |
Q: I am a 31 year old male who has been running for 6 years. Im in pretty good shape. A few months ago ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
|
| type 1 heart block | 11/8/2009 |
Q: 72 kg, 167 cm not taking any medication and have a normal blood pressure. about a month ago for no ...
A: The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
|
| Weirdness | 11/7/2009 |
Q: What I am feeling for the past few weeks is a tightness in my upper chest on the left side towards ...
A: The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
|
| Heart palpitations, chest heaviness, fatigue | 11/7/2009 |
Q: I am a 29 year old, active (run approx 10-13 miles per week) healthy female, and approximately one ...
A: Measure your blood pressure sitting and then standing quietly for 1,3 and 5 minutes. If it gets ...
|
| THUMPING IN CENTER OF CHEST | 11/7/2009 |
Q: Richardson: I am just wondering if feeling a thump in the center of your chest is something life ...
A: No not life or health threatening. You're probably feeling skipped heart beats, which are normal ...
|
| anything and everything | 11/6/2009 |
Q: OK, so I'm only 16 but my doctor stumbled on an irregular heartbeat during my physical. I went and ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
|
| Should i be worried? | 11/6/2009 |
Q: I'm 35 with Type II Diabetes, overweight by about 30 pounds and sinus tachy, high triglycerides and ...
A: Left atrial enlargement means the upper chamber of the heart, probably the left heart, is larger ...
|
| PVC and Exercise | 11/5/2009 |
Q: I am a 20 year old male with frequent PVC's and high blood pressure for my age. I had an echo in ...
A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and echo. ...
|
| Heart beating fast | 11/5/2009 |
Q: 3 months before, My heart started beating fast, I went to the doctor and I had taken ECG, Holter and ...
A: Need more information. How fast? Does it speed up and slow down abruptly, in one heart beat, or ...
|
| Energy levels and heart rate? | 11/4/2009 |
Q: I'm a 21 year old male, just shy of 6' tall and I weigh 180lbs. About 3 years ago I weighed 280lbs, ...
A: Low heart rate is very good, promises long life, and would not deprive you of energy. Low BP might ...
|
| SKIPPED BEATS | 11/4/2009 |
Q: Mr. Richardson: I just had, what it felt like, about 3 skipped beats in a row. I do not have any ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
|
| Dizzy | 11/3/2009 |
Q: I've had enough of this. I REALLY need to exercise. It's been keeping me sane for years of battle ...
A: If the dizziness is spinning, like you were spinning round and round or the room is spinning around ...
|
| ECG RESULT | 11/3/2009 |
Q: I asked you a question a few weeks ago, but have since been in hospital and came home 3 day's ago. I ...
A: EKG's are not very sensitive to clogging of coronary arteries. The stress test is the next step to ...
|
| radio frequency catheter ablation for pvcs | 11/2/2009 |
Q: I am considering RCA to see if it reduces the PVCs that are keeping me from running, biking and even ...
A: Ablation of PVC's is very tricky. I sure would try medicines like flecainide or sotalol first. If ...
|
| Chest Pain | 11/2/2009 |
Q: Dr, Sub: Chest pain on the left chest. Shortness of breadth. I am 58 year old. For the last two ...
A: The most common cause of chest pain is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If you can modify ...
|
| CAG and attempted PCI to LCX | 11/1/2009 |
Q: My dad is 67 yrs old.He underwent CAG and attempted PCI to LCX, and its report is like this.... ...
A: His outlook seems good. He has already built bypasses around the blockage. He needs no further ...
|
| atrial fibrillation in a 37 yr old male | 11/1/2009 |
Q: I'm a 37 year old male, 5'11", 215 lbs with normal BP and suffering from GERD for which I take ...
A: Flecainide is effective in preventing or getting rid of atrial fib. You'll need an echocardiogram ...
|
| pounding heart and feeling of breath loss | 11/1/2009 |
Q: I'm 50 years old good health active male, family history father congestive heart past@ 73 years. I ...
A: How fast does it beat when you feel it beating unusually hard? How long does the hard beating last? ...
|
| Positive and Negative R waves in Lead III | 10/31/2009 |
Q: I am a 22 year old male, 5'10" and 165 pounds. I recently had an EKG recorded (I was the patient) ...
A: Only to say the EKG is normal. The changes with respiration are because the heart swings downward ...
|
| heart rate | 10/31/2009 |
Q: Richardson...I am wondering if my heart rate is normal. In the mornings before getting out of bed my ...
A: You need not be concerned. Heart rate up to 140 is normal. Please exercise regularly. Exercise ...
|
| heart and h1n1 | 10/31/2009 |
Q: Richardson, I hope you can help me out with this question. I was diagnosed with SVT six years ago. ...
A: I think you can get the H1N1 shot, tho I wish you would ask the health department in your city or ...
|
| SVT vs. IST | 10/30/2009 |
Q: I have had short episodes where my heart feels like it is racing, I get dizzy, and sometimes ...
A: Sounds more like SVT. SVT would start and stop abruptly, in one heart beat, whereas IST would speed ...
|
| left side chest pain that radiates | 10/30/2009 |
Q: im a 24 yr old male. cholesterol 245, ive been having this left side chest pain for about a yr now. ...
A: Yes, chest wall pain can cause all the pains you describe. The tests would have picked up any heart ...
|
| left side chest pain that radiates | 10/30/2009 |
Q: im a 24 yr old male. cholesterol 245, ive been having this left side chest pain for about a yr now. ...
A: I sent you an answer to this question last Sunday at 11:32 pm. Here is that answer The most common ...
|
| cheast, head, shoulder pain | 10/29/2009 |
Q: I am a healthy 5'3" 20 year old and weigh 105lbs . For over the past week or two I have been having ...
A: Pain down one side of the body could come from spinal trouble. Be sure you don't have a rash with ...
|
| New EKG with new notes | 10/29/2009 |
Q: Richardson, You answered my question about a month ago about an EKG that was taken by my doctor. ...
A: I can't see your EKG. It certainly sounds like a normal variant. Placing the chest leads too high ...
|
| mystery cause of a fib and enlarged aorta | 10/29/2009 |
Q: My mom who is a very healthy 84 year old, physically active but with managed (?) hypertension has ...
A: 1. The cause of the large aorta are age and high blood pressure. 2. Yes, salt and inadequate meds ...
|
| Mild Mitral Valve Prolapse (Echo report included) | 10/28/2009 |
Q: I had an echo done in March of 2001 because I began having all these weird symptoms of panic and ...
A: Mild MVP will never be a problem. It doesn't progress with age. It didn't show up on M mode ...
|
| High cholesterol | 10/27/2009 |
Q: I am a white woman 52 years old and my LDL is 173, VLDL is 22 Triglyc. 112 HDL is 69 Total ...
A: LDL is more important. I agree with your doctor. The medicine, called statin, has beneficial ...
|
| low blood pressure after hospitalization | 10/26/2009 |
Q: My dad (58 years old) just got out of the hospital about two weeks ago after spending seven days in ...
A: Yes, some concern. Ask him if he's bleeding anywhere and to be sure his stools are not black. Get ...
|
| left side chest pain | 10/26/2009 |
Q: im a 24 yr old male. cholesterol 245, ive been having this left side chest pain for about a yr now. ...
A: The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
|
| irregular heart pain | 10/25/2009 |
Q: I'm an 18 year old female, I'm 5"2 in height and I'm 7 stone 12 pounds in weight, and the only ...
A: The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
|
| carotid artery consistent with greater than 50% | 10/25/2009 |
Q: I'm 68 and have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Heaves) Coronary Artery Disease Mitral ...
A: If you've had a TIA or stroke, the carotid should be fixed first, perhaps. Otherwise, I'd get the ...
|
| SVT | 10/25/2009 |
Q: I believe i suffer from SVT although it has not been fully diagnosed as i haven't caught the SVT on ...
A: There are medicines to prevent SVT. Beta blockers like metoprolol and atenolol are very safe and ...
|
| BREATHING | 10/25/2009 |
Q: Richardson: I always seem to have this urge to have to sigh or yawn, but when I do I sometimes ...
A: I dont really know. Do you take a long time to exhale, or wheeze when you're exhaling? If so, it's ...
|
| heart/lungs | 10/24/2009 |
Q: Dr Richardson I am a 63 year old female, and have been having symptoms for over 5 years. It starts ...
A: Reflux sounds like it's all gastro-esophagal in origin, tho I don't understand the flutter or the ...
|
| heart/lungs | 10/24/2009 |
Q: Dr Richardson I am a 63 year old female, and have been having symptoms for over 5 years. It starts ...
A: Sounds like congestive heart failure and angina to me. I suggest cardiac catheterization, or at ...
|
| heart hurting | 10/24/2009 |
Q: my boyfriend is17 almost 18 and his heart hurts like 3 times a week its on his left side but the ...
A: The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
|
| racing heart | 10/23/2009 |
Q: 5'8, 125 lbs. In the past month in a half my heart has been racing. it started one night after binge ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. If your heart is totally ...
|
| PVC s | 10/22/2009 |
Q: I'm 31 yr old woman, with no major illness, but I do have low ferritin. I am 5'4 and 140 lbs. I've ...
A: Stomach problems, especially gastro-esophageal reflux of acid, can cause chest, jaw and arm pain. ...
|
| post ablation, frequent APC's and skipped beats | 10/22/2009 |
Q: I had an ablation 5 months ago for SVT that acted up during pregnancy. Shortly after the ...
A: The beat after a skipped beat makes a thump because more blood flows into the heart during the skip, ...
|
| PR interval Questions | 10/22/2009 |
Q: I'm a 50 yr old female and recently had an ecg done at my yearly physical. While still in the normal ...
A: Long PR doesn't require a pacemaker, but might progress to higher grade AV block that would need a ...
|
| PR interval Questions | 10/21/2009 |
Q: I'm a 50 yr old female and recently had an ecg done at my yearly physical. While still in the normal ...
A: I think the story about long PR making atrial fib more likely is probably true, tho we need at least ...
|
| abnormal EKG | 10/21/2009 |
Q: I woke up and had intermittent chest pain hand numbness and intermittant left arm pain. spent two ...
A: Non-specific ST is no problem with a negative nuclear stress test, which gives you 95% probability ...
|
| PR interval Questions | 10/21/2009 |
Q: I'm a 50 yr old female and recently had an ecg done at my yearly physical. While still in the normal ...
A: PR below 200 is harmless. Get another EKG in 6-12 months to be sure it's not longer, but I bet it ...
|
| C A D question | 10/21/2009 |
Q: Good Evening Dr. I'm female 60 y/o. I have had anxiety for a while. I have become heart phobic. ...
A: High HDL does protect you some, but not completely. I suggest taking a statin to lower your LDL and ...
|
| 25 with multiple symptoms | 10/20/2009 |
Q: I am 25 years old and for the past 4 months have had shortness of breath (especially on exertion), ...
A: The echo woud have showed pulmonary artery hypertension if you had that. Does pao2 stand for ...
|
| nocturnal sinus tachycardia | 10/20/2009 |
Q: I have had nocturnal sinus tachycardia for 16 months. I wake up suddently with a racing heart (ave. ...
A: Try a beta blocker like metoprolol, 50 to 100 mg about an hour before bed. IST is not a helpful ...
|
| heart palpitations.. | 10/13/2009 |
Q: IVE written to you before regarding my heart troubles.As i was offline for a while i havent been ...
A: If the ectopics are PVCs, then you need to see the cardiologist again to ask about the QT. If the ...
|
| Taper off medicine | 10/13/2009 |
Q: David I am male, 50. I was diagnosed with hypertension and prescribed Avalide. Its working great and ...
A: It won't be risky to go off the Avalide after you lose weight. Eat low salt diet too. After losing ...
|
| SCD with normal echo | 10/12/2009 |
Q: 24 year old white male 5'6 140lbs no family history of heart disease all relatives alive or died ...
A: No, the palpitations are no threat to someone with normal echos. An echo a year is wise, though ...
|
| heart beat, and left side chest pain | 10/12/2009 |
Q: I'm a 24yr old male, 6ft 205lbs, cholesterol total=245, and bp is elevated sometimes, around 145/90. ...
A: 1. Yes 2. No. 3. No,not with a normal stress echo and EKG. 4. Yes. 5. The most likely cause of ...
|
| hypertension | 10/11/2009 |
Q: I'm 5'5 in height and weight about 75 kls 31 yrs of age. I'm physically active all of my life i used ...
A: 140 is not very high. I guess the evening medicine is not big enough. Double the dose of the ...
|
| closed ASD | 10/11/2009 |
Q: It was at the top of the heart so I needed open heart surgery. i am now 39. I had a 2;1 shunt which ...
A: Manfred, It's highly probable that you will have no more heart trouble. PR up to 200 is normal. ...
|
| Mark | 10/10/2009 |
Q: I hope you still rememeber me , the 34 old male did many heart and lung tests and all came normal. I ...
A: Yes, echo will detect aortic dissection. I can't think of any other tests for heart or lungs. ...
|
| heart beat, and left side chest pain | 10/9/2009 |
Q: I'm a 24yr old male, 6ft 205lbs, cholesterol total=245, and bp is elevated sometimes, around 145/90. ...
A: 1. Yes, a normal stress echo gives you 95% probability of no heart attack or cardiac death for at ...
|
| pulmanary hypertension | 10/9/2009 |
Q: I recently had my first echo at cjw in Richmond. I am 44 female 125 lbs. Here are my results. ...
A: Echo is fairly good at estimating PA pressure. The estimate is based on an assumed right atrial ...
|
| Odd Feeling in heart | 10/2/2009 |
Q: I am a nineteen year old college student and would consider myself to be an active teenager. ...
A: Paranoid no. We have only one heart and worry is justified. You probably have no heart trouble, ...
|
| skipped heart beats | 10/2/2009 |
Q: Richardson, I want to thank you very much for your responses to a couple of my questions a couple of ...
A: 1. Nobody knows why. Exercise of course decreases PVC, and maybe stress increases them, at least ...
|
| Sinus Arrhythmia w/ 1st degree AV block | 10/2/2009 |
Q: Just within the past 6 months I was diagnosed with anxiety/panic attacks, therefore one day I had a ...
A: Right bundle branch block is interruption of a tiny bundle of electrical fibers that carry signals ...
|
| Mild pulmonary hypertension | 10/1/2009 |
Q: My son who is 13 years old was asked to do ‘Echo cardiography’ by our family doctor and his report ...
A: 41 is not high enough to worry about. If they had assumed RA=5, the right ventricular pressure ...
|
| Arrhythmias and pulse pressure | 10/1/2009 |
Q: Just a bit of a background on me. I am 35 years old. I have been fainting on and off since I was an ...
A: Pulse pressure is not very important and is very unlikely to account for your fainting. I think ...
|
| pains heart or not | 10/1/2009 |
Q: I have good days and bad days. i'll be sitting around doing normal things then out of the blue, ill ...
A: Well, it could be heart, tho anxiety is more likely. Dizziness is often caused by over breathing. ...
|
| chest pain | 9/30/2009 |
Q: my name is Monica and I have a question about my chest pain. 5 days ago I experienced chest pain and ...
A: It might be pericarditis, inflammation of the sack in which the heart lies. I think you should see ...
|
| EKG Results- a little scared | 9/29/2009 |
Q: You answered a question from me back on the 20th. I couldn't figure out how to rate, so I'll be ...
A: The EKG is normal. The widespread ST elevation is because of tall T waves and is normal. ...
|
| heart problem? | 9/29/2009 |
Q: Im 26.I was playing soccer one day and then all of the sudden i felt really dizzy and i felt a ...
A: It may be heart related. Please see another cardiologist or internist and ask for an ...
|
| lightheadedness | 9/28/2009 |
Q: Everytime when i excercise i'm getting lightheaded, i can't do any sport because the ...
A: No, the doctors wouldn't have missed anything. Lightheadedness can result from low blood pressure ...
|
| sudden coldness increases in heartrate | 9/28/2009 |
Q: 5ft 6in and currently 224lbs. I am on a low dose (50micrograms) thyroxin daily. I also have skipped ...
A: Be sure you're taking enough thyroxin to get your TSH below 1. I can't think of anything else to ...
|
| hypertension before and after pacemaker | 9/28/2009 |
Q: I will try to be brief! Patient is 75 yo F with high BP. Not sure exactly what, but somewhere in ...
A: Changing medicines so often doesn't make any sense. Tell the cardiologist that beta blocker and the ...
|
| Pain | 9/27/2009 |
Q: David, Its going to be more than 5 months that i`m having pain on my left side above the side and ...
A: I'm sorry you're having pain. The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the ...
|
| cardiac ablation | 9/27/2009 |
Q: I am 37 years old woman,I have palpitation since 2001,I have diagnosed SVT/AVNRT on July 2008,on ...
A: Maneuvers to stop SVT 1. Lie down for a few minutes. If that fails, remain lying down and try: ...
|
| Fluttering Heart | 9/27/2009 |
Q: I am a 28 year old female (5'6; 135lbs) who does not smoke or drink alcohol. I moderately exercise. ...
A: Can you count how fast your heart is beating? If over 160 and regular it's supraventricular ...
|
| cardiac ablation | 9/26/2009 |
Q: I am 37 years old woman,I have palpitation since 2001,I have diagnosed SVT/AVNRT on July 2008,on ...
A: 1. Maybe partly successful. 2. Several drugs, notably flecainide and sotalol, can prevent SVT. They ...
|
| MRI vs. Echo | 9/26/2009 |
Q: Can an MRI detect any problems with the heart that a echo/stress echo can not detect? What are ...
A: MRI won't add any additional information. I'm very sorry you have those feelings and the ...
|
| Heavy lungs, strange pulsating sensation. | 9/23/2009 |
Q: BASICS: I am a 24-year-old male, caucasian, about 5'11" and 76kg. I am from America but am ...
A: A tilt test wouldn't help. It's only useful for fainting spells. Pulsation below left nipple is ...
|
| Heart rate- blood pressure questions | 9/20/2009 |
Q: Richardson, I'm a 26 year old male. I weigh roughly 250 pounds and stand 5'10" tall. I no longer ...
A: Heart rates above 45 awake. 35 asleep, are normal, so you need not be concerned about yours. Slow ...
|
| heart flutters w chest pain | 9/20/2009 |
Q: I am a 28 year old female, 5' 6" 118 lbs. Currently I do not exercise and have pretty low BP, fairly ...
A: Cathey, The pains and flutters may be normal, but you should see a cardiologist because they ...
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| cramps in left side chest | 9/20/2009 |
Q: 43 yrs old no family history of heart disease, recently in the USA had trouble breathing, tightness ...
A: Boucher, The fast heart beat is probably supraventricular tachycardia. The monitor will answer ...
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| Heart issues | 9/19/2009 |
Q: I am a female, 5o years old, 5'2" 270 lbs. I have had some significant swelling of my feet and ...
A: Swelling of ankles and feet may be heart failure, tho swelling is common as we get older. If you ...
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| rapid heart rate after binge drinking | 9/19/2009 |
Q: I am a 25 year old female. A few nights ago i had about 6 alcoholic drinks. I went to bed at ...
A: Eulberg, Yes, I think the fast heart rate was due to alcohol. So long as the rhythm was regular, ...
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| flushing/pounding heart at night | 9/18/2009 |
Q: I am a 41 year old Male, Bryan, taking meds for Hypo thyroid and thats it. I'm 6' 2" with BP of ...
A: Please get an event monitor, a little box you carry that records your EKG a few minutes before and ...
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| Severe Allergic Reactions | 9/18/2009 |
Q: My husband - 56 yrs old has never been allergic to anything other than poison oak & poison ivy. In ...
A: Yes. He should stop the Niacin, Crestor and Tricor at once. Metoprolol is unlikely, but he should ...
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| PVCs, low BP, wide heart rate variance | 9/17/2009 |
Q: My wife is 38 years old with a history of heart palpitations since she was 22. She has a low resting ...
A: Beta blockers don't slow low heart rates, only fast ones. They only help a few people reduce the ...
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| PVC 23 y.o female | 9/17/2009 |
Q: I'm a 23 year old female, no medical history/surgeries. Normal vitals/ weight, height for my age. I ...
A: Beta blockers like atenolol and metoprolol decrease PVCs in some people and are very safe. ...
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| Pain in chest | 9/17/2009 |
Q: I am a 25 year old male, who has been suffering with a crushing sensation in the middle of my chest ...
A: The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
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| moving chest pain/ costochondritis? | 9/16/2009 |
Q: Richardson, Six days ago my wife had an intense itching sensation in her upper right thigh. Four ...
A: It is not possible to have a heart attack that would not show up on the tests and still cause chest ...
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| Low HDL, High Ca | 9/16/2009 |
Q: I took several blood tests for a US Marshals position and being that I'm 28 and it's been a long ...
A: Low HDL increases modestly your risk for heart attack at age 45 or so. High Ca (if Ca stands for ...
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| left side chest pain and test results | 9/16/2009 |
Q: I'm a 24 yr old male, 6ft, and 205lbs, very inactive person and don't eat the greatest. I also drink ...
A: 1. It's okay for your heart rate to exceed the target. Not dangerous. 2. The stress test means ...
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| pots | 9/15/2009 |
Q: I have been diagonose with pots and placed on a propranolol 10 mg 2x a day and it works but i feel ...
A: Ejection fraction of 84% is very good. Decrease the propranolol to 5 mg twice a day for a week, ...
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| ectopic beats | 9/15/2009 |
Q: In SCA cases, does normal sinus rhythm suddenly turn into V-Fib, or does it turn into V-Tach first ...
A: What's SCA? Usually a PVC first, which may lead directly to vfib or to vtach then vfib. Yes, a ...
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| Dull Heart Pain | 9/14/2009 |
Q: I am writing to ask about something for my fiance because he refuses to take a trip to his local ...
A: The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
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| sinus tachy | 9/13/2009 |
Q: im 33 male- diagnosed with sinus tachy- went had all tests. i had ekg's, had echo, and had thallium ...
A: Yes, it can have no underlying cause in which case it is called idiopathic sinus tachycardia in ...
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| SVT and ablation | 9/13/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I am 38 years old, living active and healthy life style, playing tennis, and since ...
A: Maneuvers to stop SVT 1. Lie down for a few minutes. If that fails, remain lying down and try: ...
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| SOB | 9/12/2009 |
Q: SIr, I was told chest pain and shortness of breath is very serious and my symptonms is exactly like ...
A: Mark, isn't your chest pain modified by pressing on your chest? If so, it cannot be heart related. ...
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| PVC's, ECHO | 9/12/2009 |
Q: I am wondering if you can provide me any insight into my ECHO report. It shows that I have a ...
A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with good LV function on ...
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| SVT and ablation | 9/12/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I am 38 years old, living active and healthy life style, playing tennis, and since ...
A: I'd try flecainide and sotalol before going for ablation. Both are more effective in preventing SVT ...
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| platelet disorder | 9/12/2009 |
Q: Two years ago my wife (77 yrs, 165 pounds, normal blood pressure) had three weeks of Coumadin in ...
A: Rehm, Look at emedicine http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/233101-overview and al its ...
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| C Reactive Protein Results | 9/11/2009 |
Q: I'm female and 61. I have diabetes. Have had it for many years. My A1C numbers have always been ...
A: Rene, HS stands for high sensitivy. The hpCRP is the test whose predictive value is used by all ...
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| C Reactive Protein Results | 9/11/2009 |
Q: I'm female and 61. I have diabetes. Have had it for many years. My A1C numbers have always been ...
A: Erar Rene, "a conservative recommendation is that high CRP levels on hsCRP testing are defined as ...
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| Chronic Total Occlusion | 9/10/2009 |
Q: I have been admitted in a reputed Hospital following a minor chest pain and after thorough ...
A: Madhavan, None of those medicines are sold in USA. I think they are a beta blocker, an alpha ...
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| avnrt | 9/10/2009 |
Q: I'm 37 yrs old women. I,ve had palpitations since 2001,not too frequent,I guest. Until 2008,as far ...
A: Stress certainly doesn't trigger your palpitations. I'm not sure if stress triggers AVNRT in ...
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| Irregular heartbeat | 9/9/2009 |
Q: I am a 22 year old female, about 105 pounds. I'm uncertain of my blood pressure but I am typically ...
A: Adderal should not be taken by people with structural heart disease, which I guess you have, from ...
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| scary!! | 9/9/2009 |
Q: I've noticed for a week and a half that I get sharp pain in my right upper breast area and it ...
A: You need not be panicked. The most common cause of chest and arm pain in a young person is cramping ...
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| Pulse | 9/9/2009 |
Q: I am a 58 years old. I feel a "heartpulse" in my right ear. It started a month ago. Have seen a ...
A: Probably a permanently open Eustachian tube, which connects throat and ear. Look at ...
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| EKG Report | 9/8/2009 |
Q: I'd like to know what this means on an EKG. ST Elevation - Digitalis Effect. Is this something to ...
A: I'm not sure. Digitalis usually causes ST depression. Are you taking digitalis or digoxin? If ...
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| Can a 20 year old live normaly with 5cm hole in heart | 9/7/2009 |
Q: Can a 20 year old live normally with 5cm hole in heart with out any medical assistance????
A: if the hole is in the wall between the atria, the upper chambers of the heart, he can live normally ...
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| Missed Beats (Ectopic Heartbeat) | 9/6/2009 |
Q: My wife is a 40-year-old healthy woman who has no risk factors but positive family history of heart ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
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| PVC | 9/6/2009 |
Q: I have been having PVC's for 48 hrs ( first time ever in my life), average 1 time every two minutes. ...
A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and good ...
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| RRSA with left aortic arch | 9/6/2009 |
Q: I am a 24 year old female who was diagnoised in 1985 with a retroesophogeal right subclavian artery ...
A: Retroesophageal right subclavian artery with left aortic arch and left ligamentum arteriosum This ...
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| Heart skipping beats and uneasiness feeling in body | 9/5/2009 |
Q: In 2005, I was disgnosed having SVT and was put on 120mg calaptin. While the SVT does not happen ...
A: Mel, blood flow to the body decreases during the pause and then is extra large in the following ...
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| Cardiology | 9/5/2009 |
Q: I am Abhishek Dey from Agartala,Tripura,India.My mother - Mrs.Manjusha Dey is a patient of Chronic ...
A: Dey, Probably her fluid accumulation is the result of her peritoneal dialysis. It is possible to ...
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| PVCs and Exercise | 9/5/2009 |
Q: I'm a 58 year old male, 6' 2" tall, 205 pounds, with an average blood pressure around 125/75. I ...
A: The prognostic value of exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmia (EIVA) is uncertain. The ...
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| procedure on my aunt could not open artery | 9/4/2009 |
Q: My 80 year old aunt had a procedure where they went in through her arm down into the main artery in ...
A: Using an artery taken from arm or chest wall, the surgeon will attach one end of this piece of ...
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| many pacs or sinus arrhythmia? | 9/4/2009 |
Q: I've been having for some time now all sorts of prematures I think. I've had 2 ecg's and they didn't ...
A: Sinus arrhythmia slows when one breathes out and speeds up with breathing in. PACs are more likely ...
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| irrigular hearbeats | 9/4/2009 |
Q: first i would like to thank you,i am 62 male,i used to practice since ten years old different sports ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity and need no treatment. Atrial fibrillation can often be ...
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| Hear hurting after pulmonary embolism | 9/3/2009 |
Q: My 20 year old daughter (now on Coumadin) 5'11" 187 was discharged from the hospital one week ago. ...
A: Pain worse with breathing could be another pulmonary embolus or pericarditis, inflammation of the ...
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| Early heart beats. | 9/3/2009 |
Q: I am a healthy 60 y/o male,a vegetarian who has been running almost daily for 40 years, many ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
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| PFO | 9/3/2009 |
Q: I am 40, male, 6'1", 180lb, normal BP and resting rate - I had one TIA with hospitalization from ER ...
A: Look at ...
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| AHA diets | 9/2/2009 |
Q: I am trying to learn more about AHA diets. What is the difference between low salt and low sodium ...
A: Low salt and low sodium are the same. Salt is sodium chloride. 2 gm is pretty low, 4 gm is a ...
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| throbbing chest pain | 9/2/2009 |
Q: I am 29 years old. 145lbs, 5ft 8in. I am not taking any medications and have no history of any ...
A: The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
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| Heart Spasms | 9/2/2009 |
Q: I am a 27 year old female, non smoker, active (i have a very fisical job). For the past 2 wks i ...
A: The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
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| Skipped Heartbeats | 9/1/2009 |
Q: I am 54 and weigh 180 lbs and am in fairly good condition. I have been checked by my doctor recently ...
A: The thuds occur in the beats after a skip because the heart fills extra full of blood during the ...
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| Palpitations | 8/31/2009 |
Q: I am a 32 year old male; I have been taking Lipitor for cholesterol and Lisinopril for high blood ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
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| 17 yr old with PAPVR | 8/31/2009 |
Q: My son is 17 yrs old weighs about 160 lbs and is about 5'6. He was born weighing 4lbs, at about 6 ...
A: Normal Echo Values Location Value IV Septal Thickness 0.7-1.2 cm. LV Posterior ...
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| 17 yr old with PAPVR | 8/30/2009 |
Q: My son is 17 yrs old weighs about 160 lbs and is about 5'6. He was born weighing 4lbs, at about 6 ...
A: My textbook of congenital heart disease say, "Anomalous drainage of a single pulmonary vein without ...
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| s4 heard in 5 yo boy | 8/30/2009 |
Q: i just took my son for his kindergarden check up, at which time went through the whole phsyical,last ...
A: 4th heart sounds can be normal in thin people, and they occur with anemia, overactive thyroid and in ...
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| chest pain and shortness of breath numbneess | 8/30/2009 |
Q: I am Mark again , I hope you can bear with me, and i know you, you think i have anxiety. But since i ...
A: Radiologists read all x-rays. Tell your family doctor about your chest tightness and shortness of ...
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| Skipped Beats with stomach gas | 8/29/2009 |
Q: I'm a 50 year old male who has noticed that I get skipped beats (felt at wrist and in chest) when I ...
A: I guess a dilated stomach could increase skipped beats. A dilated stomach could touch the ...
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| What is a normal range for LVEF for 16 y.o. Son? | 8/28/2009 |
Q: I have a quick question. My 16 y.o. son was given an ECHO yesterday. The cardiologist states that ...
A: Over 50 is perfectly normal. Over 45 is pretty good. With no symptoms and a strong athlete, in my ...
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| pvc's with MVP | 8/27/2009 |
Q: For about the last 3 weeks I have been suffering from massive PCV's. I have Minimum mitral valve ...
A: Yes, they will subside again. Ask about flecainide, more effective in reducing PVCs than Inderal or ...
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| Heart skipping beats and uneasiness feeling in body | 8/27/2009 |
Q: In 2005, I was disgnosed having SVT and was put on 120mg calaptin. While the SVT does not happen ...
A: There's a normal pause of about a second after a skipped beat. Skipped beats don't usually cause a ...
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| A-Fib | 8/27/2009 |
Q: About 5yrs ago my heart started beating too slowly and then too fast. It even stopped for 19 ...
A: Overactive thyroid maybe. Have you taken your temperature? Might be fever. The changing heart ...
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| Heart Health | 8/27/2009 |
Q: Im a 54 year old female in pretty good shape. I exercise and try to eat right and im 5 foot and ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
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| Sudden onset of NSVT | 8/26/2009 |
Q: I'm 53 year old man. Several weeks ago I woke up to a fluttering sensation every time I moved, ...
A: Brent, Increase the Toprol to 100 mg. a day. If that doesn't suppress the NSVT, consider ...
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| PVC help | 8/26/2009 |
Q: Doctor: About 6 months ago as I was going to bed, I felt my chest heart area quiver and felt a ...
A: Premature beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG ...
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| chest pain | 8/26/2009 |
Q: I was diagnosed with panic disorder in 1992. I have had two more bad episodes of anxiety. Last year ...
A: Coronary arteries can have spasms, narrowing that causes pain because the heart hurts when it ...
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| Skipped Heartbeats | 8/25/2009 |
Q: I am 54 and weigh 180 lbs and am in fairly good condition. I have been checked by my doctor recently ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
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| PVC's | 8/25/2009 |
Q: I am trying to find a solution to decrease what I believe are PVC's, I've had a normal echo except ...
A: Exercise reduces PVCs while you're exercising, not much once you've rested. No known link with ...
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| skipped heart beat | 8/24/2009 |
Q: I have been dealing off and on with atrial fibrillation for about two and half years now. When it ...
A: A pacemaker may help avoid recurrence of atrial fib a little, because atrial fib is most likely to ...
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| Can't Stop Worrying About My Heart. | 8/24/2009 |
Q: Although I have been recently examined and tested by two different doctors that told me my heart was ...
A: Mark, diabetics are at high risk of heart attack. I hope you are not diabetic. A psychiatrist can ...
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| PVC's driving me crazy! | 8/24/2009 |
Q: I have had a normal echo and stress test. Holter showed some pvcs. Since then (a few months ago) ...
A: Lisa, I don't know why they go and come. Anxiety makes them more frequent, though I gather that's ...
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| PSVT tricks | 8/22/2009 |
Q: I have had it for years now & although I know about the bearing down technique...I saw you mention ...
A: To stop SVT, 1. Lie down for 2-3 minutes. 2. Try the bearing down technic twice, about five minutes ...
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| Breathing and Heart Sounds? | 8/22/2009 |
Q: Richardson, I wrote you several times about hearing my heartbeat in my ears. I suppose this is one ...
A: Michael, maybe you are hearing splitting of the second heart sound, which normally splits near the ...
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| unexplained pain | 8/22/2009 |
Q: i keep feeling chest pains its been off and on for the last 2.5 years. i have had cardio tests 2 yrs ...
A: The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
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| Skipped Heartbeats | 8/21/2009 |
Q: I was hoping that you might be able to finally put my mind to rest about the issue of skipped ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with good exercise ...
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| intermittent squeezing pain under left breast | 8/21/2009 |
Q: , I'm really looking for extra advice on my current situation as to whether I'm being too paranoid ...
A: If your palpitations start and stop abruptly, in one heart beat, you have supraventricular ...
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| Tachycardia/Low Blood Pressure | 8/20/2009 |
Q: I am a 33 yr woman, relative good health condition. Recently I was put on the Holter monitor ...
A: No, it won't hurt to wait, tho it would let the cardiologist know if atenolol has stopped the fast ...
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| Chest pain? | 8/20/2009 |
Q: I have had some mild chest pain that last 1-4 seconds. Sometimes sharp, sometimes dull. It does ...
A: Pain that lasts only 4 seconds doesn't sound like gastric distress. Look at ...
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| Should I worry about LQTS | 8/20/2009 |
Q: I don't know whether to worry or not. I am adopted, so I don't know my family history. In 2005 I ...
A: Normal QTc is less than 450, but since only half of all patients will have QT prolongation, Holter ...
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| Fast heart rate, mild diastolic dysfunction | 8/19/2009 |
Q: I am a morbidly overweight, 47 year old diabetic,with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, I am ...
A: Margaret, it's quite possible to have congestive heart failure with normal systolic function on ...
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| Fast heart rate, mild diastolic dysfunction | 8/19/2009 |
Q: I am a morbidly overweight, 47 year old diabetic,with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, I am ...
A: High BP leads to diastolic dysfunction, and fast heart rate might contribute. something has led to ...
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| Sudden elevtion of blood pressure. Anxiety. | 8/18/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I am 49 years old male, 6 feet tall, 230 lbs, BP controlled nicely by CCB and BB. ...
A: Anxiety can certainly raise BP. The fact that Xanax reduced your BP suggests that anxiety raised ...
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| Chest Pain / Cardia Arrythmia | 8/18/2009 |
Q: I'm a 24 year old male who is fairly healthy. For a few years now I have had chest pains all ...
A: Sinus bradycardia and sinus arrhythmia are normal, in fact good signs that your heart is normal. ...
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| Racing Heart | 8/18/2009 |
Q: I keep having episodes of a racing heart. They can happen at any time it seems. The last one was ...
A: Not allergies. Lying down may help, and taking slow, easy breaths. If nothing else stops the ...
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| main artery in stomach 80% blocked | 8/17/2009 |
Q: My aunt's main artery in her stomach is 80% blocked. She is 79 years old and is having a procedure ...
A: She won't be asleep, but it won't hurt. The danger is of blocking the artery completely, or tearing ...
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| Feeling faint with exercise | 8/17/2009 |
Q: I'm a 27 yo female with a BMI in the high end of normal. I am wondering whether or not I need to go ...
A: Neurocardiogenic syncope only occurs when you're standing quietly, especially after exercise, but ...
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| cholesterol | 8/17/2009 |
Q: If someone has a total cholesterol level of 140, but their HDL was low, under 35, would they still ...
A: Yes, low HDL is one risk factor. Less risk than if HDL is low and total cholesterol is high, but ...
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| arrhythmia | 8/17/2009 |
Q: I have read that arrhythmia is normal when one is positioned on their left side at ...
A: You're feeling premature heart beats, which are always followed by a long pause. Premature beats ...
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| heart problems? | 8/16/2009 |
Q: I am a 27 years old female, no history of any cardiac problems in the familly, actually for some ...
A: It's very unlikely to be a heart problem. There are some congenital heart muscle diseases that show ...
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| Tachycardia | 8/16/2009 |
Q: I have had episodes of this for about ten years. maybe once or twice a year, sometimes more. it ...
A: Joyner, There's a disorder called inappropriate sinus tachycardia, which I guess is what you have. ...
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| Scared | 8/16/2009 |
Q: Something very wierd just happend to me and im 13 it felt like i cpuldnt breath for about 10 secs ...
A: You probably had a skipped heart beat that caught your breath. The heart pounding and warm leg came ...
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| heart | 8/15/2009 |
Q: "hi im a 33 yr old male about 2 yrs ago i began to have chest pain left side, to center, this was ...
A: The most common cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If you can ...
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| Chest pain | 8/15/2009 |
Q: I have been having chest pain for 2 days on the left side and my arm tingles like my hand is going ...
A: The most common cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If you can ...
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| heart - skipping beats | 8/15/2009 |
Q: read the answer from chris regarding skipping heart beats. I too feel a thumping sound at the base ...
A: You're feeling a skipped beat. The beat after a skip is extra big because the heart filled extra ...
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| Irregular ECG | 8/13/2009 |
Q: I was recently seen by our PA for a routine physical. I am a 34 yr old female. They did a ecg as ...
A: Low potassium in the blood can cause low T waves, but I'll bet your low T waves are a normal ...
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| BP. | 8/13/2009 |
Q: I am 41 years old, 5'3, 127 pounds, female. Had a totally normal heart cath in March of this year. I ...
A: Didn't we discuss this before? I favor stopping the Klonopin, which can lower your BP, and ...
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| left side chest pain | 8/13/2009 |
Q: Im a 24 yr old male, 205lbs, 6ft, cholesterol 245. I'm a very inactive person for about 4 years now, ...
A: Look at ...
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| left artium enlargement | 8/13/2009 |
Q: had high blood pressure for 10 year on medication and am 41 an ecg suggested i had the left atrium ...
A: The EKG is no good at reading left atrial enlargement. I bet the echo will be normal. Hypertension ...
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| Left side chest pain | 8/7/2009 |
Q: I am 33 year old family, weigh 179 pounds and have normal to low blood pressure. My regular ...
A: Krein, Doesn't sound like heart. Heart pain is usually pressure on the breast bone. And heart ...
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| pvcs/pacs | 8/7/2009 |
Q: Have written several times before....been "suffering" from heart skips for 40 years...i'm 63 and a ...
A: I dnn't know why they they reappear so suddenly. I doubt if it's the niravam, but you could ...
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| left side chest pain | 8/6/2009 |
Q: Im a 24 yr old male, 205lbs, 6ft, cholesterol 245. I'm a very inactive person for about 4 years now, ...
A: The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
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| ARM PAINS | 8/6/2009 |
Q: Richardson: I am still experiencing arm, neck, and shoulder pains. I can put pressure on where it ...
A: Rita, I've answered all these before. It can't be heart pain because pressing on a painful area ...
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| adderall and low pressure | 8/5/2009 |
Q: I saw your answer for Shannon who asked u about the adderall maybe causing her low blood pressure. ...
A: Epocrates says Adderal raises blood pressure and causes insomnia. It probably causes lack or rem ...
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| Plavix vs. Coumadin | 8/5/2009 |
Q: Please settle a profession debate. I work in a skilled nursing facility. We monitor our Coumadin ...
A: Observed stroke rates for those with low-risk atrial fib were 1.25% per year on C+A and 0.43% per ...
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| LONG QT, CPVT, AND WPW | 8/5/2009 |
Q: Richardson: I have been reading about Long QT Syndrome, CPVT, and Wolf Parkinson White Syndrome and ...
A: Long QT would show up. WPW usually does, but sometimes does not. I don't know what CPVT is. If ...
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| cold extremities | 8/4/2009 |
Q: I am 59 years old. I weigh about 120 and am 5 feet 4 inches tall. I take thyroid, and have done ...
A: So long as your hands don't change color, get very pale or purple at the finger tips, it's normal. ...
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| Aneurysm of the ascending aorta | 8/4/2009 |
Q: I am a 26 year old woman with a bicuspid aortic valve. There is no history of BAV in my family. My ...
A: The upper limit of normal for ascending aortic diameter is 37 mm. That and the recent increase in ...
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| abnormal ekg and chest wall pain | 8/4/2009 |
Q: I am a 27 year old male with no family history of heart disease. I have extreme chest wall ...
A: Chest wall pain is not related to gastric or allergy problems or heart problems. No one knows why ...
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| EKG Question | 8/4/2009 |
Q: I recently had an EKG done because I had been having chest pain for a few days. I'm 26 years old, on ...
A: Early transition is normal, and the EKG is no good at atrial enlargement. You can ignore left ...
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| ventricular arrhythmia in childhood | 8/3/2009 |
Q: I recently found this video on youtube, it shows a post exercise ECG, the child is 12 years old and ...
A: Probably marked sinus arrhythmia, plus anxiety. Why don't you get an event monitor, a little box ...
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| ventricular arrhythmia in childhood | 8/3/2009 |
Q: I recently found this video on youtube, it shows a post exercise ECG, the child is 12 years old and ...
A: The ecg at that web site is post exercise and shows only normal sinus rhythm with sinus arrhythmia. ...
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| Echocardiogram | 8/2/2009 |
Q: I just had an EKG this week. I was extremely nervous and my heart rate was up. The EKG came out as ...
A: Rita, give me some information. How old are you? Is your blood pressure normal. What's your ...
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| nuclear stress test | 8/1/2009 |
Q: I had my neuclear stress test today but i did not see the cardiologist, they said in a week they ...
A: No radiation in the future. You don't need to eat or drink anything special. Nuclear stress tests ...
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| chest pain | 8/1/2009 |
Q: June 13th I had a heart attack,June 15th I had a medicated stent put in. On July 3rd I had a mibi, ...
A: Lack of blood supply to the heart muscle can cause shortness of breath, but so can heart failure, ...
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| pulsatile tinnitus | 8/1/2009 |
Q: I have written to you before but information has been increased about what I have. I wrote to you a ...
A: What exactly to you hear? Swishing or thump? It's probably nothing serious, but I guess you should ...
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| arrythymia | 7/31/2009 |
Q: i'm 63 good health, workout daily, weights, do an hour of yoga daily etc. In Feb 09 had "incident" ...
A: If your rapid heart beat soars in one heart beat, and stops in one heart beat, it's probably ...
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| abnormal EKG | 7/31/2009 |
Q: I read a question on your website about a 25 year old who had an abnormal EKG and was experiencing ...
A: No, I can't recall and don't keep messages longer than a month. If you send me your email address ...
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| Troponin Levels | 7/30/2009 |
Q: I have cardiac history - MI, Stents, Angio's, CABG, PVC's, SVT. Med's- asa 81 mg, digoxin .25mg, ...
A: I don't know of course. My guess would be something with the muscles in the upper neck and back of ...
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| Non-Specific ST-T Changes on an EKG | 7/30/2009 |
Q: I just had an EKG this week. I was extremely nervous and my heart rate was up. The EKG came out as ...
A: Rita, heart pain isn't modified by pressing on the neck, arm and shoulder. I think relying on the ...
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| ekg results | 7/29/2009 |
Q: Richardson: I am a 54 year old female. In 2001, I had an oblation for SVT's. Results = good. Non ...
A: Same as before. It really should have not been read as septal infarct, which requires completely ...
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| why does my heart hurts everytime i run? | 7/29/2009 |
Q: Richardson my name is Cye.. i was wondering why does my heart hurts everytime i run? it feels like ...
A: The most common cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If you can ...
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| racing heart | 7/28/2009 |
Q: I'm back with another question....63 male, distance runner...6'3, 180lbs. Great Cholesteral numbers, ...
A: If the nocturnal fast heart beat slows down gradually, over several minutes, that's anxiety or maybe ...
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| mycocardial infraction | 7/28/2009 |
Q: my age is 30....i had an acute mycocardial infaraction on 18/12/2008....my doctor placed a stent in ...
A: Your future should be bright if you exercise a lot, don't smoke, keep your blood pressure below 135 ...
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| LAFB | 7/28/2009 |
Q: I have had a few EKG's done because of weird heart pains. The first one in 2007 - the cardiologist ...
A: An ELG can look like septal infarct if the leads are placed too high on the chest. You obviously ...
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| Anti-platlet and anti-coagulation | 7/27/2009 |
Q: Richardson, What is the difference between anti-platlet and anti-coagulation with respect to ...
A: Platelets are tiny cells in the blood that help clots stick to the damaged walls of arteries. ...
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| arrythmias | 7/27/2009 |
Q: Im 80, 5'6", 145lbs, BP 130/75. My 24-hour Holter showed 32 R on T incidents, 12 doubles and one ...
A: Not in in my opinion. I would do nothing, and I certainly would NOT take amiodarone. There are ...
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| HEART RYTHMS | 7/27/2009 |
Q: Richardson. I am sorry to bother you with another question. I just wanted to find out about skipped ...
A: Sounds like supraventricular tachycardia. This is a fast rhythm that occurs in people with healthy ...
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| When does high BP becomes dangerous? | 7/26/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I am a 50 years old male, 6 feet, 236 lbs, BP 142/86, low level of physical ...
A: A short rise in BP is not immediately dangerous if it doesn't exceed 220. But short rises to ...
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| Non-Specific ST-T Changes on an EKG | 7/26/2009 |
Q: I just had an EKG this week. I was extremely nervous and my heart rate was up. The EKG came out as ...
A: The numbers are all reasonable. Pain you can modify by pressing on the painful area is bound to be ...
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| Non-Specific ST-T Changes on an EKG | 7/25/2009 |
Q: I just had an EKG this week. I was extremely nervous and my heart rate was up. The EKG came out as ...
A: Sinus tachycardia means normal rhythm at rate above 100. Nervousness accounts for the fast rate. ...
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| PVC and Thyroid | 7/25/2009 |
Q: I am 56 year old female, 245 lbs. 5ft.2 currently taking 88mcg. synthyroid, 20mg. benazpril, ...
A: Premature beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG ...
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| A-fib medicine and treatment | 7/24/2009 |
Q: Dr. D. Richardson: Are there any alternatives to Amiodarone for the treatment of a-fib? I was given ...
A: Meds like flecainide and sotalol don't cause any lung trouble and are effective in many people with ...
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| Mitral Valve Treatment | 7/24/2009 |
Q: My brother's echo showed he had moderate mitral valve regurgitation. He also has reduced heart ...
A: Repair of mitral regurgitation can be done with a minimally invasive operation that makes small ...
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| Heart and neck veins and BP | 7/24/2009 |
Q: Richardson, My husband has written to you before & your help was very appreciated. So after a ...
A: JVP stands for jugular venous pressure. Jugular is the name of the veins in the neck. JVP shows ...
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| dizzy, palpations, headaches, high blood | 7/24/2009 |
Q: I am 45 years old, weigh 257 lbs. 5' 5", blood pressure tonight was left arm 156/100 and right arm ...
A: Sleep apnea is common in overweight people and makes you sleepy all day long. I have sleep apnea ...
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| pop under sternum, anxiety for three weeks | 7/23/2009 |
Q: I've been under a lot of family and work-related stress over the last month, but eat well and ...
A: The pop is probably one of your sternal bones slipping against another one of the sternal bones. ...
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| pulsatile tinnitus | 7/23/2009 |
Q: I have written to you before but information has been increased about what I have. I wrote to you a ...
A: I've forgotten what "it" is. Do you hear a thump or a murmur or ringing (which is what I think ...
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| PVC's | 7/22/2009 |
Q: I am 43. About 2 1/2 years ago I suddenly started with PVC's and palpitations. To the point I ...
A: Premature beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG ...
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| query | 7/22/2009 |
Q: I am a male/55 from India. and hypertensive on Tenormin 100 Losartan 100 Amlodepine 10 and HCTZ 25. ...
A: Everyone with any 2 risk factors for coronary disease (maleness, hypertension under treatment, age ...
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| Nuclear Stress test | 7/22/2009 |
Q: I asked you some heart palpitation questions around the first on the year and you were extremely ...
A: The indication to intervene on a heart (balloon and stents, or bypass surgery) is pain you don;t ...
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| 24 yr old, left side chest pain | 7/22/2009 |
Q: Im a 24 yr old male, 205lbs, 6ft, cholesterol 245. I'm a very inactive person for about 4 years ...
A: 1. It doesn't sound cardiac. The most common cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles in ...
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| Palpitations/event loop monitor | 7/21/2009 |
Q: 56 year old female, in good shape, admitted to the hospital in February with palpitations. They did ...
A: Cheryl, a monitor will show that you're having skipped beats. Skipped beats are normal heart ...
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| Palpitations/event loop monitor | 7/21/2009 |
Q: 56 year old female, in good shape, admitted to the hospital in February with palpitations. They did ...
A: The event monitor will show what the palpitations are. It records your EKG whenever it detects a ...
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| Uncomfortable chest pains, palpatations, slight shortness of breath | 7/20/2009 |
Q: The last 2 weeks or so I have noticed an uneasy feeling in my chest at times ,nothing long and it ...
A: It's not likely to be heart when you can jog without discomfort. Amino acids should not cause ...
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| Strange Sensation in Chest | 7/20/2009 |
Q: my name is Kirsten and I am an eighteen year old female. About three days ago, I was trying to fall ...
A: I think you're feeling premature heart beats. Premature beats are normal heart activity, no ...
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| stents | 7/19/2009 |
Q: My sister had stents put in her back in Dec 2008 (6 total) and she had to go back a few weeks ago to ...
A: I don't know why they would put a stent in an artery with nothing wrong. Maybe because once a stent ...
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| Is this normal? | 7/19/2009 |
Q: I'm a 24 year old male who is 6'0 tall and weighs in at 202 lbs. I'm a medium-built ectomorph and ...
A: Low diastolic pressure and pulse are normal. Shortness of breath lying down is usually caused by ...
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| heart | 7/19/2009 |
Q: My daughter Brittney is 20 years of age and has had problems for the past two years with headaches, ...
A: Ellis, The most common cause of pain like hers is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
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| cardiolite treadmill | 7/17/2009 |
Q: I will let you know my loop results as soon as i get them I am worried because my situation did not ...
A: A cardiolite stress test is very accurate in showing areas of the heart not getting enough blood. ...
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| Chest Pain | 7/17/2009 |
Q: I have been experiencing a sharp, pulling chest pain in the middle of my chest for the last week. ...
A: 1. Probably 2. Yes. 3. Yes. 4. A negative stress test monitored by echo or radioisotopes is strong ...
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| palpitations at night | 7/16/2009 |
Q: You've been kind enough to answer my questions a few times...i always appreciate it....I'm 63, male, ...
A: If your heart rate during palpitations is regular and less than 145 beats a minute, it's anxiety, ...
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| chest tightness | 7/16/2009 |
Q: I am a 37 year old male in decent shape. My father and his brother had their mitral valve's ...
A: Heart disease causing pain is EXTREMELY unlikely in a 37-year-old man with normal stress echo's. ...
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| Chest Pain | 7/16/2009 |
Q: I have been experiencing a sharp, pulling chest pain in the middle of my chest for the last week. ...
A: The most common cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If you can ...
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| Rushing sensation & heart beat | 7/15/2009 |
Q: I am 24 years old, not currently taking any medications, 5' 11", normal blood pressure, usually just ...
A: You're probably feeling skipped heart beats, which are normal cardiac activity, no threat to life or ...
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| heart function | 7/15/2009 |
Q: My husband is 68 and was recently put on a medication called Diltiazem Hydrochloride Extended ...
A: It's name is dilated cardiomyopathy. i suspect. Poor pumping ability is a good term. Low ejection ...
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| heart function | 7/15/2009 |
Q: My husband is 68 and was recently put on a medication called Diltiazem Hydrochloride Extended ...
A: Diltiazem dilates the tiny end branches of arteries throughout the body, making it easier for blood ...
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| palpitations | 7/14/2009 |
Q: Richardson, I wrote to you back in May regarding what I perceive to be premature ventricular ...
A: Smith, Premature beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with ...
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| 2D Echo and blood reports | 7/14/2009 |
Q: am a male from India and hypertensive on Amlopress AT twice and Losar-H twice. My lipid profile is ...
A: Prabakarran, I favor Resuvosatin, Statins don't lower normal cholesterol levels much, but have ...
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| 2D Echo and blood reports | 7/14/2009 |
Q: am a male from India and hypertensive on Amlopress AT twice and Losar-H twice. My lipid profile is ...
A: The echo report is normal except for moderate LVH (left ventricular hypertrophy). Hypertrophy means ...
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| Vascular Ring | 7/13/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I was wondering about the congenital anomaly of a Vascular Ring...My mother and ...
A: I'm sorry, but I don't know what a vascular ring is, and my textbook on congenital heart disease ...
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| strong throat pulse, arm pain | 7/13/2009 |
Q: I am a 46 year old female, slightly overweight, had a hysterectomy 7 years ago. I have been ...
A: The pulse after a PVC is very strong because the heart fills extra full of blood in the long pause ...
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| Heart Flutter | 7/13/2009 |
Q: I am 21 and have begum to recently feel (onset 14 days ago) a (flutter would be the best word to ...
A: It's probably premature heart beats, maybe two or three in a row. Premature beats are normal heart ...
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| abnormal ekg | 7/12/2009 |
Q: last week I went to the emergency rm for almost passing out, being severely dizzy, they said that It ...
A: Depends on the kind of dizziness. If spinning dizziness, the next step is teach you maneuvers to ...
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| SVT | 7/12/2009 |
Q: I have been diagnosed with SVT five years ago and it the episodes happen rarely, but i have noticed ...
A: SVT only needs attention if the episodes interfere with normal. Probably I said pay attention in ...
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| echocardogram results/heart murmur | 7/12/2009 |
Q: I am a 48 year old female diabetic, 5'8" 147 lbs. My doc(IM) thought my murmur was unusually loud ...
A: Mild sclerosis of aortic root is unimportant, but mild sclerosis of aortic valve needs watching by ...
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| Fast Heart Beat, Chest Pain | 7/11/2009 |
Q: i agree what you told me well i would like to add some more things like heartbeat problem was never ...
A: The factt that pressing on your chest helps means that the discomfort is from your chest wall and no ...
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| could this be from heart or something else | 7/10/2009 |
Q: I previously talked to you I believe back in March. My doctor told me that I had a heart murmur, ...
A: A heart murmur does not lead to a heart attack. Unless you're over 45, you are not at risk of heart ...
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| PVC's | 7/10/2009 |
Q: Richardson, I have recently begun to experience pvcs (50-100 daily last two weeks. I've been told ...
A: 1. I'm not sure. PVCs are normal heart activity, to threat to life or health in someone with ...
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| Event Monitor results | 7/10/2009 |
Q: I had a recent event monitor done for palpitations. The following were the results..my cardio doc ...
A: Isolated monomorphic PVCs mean one at a time and all have the same shape. Bigeminy is not dangerous ...
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| Wierd Problems lately | 7/9/2009 |
Q: Well it all started out about 3 days ago i was feeling wierd,as in nausea, shortness of breath, and ...
A: It sounds like anxiety to me. Heart rate of 120 is okay. You probably had some virus causing ...
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| fluctuating heart rates | 7/9/2009 |
Q: I work out about 4 days a week. One day about two weeks ago I was running on the treadmill until my ...
A: Nothing is wrong with you in my opinion. It's okay for heart rate to jump around so long as it ...
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| Cardiac? Help...Please | 7/9/2009 |
Q: 27 yo-female,Thoracic Syringomyelia (T4-T9)-2mm,Chiari 0,Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Cranial Settling( ...
A: A negative stress test monitored by echo gives you 95% likelihood of no heart attack or cardiac ...
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| POTS | 7/9/2009 |
Q: My 18 year old daughter has been diagnosed with POTS in March. She had to drop out of college and ...
A: Doesn't POTS stand for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome? I judge from her meds that she ...
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| Rapid Heart Beat waking me from sleep | 7/8/2009 |
Q: I seem to be a healthy 45 yr old woman, whom exercises daily, skipping days here and there. I run & ...
A: It's all fear and anxiety. Your symptoms are the classic symptoms of anxiety. Gradual slowing down ...
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| unexplained chest pain | 7/8/2009 |
Q: 33 year old male.. i have chest pain above the left side nipple. This pain is almost constant for ...
A: Chest wall pain may occur repeatedly for years and years. If you can modify the pain, make it ...
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| continuation to my previous messages | 7/8/2009 |
Q: I hope you remmeber me i am mark the one who sent you week ago my echocardiogram and ecg tests and ...
A: The hard pump was probably a skipped heart beat. The beat after the skip occurs when the heart is ...
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| elevated heart rate with exercise | 7/7/2009 |
Q: I am a 36 yr. fit,healthy female who is 5'4", weigh 140 with normal blood pressure and have been ...
A: Bulimia won't damage the heart. I think you need not be concerned, tho having to work awful hard ...
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| Random sharp heart pains? | 7/7/2009 |
Q: I'm 21, I'm not on any type of medications, I'm 5foot3, 110lbs, I do not know my blood pressure. I ...
A: The most common cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If you can ...
|
| 87 year old having a arteriogram | 7/6/2009 |
Q: Richardson, My aunt who will turn 87 next Wednesday is having an arteriogram this morning. She has a ...
A: Seems dangerous to me. Arteriograms are usually done under local anesthesia. She prpbably should ...
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| Rapid Heart Beat waking me from sleep | 7/6/2009 |
Q: I seem to be a healthy 45 yr old woman, whom exercises daily, skipping days here and there. I run & ...
A: Supraventricular tachycardia runs at 180-220 beats a minute and starts and stops in one heart beat. ...
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| left side chest and arm pain | 7/6/2009 |
Q: I'm a 24 yr old male, 5ft 11inches, 206lbs, and the past year or so I've been very inactive. I've ...
A: I'm sorry you're having all this trouble 1. Further testing is unlikely to help. 1. Doesn't sound ...
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| Low blood pressure | 7/5/2009 |
Q: I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask, but I'm seventeen, and I have low blood pressure, ...
A: Please stop the sertraline, which can cause low blood pressure, unless ALL of your symptoms preceded ...
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| septal infarct;age undertermined | 7/5/2009 |
Q: my question is regarding ecg test done, is reading normal sinus rhythm,septal infarct ...
A: lizarraga, Can't answer most of your questions without knowing your age, how long the pain has been ...
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| help | 7/4/2009 |
Q: 76m tall I weight train 4 times a week my resting heart rate is between 58 to 64 Ive had my heart ...
A: No, neither the rate of 150 nor the skipped beats are at all dangerous. Skipped beats are normal ...
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| Orthostatic HYPERtension | 7/4/2009 |
Q: I am well aware of orthostatic hypotension, however, I have the opposite effect. I am low normal BP ...
A: No, sorry. If the dizziness is spinning, like you're spinning round and round or the room is ...
|
| Tachy/Brady ectopic beats | 7/4/2009 |
Q: I am writing on behalf of my mother, Joan. Joan is 77 and diagnosed with persistent afib in 2006. ...
A: Please tell me what Hawthorne is supposed to help and what its ill effects are. Verapamil is not ...
|
| Fast Heart Beat & Chest Pain | 7/4/2009 |
Q: I am 27 yrs old men, i am physically fine and my weight is 72 KG now with 5'8 height. main problem ...
A: Deaar Hasan, If your fast heartbeat starts and stops gradually, over several minutes, it's normal, ...
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| Skipped beats | 7/3/2009 |
Q: I'm a 16 year old male, about 5'8" and around 51kg. Last week, while i was in bed i had a sudden ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
|
| heart palpitations.. | 7/2/2009 |
Q: IVE written to you before regarding my heart troubles.As i was offline for a while i havent been ...
A: Cramps in calves are normal. They come from having the calf muscles short. Get a board at the foot ...
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| echo | 7/2/2009 |
Q: Here is my recent echocardiogram at rest results dated june 15 2009 my age is 33 male non smoker and ...
A: Your heart is normal. Clogging pf cpronary arteries is very rare under age 45. Seems like anxiety ...
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| heart rhythm | 7/2/2009 |
Q: UPDATE: I had a second holter monitor only 20 days later and they found several handfuls of ...
A: Dea Mr. Turley, Find out if either Holter showed supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). This is a ...
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| PVC's | 7/1/2009 |
Q: I am a 35 yr old female, 5'7", 133lbs, and my normal BP is anywhere between 107/70 - 95/60. I am ...
A: Ask about flecainide, which is safe for someone with a normal EKG and echocardiogram and is more ...
|
| heart palpitations/chest tightness | 7/1/2009 |
Q: I am 37 years old and in decent shape. I have been experiencing on and off fast heart beat, chest ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
|
| medications and the heart | 7/1/2009 |
Q: Last year in June I had an abnormal EKG. ST depression. I was having a full blown panic attack when ...
A: Premature beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal cath ...
|
| Heart skipped beats and beats irregular | 6/30/2009 |
Q: I had a panic attack about little over a month ago and my heart beat fast for about 10 seconds if ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
|
| SHort of breath chest pain breat bone rib 4 and 5 | 6/29/2009 |
Q: 7 months ago i was with a friend at the theatre watching a movie after having a dinner and while i ...
A: The most common cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If you can ...
|
| Morning low pulse | 6/29/2009 |
Q: I am a healthy 76, 200 lbs, 5'11", four way bypass in 96 after 3 angioplastys. I was recently ...
A: Conway, Cozaar is not a beta blocker, but an ACE Inhibitor. It does not slow the pulse. 35 is ...
|
| Chest pain. | 6/28/2009 |
Q: I am 66 years old,175cm high and 57kg. My blood pressure is usually normal. I stopped taking valium ...
A: The most likely cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If you can ...
|
| untreated malaria causing heart diease | 6/28/2009 |
Q: In your general opinion can untreated malaria cause heart disease? DIC, Myocarditis, tachycardia, ...
A: Anemia yes, from the parasites exploding red blood cells. Tachycardia would accompany fever in ...
|
| Heart Rhythm | 6/28/2009 |
Q: GOOD EVENING, I HAVE READ ON THIS SITE THAT SINUS ARRHYTHMIA ONLY OCCURS IN HEALTHY HEARTS.. SO CAN ...
A: Yes, a heart with LVH may be quite healthy and have sinus arrhythmia, even a normal EKG, tho normal ...
|
| Wierd symptoms! | 6/27/2009 |
Q: for the past few weeks ive been expierencing wierd symptoms thatclearly point to a heart ...
A: The most likely cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall and arms. If ...
|
| sudden waking up w/ tacycadia | 6/27/2009 |
Q: im 17yo and decently active. i play football, but just recently moved so i havent done much in a ...
A: If the fast heart beat starts and stops abruptly, in one heart beat, it's probably supraventricular ...
|
| irregular heartbeats, skipping | 6/26/2009 |
Q: I am a 30 year old woman. Yes I smoke. Just over the past year or so, I have been experiencing very ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal heart ...
|
| Dilated aorta. | 6/26/2009 |
Q: I'm also an expert here on AllExperts since around 10 years. My fields are in my specialty (medical ...
A: Nordquist, Normal aortic diameter is up to 3.7 cm. With her low blood pressure, her aorta is ...
|
| left side chest and arm pain | 6/26/2009 |
Q: Im a 23 yr old male, with cholesterol of 245, 6ft and 205 lbs. I have intermittent recurring left ...
A: The sudden increase and decrease in pulse rate indicates PSVT, The most likely cause of pain like ...
|
| Fast pulse rate that won't come down with sedative | 6/25/2009 |
Q: I accidently asked this to the person below you, but meant to send it to you. I don't know if it's ...
A: Anxiety is most likely. Overactive thyroid can too, but should cause weight loss, tremor and heat ...
|
| holter findings | 6/25/2009 |
Q: I wore a holter moniter over the weekend. Of course my doc is on vacation and i can't find out ...
A: You probably meant PACs after 1,187. PAC's are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. ...
|
| pain , numb tounge | 6/25/2009 |
Q: I am 33yr old male. I have chest pain on the left side above my nipple. it happens quite often , not ...
A: The most likely cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If you can ...
|
| chest pains chronic | 6/24/2009 |
Q: for the last 15 months or so, i have been experiencing on and off stabbing pains in the left side ...
A: The most likely cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If you can ...
|
| tachycardia | 6/24/2009 |
Q: I've been suffering from tachycardia for 10 years now. It started when I was about 17 (i am 27 now). ...
A: It's called Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia (IST). I'd try another beta blocker, atenolol or ...
|
| heart rate variability | 6/23/2009 |
Q: I preface this by noting that I had a small heart attack in September but fortunately escaped with ...
A: The only concern is that anxiety and anger make the heart beat faster and are probably not good for ...
|
| Abnormal ECG | 6/18/2009 |
Q: I had an ECG on Tuesday as part of a pre op assessment. I'm due to have varicose vein surgery in a ...
A: Nothing about your ECG report weighs against varicose vein or any surgery. The direction of the P ...
|
| Heart and alcohol | 6/18/2009 |
Q: Dr.Richardson, What is your opinion on heart disease and casual alcohol consumption (wine or ...
A: Three ounces of whisky or 2 glasses of wine, especially red wine, lessen the likelihood of coronary ...
|
| Borderline Aortic Root | 6/18/2009 |
Q: I've asked you questions before on this forum and have always appreciated your opinions and ...
A: My textbook says upper limit of normal aorta is 3.7 cm, so yours is borderline. Once aortas start ...
|
| high cholestrol and left side chest pain | 6/17/2009 |
Q: I'm a 23 yr old male, 6ft, and 205lbs, very inactive person and don't eat the greatest. I also drink ...
A: Triglycerides are high because of beer and eating. Yes, I agree with most of above, but not that ...
|
| angina/neg angio gram/bridging | 6/17/2009 |
Q: Iam confused- I have seen two cardiologists- in past 1.5 yrs- i have had, stress test, ct scan 64 ...
A: I don't see how another stress test will help, Paul. It was normal before and will probably be ...
|
| angina/neg angio gram/bridging | 6/16/2009 |
Q: Iam confused- I have seen two cardiologists- in past 1.5 yrs- i have had, stress test, ct scan 64 ...
A: Spasm of a coronary artery? ...
|
| Constant small heart pain and exhaustion | 6/15/2009 |
Q: I'm a 31 years man and I have had a constant heart pain or feeling and tiredness now at least 4 ...
A: Are you sleeping well? Do you snore? Do you fall asleep frequently during the day, even when ...
|
| cardiomyopathy | 6/15/2009 |
Q: I am 38 years old and was diagnosed with cardiomypathy in 2001. Upon the initial diagnosis the echo ...
A: Yes, you are qualified for total and permanent disability. It helps if you take to SSA a note from ...
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| cramp in the heart | 6/15/2009 |
Q: Sometimes my hart contracts like a cramp. It lasts for just a second. This happens while cycling in ...
A: The most likely cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If you can ...
|
| 32-Year-Old With Persistent Chest, Left Arm Pain | 6/15/2009 |
Q: Richardson, I am a 32-year-old male, former 1-pack-a-day smoker for 5 years (quit a few months ...
A: I think you're okay and don't need to pursue this further. Press firmly on the area that hurts. If ...
|
| high cholestrol and left side chest pain | 6/14/2009 |
Q: I'm a 23 yr old male, 6ft, and 205lbs, very inactive person and don't eat the greatest. I also drink ...
A: The most likely cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If you can ...
|
| skipped heart beats | 6/13/2009 |
Q: YOUR A STAR!! i feel that sometimes i just need reassurance with these horrible things, one more ...
A: Skipped beats are usually more frequent at rest. I don't know why yours disappear in the evenings. ...
|
| anterior wall reversibility & stress induced ischemia | 6/13/2009 |
Q: I am a 53 yr old woman who in the last few yrs was put on hbp, chols, thyroid meds. I had a echo ...
A: Louise, you get to choose. If the pain and light pressure interfere with your life, see a ...
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| anterior wall reversibility & stress induced ischemia | 6/13/2009 |
Q: I am a 53 yr old woman who in the last few yrs was put on hbp, chols, thyroid meds. I had a echo ...
A: It means the front wall of your heart doesn't contract as well as the rest of the heart when ...
|
| Tachycardia attacks, and odd heart rhythm | 6/13/2009 |
Q: I am an 18 year old male and weigh about 151 pounds and am 6 feet tall. Recently in the past 6-7 ...
A: If the fast heart beat comes on gradually, over a few minutes, and subsides gradually, it is a ...
|
| pvc's and left side chest pain | 6/12/2009 |
Q: , thanks so much in advance for answering my question. I'm a 23 yr old otherwise healthy male. 6ft ...
A: With normal echos, stress test etc., you are at no risk of VFib or AFib. It's quite safe so far as ...
|
| Young female with chest pain, possible panic attack, normal ekg | 6/12/2009 |
Q: I am a 24-year old female, overweight (165lbs, height is 5 feet 1 inch), non-smoker, on omeprazole ...
A: Pain from clogging of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart is unheard of in a ...
|
| Ectopics | 6/11/2009 |
Q: I am a 23 m who gets PVCs during exercise. During exercise (treadmill walking, sometimes with an ...
A: PVCs during exercise have slight special significance. Here's a quote:"Exercise-induced ventricular ...
|
| Heart beat felt and cough | 6/11/2009 |
Q: late 30s, no meds, normal 8 weeks ago, I started feeling a strong heartbeat, like heart was ...
A: Premature heart beats is a name. They are either premature atrial contractions (PACs) or premature ...
|
| Heart beat felt and cough | 6/11/2009 |
Q: late 30s, no meds, normal 8 weeks ago, I started feeling a strong heartbeat, like heart was ...
A: The poor quality could well have been caused by your bra preventing good contact between sensor pads ...
|
| L)Chest Pain | 6/10/2009 |
Q: 62 years old mail generaly in good health . HX of high BP ( 140/90 )and high colestrol controlled ...
A: The most likely cause of your pain is cramping of muscles in the chest wall. You can prove if this ...
|
| irregular heart beats | 6/9/2009 |
Q: i am a 50 year old post menopausal female who has been experiencing a funky 'extra hard' type of ...
A: You're probably having extra heart beats called premature contractions. If they occur soon after ...
|
| Heart and antibiotics | 6/9/2009 |
Q: Doctor Richardson, I am a heart patient (CHF and CAD). I also have mitral regurgitation and a ...
A: Sear Denise, The American Heart changed its guidelines recently because of new research. It has ...
|
| sick and tired of PACs | 6/8/2009 |
Q: i am a 42 year old female who has consulted you before on several occasions. I have been on ...
A: It's okay to stop the flecainide abruptly since it's no help. Sotalol is worth a try. Neither ...
|
| Junctional rhythm | 6/8/2009 |
Q: My question is can you explain a junctional rhythm with premature/extra beats. Symptoms are ...
A: Disorders of heart valves are among the causes of junctional rhythm. But the positive tilt test ...
|
| swollen lower eyelids | 6/7/2009 |
Q: my mother is 83 yrs old, has hbp, cad, thyroid, pain in her groin and knee on the right side, ...
A: Paantoprazole and amlodipine can cause swelling of lower eyelids. Try stopping the pantoprazole for ...
|
| Junctional rhythm | 6/7/2009 |
Q: My question is can you explain a junctional rhythm with premature/extra beats. Symptoms are ...
A: Ask if it's a junctional escape rhythm or an accelerated junctional rhythm, unless you already know. ...
|
| SVT | 6/6/2009 |
Q: My cardiologist thinks I may be having an exercise induced SVT. He said my heart is very normal and ...
A: Gina, it's normal to feel lightheaded and short of breath during SVT. You will not fall over dead ...
|
| Abmormal heart EKG + hyperthryoid | 6/6/2009 |
Q: Last month blood work showed a TSH of .01, further testing for FT4 was 4.6. I was referred to an ...
A: It's very easy to make an EKG mistake by putting the electrodes too high on your chest. You ...
|
| mvp | 6/6/2009 |
Q: i have the foll question regarding mvp. i experience the occassional dyspnea where though i am able ...
A: MVP with trivial regurgitation causes no symptoms, none at all. The fact that you can sometimes run ...
|
| what is it | 6/5/2009 |
Q: i am a 33 male. 2 years ago went to the cardiologist due to an awareness of my heart beat/pulse it ...
A: Dizziness might be due to atenolol. Try stopping it, but stop gradually. 25 mg a day for a week, ...
|
| Pain down right arm | 6/5/2009 |
Q: I am a 36 year old female, no history of a cardiac conditions on either side of my immediate family. ...
A: No need for concern. Feel the pulse in your wrist, then raise your arm up above your head and as ...
|
| Stress Test | 6/5/2009 |
Q: I am a 31 year old female with no past medical history. I have been healthy my entire life until I ...
A: Clogging of arteries is driven by cholesterol and is VERY rare, unheard of, in women below age 50. ...
|
| skipped beats | 6/4/2009 |
Q: was just wondering if you could help me, i am 28 years old and i have been suffering from skipped ...
A: You need not worry. Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health for ...
|
| Anti-platelet | 6/4/2009 |
Q: Richardson Could you please comment on my question about blood thinners (anti-platelet & ...
A: I'm sorry, but I have no information on Plavix versus aspirin, only Plavix pus aspirin versus ...
|
| Tinnitus and Carotid Artery flow | 6/4/2009 |
Q: I am writing this on behalf of my mother. She is a 60 year old, healthy woman that has been battling ...
A: Tinnitus means ringing or at least hissing in an ear. Hearing her heart beat in one ear is not ...
|
| PVCs /hear rate and mortality risk? | 6/3/2009 |
Q: I'm 49yo male, nonsmoker, red wine drinker that works out daily with cardio or weights. In great ...
A: Ken, your vigorous exercise probably accounts for the ventricular hypertrophy and the atrial ...
|
| About Pvc's! | 6/3/2009 |
Q: I've asked: Dear David! I want to ask you about pvc's. In 7/2007, after my business by plain (i ...
A: Low potassium can increase the frequency of PVCs. No kind of PVCs cause VT or VF in someone with ...
|
| Pulse | 6/3/2009 |
Q: Richardson, Can you discuss heart rate changes throughout the day? I have what I think is becoming ...
A: No mantra that I know will slow your pulse. However, up to 120 with ordinary household activity is ...
|
| PVCs /hear rate and mortality risk? | 6/2/2009 |
Q: I'm 49yo male, nonsmoker, red wine drinker that works out daily with cardio or weights. In great ...
A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. About half of us have premature beats; ...
|
| Slow resting heart rate | 6/2/2009 |
Q: I have had problems in the past with fast heart rates and pvc/pacs however I am now dealing with a ...
A: Slow resting heart rate is good, healthy, predicts long life. You're not paranoid, just confused by ...
|
| HEART DISEASE | 6/1/2009 |
Q: i have the foll question : During a visit to a friends house i climbed their stairs carrying my ...
A: BP less than 12.1/7.0 is normal at rest and your bp should be a little higher right after climbing ...
|
| Blood Pressure/Anxiety/Heart | 6/1/2009 |
Q: Richardson, I have been reading with great interest your patient, practical, and wise responses to ...
A: Decreasing the beta blocker would not put you at greater risk. Dizziness may be caused by ...
|
| chest pain | 6/1/2009 |
Q: I have SVT and I was wondering if it causes any pains in the chest. I can not tell if the pain is in ...
A: The most likely cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If you can ...
|
| PVC's! | 6/1/2009 |
Q: I want to ask you about pvc's. In 7/2007, after my business by plain (i afraid of plain). I had skip ...
A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health for anyone with normal EKGs and ...
|
| PVC's | 5/31/2009 |
Q: I am 38, and generally healthy I was diagnosed with a mild MVP in 1990. This after a pretty bad ...
A: Sotacor is not listed by epocrates. Please send me its generic name. 1. MVP is not connected with ...
|
| have svts,pvc, and pacs | 5/31/2009 |
Q: I am a 43 yo male overweight. I have svt attacks over the last year. I have done stress /nuclear ...
A: The indication for cath is chest pain attributable to clogging of coronary arteries; this pain is ...
|
| racing heart | 5/31/2009 |
Q: Iam a 31 yr old womam w/mild MVP, w/regurg. A few times after vigorous activity, I have had a racing ...
A: Breathing hard and fast makes you light headed. Try breathing slowly and shallowly and see if the ...
|
| skipped heart beats | 5/30/2009 |
Q: I have read a lot of your answers regarding skipped heart beats. I have had anxiety over my skipped ...
A: Skipped beats almost never cause any trouble. Your exercise ability suggests strongly that your ...
|
| Cad - Pvc's - Svt - rbbb | 5/30/2009 |
Q: I am a male- 51 years of age. BP- 117 / 68 I have RBBB and CAD 2005- MI - had angioplasty - three ...
A: 1. SVT can cause light-headedness, but not chest or back pain or shortness of breath or nausea. Any ...
|
| Heart missing 'down' beats | 5/30/2009 |
Q: Family history : males with WPW, every male has dies before the age of 50. I have passed WPW to ...
A: Deaar Denise. I have no idea what a down beat is. You'll need to ask the doctor. Skipped beats ...
|
| orthostatic intolerance | 5/29/2009 |
Q: I was wondering if you know much about orthostatic intolerance? My symptoms are dizziness when ...
A: I think I'm one of the world's greatest experts on orthostatic hypotension. It can occur at any ...
|
| ECG reading | 5/29/2009 |
Q: I had a question regarding my ECG. I'm 21 years old, in good shape(walk 4 miles, run 2 miles, lift ...
A: Sinus arrhythmia is good. It shows your heart is responding well to nerve signals generated in the ...
|
| racing heart | 5/29/2009 |
Q: Iam a 31 yr old womam w/mild MVP, w/regurg. A few times after vigorous activity, I have had a racing ...
A: If the fast heart beat starts and stops abruptly, in one heart beat, it's not anxiety but paroxsymal ...
|
| heart attack in 20 year old? | 5/28/2009 |
Q: I have a terrible anxiety problem. I am a healthy 20 year old, no medical problems besides my ...
A: Heart attack in a 20-year-old woman from clogging of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the ...
|
| CHOLESTEROL | 5/28/2009 |
Q: I'm 35 years male with 5'10" height aNd 75Kgs few months ago i had high cholestrol level as given ...
A: In my opinion, every man with cholesterol over 240 should take atorvastatin 40 mg every evening for ...
|
| PMS and premature beats | 5/27/2009 |
Q: I have anxiety and panic attacks but did have a false reading of pulmonary hypertension on an echo ...
A: Remember that skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health for someone with ...
|
| Possible heart conditions | 5/26/2009 |
Q: married. Not very active physically. Weight 60Kg, hight 5'5" my conditions are as follows: 1) Pain ...
A: The most likely cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If you can ...
|
| endurance vs interval training | 5/26/2009 |
Q: About a year and a half ago, I was given and passed a stress echo ( I have a well-functioning ...
A: No, a stress echo does not adequately test for stop/start activity. It is normal to have different ...
|
| no atrial function follow up | 5/26/2009 |
Q: I would like to update you on what I have done and where I am at now. A few weeks ago I saw an ...
A: 1.Atenolol is usually weaned, but that's because of fear of coronary disease. For a young woman it ...
|
| Heart rate | 5/25/2009 |
Q: I am a 19 year old male, slightly overweight. I have many PVC's, but have had a heart echo, multiple ...
A: No problem; heart rate of 140 during exercise is fine. Lightheadedness after exercise may be low ...
|
| Supraventricular Tachycardia | 5/25/2009 |
Q: Richardson. I was hoping you could possibly help me put my mind to rest, as my wife keeps trying to ...
A: Premature beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG ...
|
| triathlete with possible heart issues? | 5/25/2009 |
Q: I am a 30 year old male, have always been fit, and am currently in what I consider great shape and ...
A: The 3 quick beats are probably premature atrial beats. These are normal heart activity, as is the ...
|
| scar after heart attack | 5/24/2009 |
Q: On6/28/08 I had a severe MI. Total blockage of the LAD. A stent was used. My injection fraction was ...
A: Angioplasty areas sometimes renarrow. The fatigue, breathlessness and swelling are caused by your ...
|
| ventricular fibrillation | 5/24/2009 |
Q: I have a sinus arrythmia w/ pvc's. when I was in the ER last week I was hooked up to the heart ...
A: It could not have been vfib. You would have become unconscious in 15 seconds and dead in 5 minutes. ...
|
| racing heart | 5/24/2009 |
Q: I woke up last night suddenly, feeling like my throat was closed off or I couldn't breathe. I have ...
A: Murray, Panic can easily cause a heart rate that high. Extra beats are normal heart activity, no ...
|
| Poor/Reversed R wave progression | 5/23/2009 |
Q: I had 2 ekg's performed for insurance reasons. One in July 08 and one April 09. July read poor r ...
A: McNally, Yes, lead misplacement is probably the reason for poor R progression. Placing the leads ...
|
| scar after heart attack | 5/23/2009 |
Q: On6/28/08 I had a severe MI. Total blockage of the LAD. A stent was used. My injection fraction was ...
A: Scar in the right coronary area could not come from LAD. It means trouble with the right coronary ...
|
| Chest Pains... | 5/23/2009 |
Q: I am scared about this, but don't know if I should go to the doctor or not for it. It started about ...
A: The most likely cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If you can ...
|
| PVCs: Exercise or Rest? | 5/23/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I have episodes of bigeminy and trigeminy. I do not have a heart disease but my ...
A: By all means exercise as much as possible. PVCs occur a bit more often at rest when the heart is ...
|
| pvc"s | 5/22/2009 |
Q: I have pvc's and take atenol to help with them. I do not have them every day. I have episodes ...
A: PVC's are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with the normal heart ...
|
| pain in left side of the heart | 5/22/2009 |
Q: I had a pain left Side of the heart and it take place to back side also, means it start from front ...
A: The most likely cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If you can ...
|
| coronary spasm and tingling feelings | 5/22/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson My name is Michelle and i have been diagnosed with coronary spasms and i was given ...
A: The most likely cause of tingling is breathing too much. Pay attention to your breathing when you ...
|
| Cardiovascular Assessment | 5/21/2009 |
Q: My name is Caroline and I am sending this question on behalf of my friend Rose. Rose has had a Heart ...
A: The tests are fine, nothing at all to worry about. Not even a valve problem, so the murmur is ...
|
| Studies on hypertension | 5/21/2009 |
Q: Could you please tell me whether there is any medical literature or web sites that would tell me the ...
A: Sorry, Al, I know of no way other than to fill out the forms listing age, sex and blood pressure are ...
|
| septal infarct | 5/20/2009 |
Q: I had an EKG today that when compared with my ECG of 03Apr 2007 said possible Septal infarct, my ...
A: If you have chest pain that lasts over 10 minutes despite lying down and taking a nitroglycerine ...
|
| Upcoming Surgery | 5/19/2009 |
Q: , I am to have laproscopic gall bladder surgery on Wednesday. Im 60 years old. I have risk factors ...
A: Marge. We doctors are lucky to have patients like you to educate us. Please take the article to ...
|
| PVCs spells...scary...causes/treatment? | 5/19/2009 |
Q: Richardson. I stumbled upon this website and can say this is a very valuable service you are doing. ...
A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with a normal EKG and normal ...
|
| congenital complete heart block | 5/19/2009 |
Q: "I am 24 years married and primigravida in 37 weeks. two years ago i admitted to ICU after taken ...
A: rasha, since you've already had Stoke-Adams episodes, I think you need a pacemaker now. Does your ...
|
| Upcoming Surgery | 5/19/2009 |
Q: , I am to have laproscopic gall bladder surgery on Wednesday. Im 60 years old. I have risk factors ...
A: Toprol is VERY safe. In my opinion your should take every one of the recommended doses. Surgery ...
|
| Heart Rate | 5/17/2009 |
Q: Dr.Richardson, I have read through your old answers and hope you can take a moment to help me. I ...
A: 1. No. Heart rate lower than 70 means your pacemaker is not functioning correctly. 2. Norvasc and ...
|
| Borderline EKG | 5/15/2009 |
Q: How is borderline EKG is defined by cardiologist? What is the significance in patient's care?
A: There are a bunch of different ways an EKG would be read as borderline. Can you be more specific, ...
|
| PVC's | 5/14/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson - I have been reading your posts for the last several years, primarily for periodic ...
A: Heart cells are like capacitors. They store a an electrical charge (voltage) between inside and ...
|
| Mitral valve prolapse/ Bystolic | 5/14/2009 |
Q: I was recently diagnosed with a slight mitral valve prolapse. I have anxiety symptoms, occasional ...
A: Bystolic is very safe and has few ill effects. Flutter is to be avoided if possible. You said you ...
|
| inconsistent heart rate | 5/13/2009 |
Q: I am 23 weigh about 125lbs and i am a 5'7. I had a total knee replacement 3 months because my right ...
A: Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia seems correct to me. Here's a abstract about treatment that you ...
|
| pain left side of the chest | 5/13/2009 |
Q: I'm 27 years old, weight 242 pounds, I suffer arrhythmia, sometimes my heart beat skips for a second ...
A: Your pain is almost certainly not dangerous. The most common cause of chest pain in a young person ...
|
| stint surgery | 5/13/2009 |
Q: I had stint surgery through my grown. The doctors did not put a stint in my heart. They said that I ...
A: Yes, it's possible, indeed usual. The heart can enlarge arteries so they make effective bypasses. ...
|
| Enlarged heart | 5/12/2009 |
Q: My dad is 81 years old, probably about 5'10'', 140lb. For the past few months he has been suffering ...
A: Yes, EECP may help a lot. It's often very helpful. Furosemide makes you pee a lot. ACE inhibitors ...
|
| PSVT | 5/12/2009 |
Q: I am 56 years old male. I am on antenolol 100mg celexa 10 mg and hydro 12.5 mg. During the past 2 ...
A: First, lie down. Valsalva: Take a deep breath, exhale but don't let the air out of your chest, ...
|
| Enlarged heart | 5/12/2009 |
Q: My dad is 81 years old, probably about 5'10'', 140lb. For the past few months he has been suffering ...
A: Sure, there are lots of medicines that could help his breathing. Furosemide (Lasix), ACE inhibitors ...
|
| irregular heartbeay y beats | 5/11/2009 |
Q: I recently had a holter monitor due to an irregular heartbeat. I have had this condition for about ...
A: No idea! Could he have said wide beats? There's no such thing as a y beat. At any rate, extra ...
|
| right ventricular hypertrophy | 5/11/2009 |
Q: I am a 38 y/o F, 5'3",153lbs. I was at a Medi-Weightloss Clinic on 4/27. The prescreen involved ...
A: Right bundle branch block is no threat to life or health. Electrical impulses reach the right ...
|
| Chest pain | 5/10/2009 |
Q: I have been experiancing chest pain for the better part of a year now. The pain comes under my left ...
A: Not MVP. That doesn't cause pain. It may be your colon, distended in its left upper corner, just ...
|
| Should I see a cardiologist? | 5/10/2009 |
Q: I am uncertain if I should push for a visit to a cardiologist or even what to do. I am 29 year ...
A: Petersen, I meant diastolic dysfunction of the heart, failure to relax well during diastole. That ...
|
| mvp | 5/9/2009 |
Q: i have mild mvp with mild mitral insufficiency. i was diagnosed 12yrs and i;ve been paranoid about ...
A: You don't need antibiotics for dental procedures, and missing one dose will not cause bacteria to ...
|
| Suspected SVT concerns | 5/8/2009 |
Q: 35 / male / no meds / BP = 125/75 / No CAD/HD history in family Have a history of short, ...
A: Yes, sounds like SVT. With short PR, might even be WPW. Episodes won't get any worse, but might ...
|
| heart issues, ovary removal | 5/8/2009 |
Q: I was a bit alarmed by your response to a previous poster about clogged arteries and ovary removal. ...
A: No, you're fine. Very young women whose ovaries are removed are more likely to develop clogging of ...
|
| pain in chest | 5/7/2009 |
Q: i woke up yesterday with this heaviness or pain in the middle of my chestright between my breast.the ...
A: Kelly, Pleurisy is pain worse with a deep breath in, so it's not pleurisy. Heart can give ...
|
| Ectopics | 5/6/2009 |
Q: I am 46 year old male good blood pressure, reasonable weight. No family history of heart disease. ...
A: Ectopics are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with a normal echo. Just ...
|
| blunted both costophrenic angles | 5/5/2009 |
Q: My X-ray came back and it stated "blunted both costophrenic angles".Can you please tell me what it ...
A: Pretorius, It could be a little fluid leaking out of the lungs, or it could be scar left from an ...
|
| Heart skips beat with deep breth | 5/5/2009 |
Q: Ive been having this issue for a while now with a sort of skipped beat when take a deep breath. ...
A: The heart normally slows down as you exhale after a deep breath. It's called sinus arrhythmia in ...
|
| Cather ablasions SVT | 5/4/2009 |
Q: I'm 34 yr old female, slightly overweight but in good health and exercise 3 - 4 per week. I had 4 ...
A: Yes, SVT can come back again. 100 is a little high. Your heart is not working harder if your blood ...
|
| Catheter ablation | 5/4/2009 |
Q: About 2-1/2 weeks ago I had an ablation procedure for an SVT problem. After the ablation the Dr. ...
A: The top number is the pressure reached when the heat is pumping blood into the arteries. The bottom ...
|
| Quadruple Bypass and Emphezema | 5/3/2009 |
Q: My dad had a heart attack at age 39, he is now 58. Has had a few angiograms over the years but, no ...
A: The emphysema probably won't slow his recovery much. They could have discovered it earlier but ...
|
| Sharp, Sudden Chest Pain | 5/2/2009 |
Q: I am 21 years old. I am not taking any medicines. I weigh approximately 103lbs and am 5'2" tall. I'm ...
A: The most likely cause of your pain is cramping of muscles around the ribs, a big nuisance but no ...
|
| tachycardia | 5/2/2009 |
Q: I have MVP, with mild leakage. I had a couple of episodes in the last year where after activity, my ...
A: It's no deadly rhythm. If your heart rate increases gradually, over a few minutes, and slows down ...
|
| Pain in your left side of chest | 5/1/2009 |
Q: I am 32 years of age, height 181 meters, gender male and weight is around 88 KG. I have not ...
A: Your pain is from cramping of muscles in the chest wall and is no threat to life or health. The ...
|
| right ventricular hypertrophy | 5/1/2009 |
Q: I am a 38 y/o F, 5'3",153lbs. I was at a Medi-Weightloss Clinic on 4/27. The prescreen involved ...
A: Unlikely to be a wrong reading. Probably not dangerous, but you should have an echocardiogram to be ...
|
| PVC's and EKG | 5/1/2009 |
Q: Im a 23 yr old male otherwise healthy besides these skipped beat feelings I was fishing today and ...
A: PVCs are no threat to life or health in someone with a normal QTc (less than 440 ms.) and echo. ...
|
| Heart Calcium Scoring | 4/30/2009 |
Q: I have been a healthy, active 55 year old with no symptoms of heart disease. My recent CT heart scan ...
A: Chapman, In men, CAC by EBT was associated with a relative risk for future cardiac events of 10.5, ...
|
| Echo results | 4/12/2009 |
Q: My doctor told me that I had a murmur and sent me for an echo. The results were "Normal LV size, ...
A: Neither hypertension nor obesity nor skipped heart beats would cause enlargement of the left atrium ...
|
| fluttering flip flop feeling... | 4/12/2009 |
Q: I am a 22 year old female, not currently on any medications about 40lbs overweight (which I am ...
A: You're probably feeling skipped heart beats, which are normal heart activity, no threat to life or ...
|
| Heart Rate | 4/11/2009 |
Q: 62 yrs old - I had open heart 4 weeks ago (mitral valve repaired, single bypass, and RF Maze)- ...
A: If the pulse is regular, it's probably okay, tho I don't think surgery 4 weeks ago would make it ...
|
| Low blood volume/hypertension | 4/11/2009 |
Q: I have mitral valve prolapse syndrome and a funky nervous system. I get frequent panic attacks due ...
A: No, low blood volume would not make your blood pressure go up. Down, if anything. How high does ...
|
| Echo results | 4/11/2009 |
Q: My doctor told me that I had a murmur and sent me for an echo. The results were "Normal LV size, ...
A: My apologies! I completely missed the atrial size. There is no hint about why your doctor heard a ...
|
| Echo results | 4/10/2009 |
Q: My doctor told me that I had a murmur and sent me for an echo. The results were "Normal LV size, ...
A: The echo is perfectly normal, all of it. All you need to do is keep your blood pressure normal and ...
|
| Prognosis in 80 yr old male with EF of 15% | 4/10/2009 |
Q: My Dad just had an echocardiogram showing EF of 15%. He suffered a massive MI 13 years ago, and was ...
A: 50% of people with congestive heart failure die in 2 years. That doesn't help much. If his heart ...
|
| trace mitral regurg. | 4/9/2009 |
Q: hey doc, i was told in oct 08 after an ultrasound of heart that i have trace mitral reg.i just turn ...
A: Trace regurg will not get any worse, ever, and does not produce any symptoms. It's normal. The ...
|
| trace mitral regurg. | 4/8/2009 |
Q: hey doc, i was told in oct 08 after an ultrasound of heart that i have trace mitral reg.i just turn ...
A: Trace mitral regurg is normal and would not cause your symptoms. Please exercise as much as ...
|
| pain in chest | 4/8/2009 |
Q: my age is 39 yrs. & waigh 65 kgs hight is 5feet4" my problem is that i feel giddiness & sleepy ...
A: The most common cause of chest pain in the young is cramping of muscles in the chest wall. You can ...
|
| sudden start of PVCs | 4/8/2009 |
Q: 46 yo male, 195 lbs (5'11"). I started having PVCs suddenly about three weeks ago. I've had a EKG ...
A: PVCs are no threat to life or health in someone with a normal nuclear stress test and EKG. They ...
|
| nonischemic cardiomyopathy | 4/7/2009 |
Q: I am a 55 female. I was diagnosed with nonischemic cardiomyopathy in 2006. RVEF of 14%. My Dr. ...
A: Poor R progression is usually caused by putting the electrodes too high on the chest. Previous ...
|
| congenital complete heart block | 4/6/2009 |
Q: "I am 24 years married and primigravida in 37 weeks. two years ago i admitted to ICU after taken ...
A: Rasha, Normal delivery is okay. Why not get a pacemaker? If you've already had Stokes-Adams ...
|
| Sometimes I fear I am going to die, sometimes I think I would feel better if I did! | 4/6/2009 |
Q: I am 39 years old (female), 5'2, 115 lbs and my blood pressure is normally around 100/70's-80's when ...
A: SVT starts and stops abruptly, in one heart beat. Sinus tach starts and slows gradually, over ...
|
| I can feel my heart through my chest wall | 4/6/2009 |
Q: I'm 22, male, non-smoker and I rarely drink. I eat quite well and go to the gym 3 - 4 times per ...
A: All is well. On most non-obese people, the heart is easy to feel through the chest wall. Us ...
|
| ECG results I dont quite understand | 4/5/2009 |
Q: Results say, "ECG demonstrates a normal sinus rhythm with poor anterior R-wave progression and ...
A: Poor R-wave progression means the first upward spike of the QRS complex (the big sharp spikes) ...
|
| hear my heart beat | 4/4/2009 |
Q: why do i hear my own heart beating? my doc. thought it was high blood pressure but it is not high at ...
A: Not sure. IF you hear your breathing as well as your heartbeat, it's because the tubes that connect ...
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| Skipped Heartbearts | 4/4/2009 |
Q: Richardson, For 20 years, I suffered greatly with terrifying heart palpitations (skipped beats, ...
A: Charles, Skipped heart beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. The passing ...
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| EKG Interpretation | 4/4/2009 |
Q: I was hospitalized for 4 days; admitted due to severe abdonominal/chest pains that were acute. At ...
A: Griner, The message you got from the gastro dept. is not clear. The strips sound like ventricular ...
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| LAFB+RBBB | 4/4/2009 |
Q: I just had a EKG come back with incomplete LAFB and RBBB I am a 28 year old male active in sports. I ...
A: The LAF (left anterior fascicle) and the right bundle branch are both very thin bundles of ...
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| SVT | 4/2/2009 |
Q: 68 years old, white male, weight fine. 11/3/08 had L5 & L4 removed. Shortly thereafter developed ...
A: You need not travel world wide. A cardiac ElectroPhysiologist can help. There are usually several ...
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| leakey heart valve | 4/2/2009 |
Q: my mom was hospitalized for a fall which led to all her underlying problems....mom while in the ...
A: Lasix is not likely to cause harm in someone with moderately decreased kidney function. Lasix with ...
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| palpitations | 4/2/2009 |
Q: I am a 34 year old female mother of a 6 year old I live in Greece with phobias and health worries ...
A: Blackout spells are a problem. The only way I know to get at the problem is an event monitor, a ...
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| Is this Heart Related | 4/2/2009 |
Q: Iam 28 years old male. For the last one year, I have been experiencing the folowing symptoms. pain ...
A: MVP is not a problem at all and requires no medicines. With a normal echo and stress test, your ...
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| palpitations | 4/1/2009 |
Q: I have anxiety and palpitations and I'm on a beta blocker propranolol 80mg slow release. In the past ...
A: Sure, go back and ask the doc. Ask if it could have been supraventricular tachycardia, though you ...
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| Aorta Vale replacement | 4/1/2009 |
Q: Has the minimally invasive aorta valve replacement via entry through the groin been approved for ...
A: I doubt if it's been improved in the U.S. Probably 3 or more years. Results look good. Dr John ...
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| no atrial mechanical function | 4/1/2009 |
Q: I am a 34 yr old with a history of large ASD repair as a child with a Dacron patch I have had lots ...
A: Ashman, Normal aortic diameter is 2.0-3.7 cm. Weak atrial contribution means you do have stagnant ...
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| far left chest burning | 3/31/2009 |
Q: I'm a 34 year old male, non-smoker at my ideal weight and have no family history of heart disease. ...
A: The way-out pain may be cramping of muscles in the chest wall or heartburn from acid flowing from ...
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| Night time Bigeminy PVCS | 3/31/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson: I am a 51 years old male, 6' tall, 226 lbs, BP 138/86, on Norvasc and Toprol, ...
A: Bigeminal PVCs provide little risk for someone with an EF of 45%. PVCs are of course more frequent ...
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| LVH | 3/31/2009 |
Q: My recent ECG shows "minimal voltage for LVH". The ECG shows deep S waves in V1, V2 and V3 (24mm, ...
A: Hard to tell. Do you have hypertension or aortic valve narrowing? If not, LVH is unlikely. The ...
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| MVP | 3/31/2009 |
Q: I was recently dx with Mild MVP although for years some doctors have noticed a murmur. (age ...
A: Branham, That your MVP doesn't make symptoms, though anxiety about the murmur may. Palpitations ...
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| Natural bypass and chemical pypass | 3/30/2009 |
Q: I have no knowledge about this course of treatment. Could you please advise its acceptability and ...
A: They will probably inject a clot-dissolving substance called TPA into the artery through a long ...
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| Cold all the time? | 3/30/2009 |
Q: I am a 25-year-old woman and I'm cold all the time. I can't remember when my symptoms started, as ...
A: Hypothyroid is all I can think of, but you've had your thyroid checked. See an internist, and ask ...
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| MVP and HBP and chest discomfort | 3/29/2009 |
Q: I am 5'1, 44 years old and a non-smoker. I think I weight 145lbs. I take Metopolol 20 mg 2X daily, ...
A: Waking up with your arms numb doesn't sound like a big problem. If you are sleeping with your arms ...
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| svt | 3/29/2009 |
Q: David, I am a 60 year old mail, taking 160 mg of Diovan for bp ( well under control) and 10 mg of ...
A: I would certainly try medicines before undertaking an ablation. Beta blockers are extremely safe ...
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| Chest Pains | 3/29/2009 |
Q: I am a 35 year old woman and a couple of months ago I was having chest pains in my left chest area. ...
A: Chest wall pain can recur for years. The pain could be breast related. No lumps there? LBBB is ...
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| Chest Pains | 3/28/2009 |
Q: I am a 35 year old woman and a couple of months ago I was having chest pains in my left chest area. ...
A: Heart burn doesn't seem a good explanation. The most common cause of chest pains in a young woman ...
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| pac/pvc | 3/28/2009 |
Q: boderline mitral valve prolapse and a Patent Formen Ovale. I can not drink caffeine, take ...
A: As you've been told, PACs and PVCs are normal heart activity. They don't mean you have heart ...
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| LVH | 3/28/2009 |
Q: I am 34yrs old 5'9 and my weight is 200lbs. Nine years ago I was diagnosed with Left ventricular ...
A: No, LVH has nothing to do with dizziness. Probably your blood pressure is too low. Get someone to ...
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| Ebsteins Anomaly | 3/28/2009 |
Q: My husband had Ebsteins Anomaly, he had his tricuspid valve replaced 3 times, twice when he was a ...
A: It means your doctor thought it might show atrial flutter with variable conduction of atrial ...
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| Ebsteins Anomaly | 3/27/2009 |
Q: My husband had Ebsteins Anomaly, he had his tricuspid valve replaced 3 times, twice when he was a ...
A: Deanna, Here's a list of conditions that may not tolerate metoprolol: Depression, Myasthenia ...
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| Heart Rate | 3/26/2009 |
Q: I am a 34 yr old female (slim, petite). I eat well, don't smoke or drink, but don't exercise much (I ...
A: Yes, they are in the normal range and very safe. Heart rate tends to speed up a bit in the 30's and ...
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| Event Monitor PVCs and other | 3/26/2009 |
Q: You have been such a tremendous help to me in the past. I do have something else I would like to ...
A: A PJC is a premature junctional contraction. PJC's are totally harmless. The junction is the ...
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| Exercise Ectopics | 3/25/2009 |
Q: A few years back I had tests for ectopic beats, all the usual test that turned out ok. Recently at ...
A: I'm familiar with a Stanford study that showed that individuals undergoing treadmill testing who had ...
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| transthoracic echocrdiography report | 3/25/2009 |
Q: I am a female 42 years of age For the past six months i have had a number of issue pain in the ...
A: You have congestive heart failure. You need a cardiologist and perhaps cardiac catheterization to ...
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| pain in legs | 3/24/2009 |
Q: i am heart patient and OPERATED IN SEPTEMBER 2005. I AM USING 75 MG ASPIRIN AND10 MG ATORVASTATIN.MY ...
A: Your leg pain when walking suggests block in the artery supplying blood to that leg. A doctor can ...
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| chest pain | 3/24/2009 |
Q: I am a 31 year old woman weighing 158lbs and standing 5'3" tall. Tonight I am experiencing tight ...
A: The most common cause of chest pain in 31-year-old woman is cramping of muscles in the chest wall. ...
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| High resting pulse and breathlessness | 3/23/2009 |
Q: I am 41, 5feet 7, weigh 9stone 8 blood pressur 117 over 65 Lately i have become quite breathless ...
A: Probably nothing is wrong. Pulse of 88 is okay. Heavy arms when walking fast up a hill might be a ...
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| palpitations, dizziness, aching in chest | 3/20/2009 |
Q: Im 31 and have been having palpitations occasionally over the last 3 months, They were the type that ...
A: You're having skipped heart beats, which are are normal heart activity and no threat to life or ...
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| constantly skipping heart | 3/19/2009 |
Q: Over the past 15 years I have not gone one single day without my heart skipping at least 2-3 times ...
A: Skipped beats no matter how frequent are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in ...
|
| Tingling Feeling in Lower Left Jaw | 3/18/2009 |
Q: I was curious. I on occasion have a slight tingling feeling in my lower left jaw, usually when I ...
A: It's not heart. You're too young to have clogged coronary arteries. Since it only occurs when ...
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| IST/ AVNRT ablation | 3/18/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richarson, I asked you a question around two or three months ago about my heart rate and how it ...
A: Sorry, I've no experience with sinus node modification. Sounds like a good idea. Other things that ...
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| ECG, Heart Health | 3/17/2009 |
Q: Please excuse the long story. I was admitted to hospital in September 2003 with a very fast ...
A: 1. A little concern. 2. It's possible but unlikely that a coronary artery running in a funny way ...
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| Infererior ischemia and anterolateral ischemia | 3/17/2009 |
Q: What is this and what is the treatment
A: Deqr Bqrb; It's insufficient blood reaching the back and left side of the heart. Treatment depends ...
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| missed beats and triple beats with heart murmer | 3/15/2009 |
Q: I have emphysema, and I have also had long standing problems with lungs over 20 years ie PE, ...
A: Skipped and triple heart beats are normal heart activity, no threat to someone with normal left ...
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| Heart | 3/15/2009 |
Q: Dr.Richardson, I had a 4 bypass heart operation 5 years ago and have had to do stress tests for my ...
A: Depends on how high the right ventricular pressure is. Right ventricular pressure is the pressure ...
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| Chest pain | 3/15/2009 |
Q: I am a 26 year old female, 2 boys, 5 and 15 months. After I had my youngest son everything started ...
A: Laura, I'm against cath. All those negative tests and the locations of the pains eliminate ...
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| Chest pain | 3/15/2009 |
Q: I am a 26 year old female, 2 boys, 5 and 15 months. After I had my youngest son everything started ...
A: It can't be your heart at your age and with all those negative tests. lIt must be possible to have ...
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| High bloodpressure in 20's and what to do? | 3/14/2009 |
Q: I am just turned 21 years old, Im about 5'11" and around 200lbs. Im not sure of my blood pressure ...
A: White coat hypertension, when your BP is high only when you're around a doctor, is sort of ...
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| cath | 3/14/2009 |
Q: I had a R and L heart cath on March 3rd. It was totally normal. Everything about it was normal. ...
A: Wait a week. It will probably go away. You're probably right that it's caused by bleeding into the ...
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| Negative cardiac stress test | 3/14/2009 |
Q: I am training for a triathlon and started swimming in the ocean. I get severe chest pain and I have ...
A: Maybe not absolutely necessary, but very safe. It is difficult to imagine a cardiac cause of chest ...
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| High bloodpressure in 20's and what to do? | 3/13/2009 |
Q: I am just turned 21 years old, Im about 5'11" and around 200lbs. Im not sure of my blood pressure ...
A: Yes, 120 mg all at once is a pretty high dose. Usual dose is 40 mg. three times a day. ...
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| Dull Chest Pain | 3/13/2009 |
Q: I am a 23 year old woman. I am 5'3 and 220 lbs. I know my weight needs to be reduced. I was in the ...
A: Skipped heart beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. The most common cause ...
|
| 64 slice CT scan | 3/13/2009 |
Q: I am 54 yr. old female and due to family history and worry went to a cardiologist (also a friend). ...
A: What's a VAP? Please send more info on the NMR lipid test. NMR probably stands for nuclear ...
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| 64 slice CT scan | 3/12/2009 |
Q: I am 54 yr. old female and due to family history and worry went to a cardiologist (also a friend). ...
A: I would do no more except find out what the mild abnormality was, and be sure your cholesterol and ...
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| please help | 3/12/2009 |
Q: .beat...skip...skip..beat. It was racing at maybe 150bpm when i got to the ER it was gradually ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. Since your racing heart ...
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| my heart | 3/11/2009 |
Q: i went to the doctor 5days ago for some extreme heaveniess in in my chest and pain.i felt little ...
A: Michelle, with a normal stress echo last June, you have nothing to worry about and there is no need ...
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| Abnormal EKG | 3/11/2009 |
Q: I am a 26 year old, male of (Black) African decent living in the Caribbean. I am 131 lbs, ...
A: EKG's are no good at telling right atrial enlargement. Tall T waves are normal, in fact very good, ...
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| afraid pvc runs may hurt my baby | 3/11/2009 |
Q: Richardson, I am a 37 year-old female. Before I became pregnant with my third child, I had an ...
A: Tallon, PVCs, even runs or 4 in a row, won't hurt your baby or you. Your heart immediately pumps ...
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| my heart | 3/11/2009 |
Q: i went to the doctor 5days ago for some extreme heaveniess in in my chest and pain.i felt little ...
A: Kelly, Most likely it's cramping of muscles around ribs. If pressure on the area that hurts ...
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| High Heart Rate | 3/10/2009 |
Q: I have an aunt who is 61 years old.She asked me to search for her & see if there is anything that ...
A: Ask your aunt how high her heart rate runs and if the run starts and stops abruptly, in one heart ...
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| Heart Mumur | 3/10/2009 |
Q: I'm 25 years old, and today had a physical for work. The doc told me she heard a murmur. I've never ...
A: Ask the doc if the murmur is systolic or diastolic. And ask her for an echocardiogram, a ...
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| CAD | 3/10/2009 |
Q: Yesterday I spoke to a neighbor who had a triple bypass. I asked him what caused him to think he ...
A: Usually CAD causes pressure in the middle of the front of the chest that may radiate to jaw or left ...
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| POTS or NCS/Mother and daughter | 3/9/2009 |
Q: I was diagnosed with "Extreme NCS - vasovagal/cardioinhibitory - a few years ago after collapsing on ...
A: Sounds like POTS, especially if your fainting only occurs if you're standing up. I don't understand ...
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| fast heart rate | 3/9/2009 |
Q: I had surgery on 2/23 for a deviated septum and a cyst on my maxillary sinus. After surgery my BP ...
A: The surgery and the fever that continued after surgery probably account for your fast heart rate. ...
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| I'm convinced I will have a heart attack... | 3/8/2009 |
Q: I am a 21 year old female, For about a year I have worried about my heart, and have got quite ...
A: A heart attack is unheard of in a 21-year-old woman. Your symptoms are probably caused by anxiety ...
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| fast heart rate | 3/8/2009 |
Q: I had surgery on 2/23 for a deviated septum and a cyst on my maxillary sinus. After surgery my BP ...
A: Anxiety? Infection should give you fever and a high white blood cell count and pain in sinus or ...
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| cath | 3/8/2009 |
Q: In June of 08 I had an ST depression show up on an EKG during a massive panic attack. I was admitted ...
A: Maybe chest wall pain from cramping of muscles. If pressure on the painful area modifies the pain, ...
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| Left side chest pain | 3/8/2009 |
Q: I am 39 in good health. I have been experiencing some Chest pain, tingling for about a week. It ...
A: The most common cause of chest pain in a 39 year old woman is cramping of muscles in the chest wall, ...
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| pre hypertension in healthy 24 year old female | 3/7/2009 |
Q: I'm a little confused. I recently realized that for several months I have had prehypertension. ...
A: High blood pressure is almost always of unknown cause. There are rare conditions known to elevate ...
|
| Distended neck veins / head pressure | 3/7/2009 |
Q: About a month ago, I was lying flat on my back and felt a pressure around my throat. When I put my ...
A: It's normal for jugular veins to be full when you're lying flat, and to fill at the root of the neck ...
|
| LA Size | 3/7/2009 |
Q: I have a couple questions about an enlarged left atrium. On my last echo, everything was normal with ...
A: Your cardiologist's comments seem absolutely correct to me. Don't bother with more tests. More ...
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| Angina | 3/6/2009 |
Q: Richardson, Is there a method or are there any clues by which to tell the difference between angina ...
A: Angina is brought on by exercise or strong emotion and is relieved in 5 minutes by rest and ...
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| fast heart rate | 3/6/2009 |
Q: recently my resting heart rate has increased but im not sure why they think that its because im ...
A: I'm very sorry, but I don't know. Possible causes are anemia, hyperthyroidism, anxiety, but you're ...
|
| no atrial mechanical function | 3/6/2009 |
Q: I am a 34 yr old with a history of large ASD repair as a child with a Dacron patch I have had lots ...
A: Cardiomyopathy means heart muscle disorder. The term is usually applied to ventricular dysfunction. ...
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| Heart Beat! | 3/6/2009 |
Q: I have had many so called "Panic Attacks", but being the type of person that I am, I have always had ...
A: Normal hearts don't speed up much with exercise in people who exercise a lot. Your dizziness may be ...
|
| interpretation of the conclusion of a nuclear stress test | 3/5/2009 |
Q: I am a 47 year old woman that recently underwent a nuclear stress test. Could you put this ...
A: Normal LVEF is 50% and above. So your heart is contracting a little less vigorously than normal. ...
|
| Extra Beats | 3/5/2009 |
Q: Richardson, I have reads your answers in the past and they have been so comforting to me. Let me ...
A: Extra heart beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in people with a normal EKG ...
|
| heart rhythm | 3/5/2009 |
Q: Good morning David. I've written before and thanks so much for your quick responses. I'm 62, male, ...
A: If your heart sped up abruptly, in one heart beat, it may have been supraventricular tachycardia, ...
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| heart murmurs and heart rate | 3/5/2009 |
Q: I just recently turned 27 and found out I have a heart murmur. I have never been told this before. I ...
A: More information is needed to tell if the murmur is any concern. Ask what's causing the murmur, and ...
|
| heart skipping beat | 3/4/2009 |
Q: esp at work during stress or after I drank a lot of coffee. I gave up caffeine which seemed to ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. Low potassium or magnesium in ...
|
| Residual pDa In Adults | 3/4/2009 |
Q: Respected Sir, I am male of 50 Yrs I was operated For pda In 1986. Though i had no specific problems ...
A: Yes, you need an operation to remove the subaortic membrane. It the aortic stenosis means your ...
|
| high heart rate | 3/4/2009 |
Q: My heart rate is 115-120 at any given moment no matter what I am doing. I have had every heart test ...
A: Anxiety, anger, hyperthyroidism all cause sinus tachycardia. A cardiac electrophysiologist probably ...
|
| PVC's.Sinus Tach and SVT?? or Afib?? | 3/3/2009 |
Q: Sorry for the length of this but I am desperately hoping you will be able to help me. I have had ...
A: I'm sorry you're having so much anxiety. There's no need for another stress test or echo. They'll ...
|
| brother's hospitalization | 3/3/2009 |
Q: My brother is70 with no previous heart condition. He went to the emergency room on Sat with pain ...
A: Probably the heart cath showed very poor pumping function of his heart. This can't be repaired. ...
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| tachycardia? | 3/2/2009 |
Q: My question is about whether what I am experiencing is normal, or indicative of something specific. ...
A: What kind of dystonic reaction? Albuterol was a BIG mistake on my part. I meant atenolol. ...
|
| PVCs after excercise | 3/2/2009 |
Q: i get pvcs when stressed, randomly and then sometimes during and after exercise. i have had a ...
A: I"m not sure I know about that study that says PVCs after exercise carry a poor prognosis. Possibly ...
|
| Increased heart rate | 3/1/2009 |
Q: I'm 63 years old, fit and feeling well. I experienced an MI in 1999, and have been fine since ...
A: Increased appetite, weight, cholesterol and triglycerides are listed as ill effects of mirtazepine, ...
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| My heart beat is 102 | 3/1/2009 |
Q: My heart is beating at 95 to 102 per minutes since last few weekswa and I can feel it beating in my ...
A: Hunjon, Probably, both the rate and the feeling of your heart beating in your chest. You could get ...
|
| Breathing Problems During Aerobic Exercise | 3/1/2009 |
Q: Age: 43 Height: 5' 7" Weight: 195 lb. BP: About 112/70 (I would prefer you don't publish my height, ...
A: The only way to keep your weight etc private is to mark the email to AllExperts as Personal or ...
|
| heart complications | 3/1/2009 |
Q: i am 22 years old, 5'4" 160lbs. Ever since i could remember, I've been having heart problems. when i ...
A: You're having skipped heart beats. These are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. ...
|
| PVC's, Citalopram, Diazepam and Morning Racing heart and PVC's | 2/28/2009 |
Q: I did Cocaine a few years ago, had a bad reaction and had to go to A&E. Thought i was dying but the ...
A: Boler, PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. Normal in that about half of ...
|
| tachycardia? | 2/28/2009 |
Q: My question is about whether what I am experiencing is normal, or indicative of something specific. ...
A: Maybe your fast heart rate during exercise comes from Lexapro or Seroquel. Seroquel is used for ...
|
| irregular heartbeats | 2/27/2009 |
Q: I have been having skipped or missed beats since i was in my 20s (I'm now 36) for the last year ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. Two or three skips in a row ...
|
| Heart Rythym Getting Worse | 2/26/2009 |
Q: I am a seventeen year old male. 6'3 / 160. Ever since I was a child, I have had breathing problems ...
A: Skipped heart beats, no matter how frequent, are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. ...
|
| Pain, is this heart related? | 2/26/2009 |
Q: Richardson, you've helped me out before, and I have something that's come up that I'm curious ...
A: Not heart related. Pain where leg joins body can come from clogging of the artery to the leg. That ...
|
| PVCs and infrequent arrhythmia | 2/25/2009 |
Q: Richardson, I am a 38 year old otherwise very healthy female who plays tennis 3 times a week and ...
A: With a normal QT interval, echo and stress test, sudden cardiac death is unlikely, but remotely ...
|
| Heart and exercise symptoms | 2/25/2009 |
Q: Richardson, I am writing again because I do not know if my last message went through? You probably ...
A: Your symptoms were Not heart related. Low blood pressure maybe. Not serious probably. Please ...
|
| rapid heartbeat | 2/25/2009 |
Q: I'm male,52 been on bloodpressure meds for about 20 yrs., verapamil 120 mg twice a day, heart ...
A: More info needed. How fast was your heart when it was beating rapidly? Did the rapid heartbeats ...
|
| What could be causing my low blood pressure and tachycardia symptoms? | 2/24/2009 |
Q: [Personal info: I'm a 19 y.o. female, currently prescribed Adderall XR 30mg for ADHD, 5'6 and ...
A: It's called postural orthostatic hypotension symptoms (POTS) and it's caused by inadequate signals ...
|
| Pain in left side of the heart | 2/24/2009 |
Q: I went online to check out my question and landed here. i hope you will be able to answer my ...
A: Dar Sameera, Chest pain that is made worse by pressure on the chest comes from the chest wall, ...
|
| heart palpitations.. | 2/23/2009 |
Q: Im a 32 year old female..currently about 10 kilos overweight,For 2 years now ive been putting up ...
A: Metoprolol wouldn't affect the results of a stress test. If the EKG showed more than 1 mm of plane ...
|
| Possible Heart Palpitations? | 2/22/2009 |
Q: I'm a 25 year old female, 5'9, 140 pounds. Yesterday evening I experienced trouble breathing, rapid ...
A: Not very serious, but should be checked out with a doctor. Notice when it happens again if your ...
|
| Heart skips a beat | 2/22/2009 |
Q: I've read so many articles on how common and "ok" it is for a persons heart to skip beats. I am a 55 ...
A: Skipped heart beats ARE normal heart activity. Normal in the senses that about half of us have ...
|
| Re: Strange tappings in the heart | 2/20/2009 |
Q: The Tapping doesnot occur in any one position. It happens when I am lying down or sitting or ...
A: If the tapping does not occur at the same rate as your pulse, it must not be heart. I don't know ...
|
| Echo and Stress Test | 2/20/2009 |
Q: I visited my cardiologist on Monday and had a echo that came back abnormal. He immediately scheduled ...
A: Doggone it, they should have given you a copy of the echo report or at least told you what the ...
|
| Borderline Prolonged QT interval | 2/20/2009 |
Q: My 13-year-old daughter had a near syncopal episode today. Her EKG was told to us as normal but the ...
A: QT is not enough info. The corrected QT (QTc) is needed. If what you were given is QTc, here are ...
|
| chest pain | 2/19/2009 |
Q: Over the past two weeks I've been to see two doctors about recurrent chest/arm pain on my left side, ...
A: The most common cause of chest pain in the young is cramping of muscles around the ribs in the chest ...
|
| Strange tappings in the heart | 2/19/2009 |
Q: Age 32 years, No medicines, Height 5'7'',weight 170 lbs and Blood Pressure 115-120/75-80 Dear Sir, I ...
A: With negative EKG's, echo and stress test, it cannot be abnormality of heart. Observe if the ...
|
| Ref: Answer dated 11/26/2006 | 2/18/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I appreciate your time, thank you for reading this. I have a question related to ...
A: It's called skipped heart beats, which are really premature beats, so premature that the heart is ...
|
| heart palpitations and menopause - HRT | 2/18/2009 |
Q: Richardson: I am 51 (5'7" - 175 lbs at the moment (menopause waist weight - was always about 140 ...
A: Skipped heart beats are normal heart activity, normal in the senses that: about half of us have ...
|
| heart palpitations.. | 2/17/2009 |
Q: Im a 32 year old female..currently about 10 kilos overweight,For 2 years now ive been putting up ...
A: Nobody knows why some people have palpitations and others don't, but i don't think hypercalcuria ...
|
| Cardiac syndrome X and leg pain? | 2/17/2009 |
Q: Richardson, I'm a first year medical student and I'm asking this question on behalf of a friend of ...
A: Is she's had ultrasound or angiographic study of her aorta and ilio-femoral arteries that shows no ...
|
| Unexplained swelling of the right arm. | 2/17/2009 |
Q: My husband had been exercising at the gym yesterday when his right arm started to swell from the ...
A: No. Heart trouble would not cause swelling of one arm. Obstruction of veins in that arm by clots ...
|
| lightheadness | 2/16/2009 |
Q: Everytime when i excercise, i'm getting lightheaded. I have seen three docters and have done the ...
A: PVCs during exercise are harmless. Anxiety can certainly cause lightheadedness. Anxiety makes us ...
|
| Stress test | 2/16/2009 |
Q: Richardson, My father (86 yrs old) is about to go in for a stress test on Wednesday. It is supposed ...
A: Yes, it's okay to take an OTC acid-reducer the night before the test. Zamtac will not interfere ...
|
| 19 year old dies | 2/16/2009 |
Q: Dr Richards, My daughter's 19 year old boyfriend of 4 years was found face down on his couch ...
A: Doolan, PACs are not dangerous and did not cause his death. The most common cause of sudden ...
|
| palpitations | 2/15/2009 |
Q: I am 41 yo, 5'6", 135 lbs, BP 125/80. I had an RF ablation for AVNRT about a year ago. I am still ...
A: PACs/PVCs are normal cardiac activity even if they occur every other beat or three in a row. With a ...
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| surgery/blood thinners | 2/15/2009 |
Q: My husband had an mechanical aortic valve (generic st. Jude) about 7 years ago and has been taking ...
A: There's firm called INRCare that sells a coumadin strength meter for $1,495. Their phone number is ...
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| surgery/blood thinners | 2/15/2009 |
Q: My husband had an mechanical aortic valve (generic st. Jude) about 7 years ago and has been taking ...
A: Doesn't seem very safe to me when he has a St. Jude aortic valve. It's pretty easy to use ...
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| concerned over omron blood pressure results | 2/15/2009 |
Q: I am a female 44 years of age, im 5ft 5 3/4" tall and weighed 181 now 3 weeks later 171. i take 81 ...
A: A stress test would let you know exactly how your BP reacts during every minute of the test and ...
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| EKG | 2/14/2009 |
Q: I am a 52 year old healthy female with no history of heart disease. I do have some skipped beats ...
A: Yes, Patti, I'll be glad to look at your EKG. Please send me your email address by writing back, ...
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| Coumadin/surgery | 2/13/2009 |
Q: My husband has been taking coumadin since having a mechanical aortic valve. He is going to have a ...
A: No. Not safe. He should receive Lovenox, a form of heparin, within 24 hours after stopping the ...
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| hypertension | 2/13/2009 |
Q: im a 24 yr old female who is overweight, my last tests showed that my cortisol levels were slightly ...
A: Not so far as is known. Ordinary hypertension can make BP higher standing than lying, and I don't ...
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| Rapid heartbeat | 2/13/2009 |
Q: I've noticed I will go through episodes where if i take a deep breath my heart starts beating ...
A: How fast does your heart beat when it's beating rapidly, and does the rapid beating start and stop ...
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| Chest pressure | 2/12/2009 |
Q: I am 23 years old, 5'7, weigh 165, and usually have normal blood pressure. I was put on zoloft for ...
A: My advice is get an echocardiogram, a simple non-invasive test, to be sure your heart's structure ...
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| Chest and Arm Pains | 2/12/2009 |
Q: I was wondering if you could help me figer out what could be the cause of some pains I have been ...
A: McCormick, The most likely cause of your pain is cramping of muscles in the chest wall, around the ...
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| IHD | 2/12/2009 |
Q: I am a 32 year old woman, weigh 70 kg, I am 172cm tall. I woke two weeks ago from a severe ...
A: Ischemic heart disease seems very unlikely in a 32-year-old woman. No need to be terrified about a ...
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| heart | 2/11/2009 |
Q: when i lay down to sleep my heart bounds so fast i can't sleep. why?
A: I don't know. Count how fast your heart beats in 15 seconds, and note whether it speeds up and ...
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| heart palpations | 2/11/2009 |
Q: I had bypass surgery in May 08 they graphed 6 blockages. I had Afib right after surgery three times ...
A: Premature or skipped heart beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. They will ...
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| irregular beats | 2/10/2009 |
Q: I have had various arrhythmia issues over the years but have been mostly symptom free for over two ...
A: Premature heart beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal ...
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| Just diagnosed with incomplete RBBB | 2/10/2009 |
Q: I have a Question to ask on the below answer from you: "Yes, you'll be fine, and hard work-outs ...
A: There's nothing you can do to make the RBBB go away, though it may come and go by itself. ...
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| heart palpitations.. | 2/10/2009 |
Q: Im a 32 year old female..currently about 10 kilos overweight,For 2 years now ive been putting up ...
A: Ask your doc for an event monitor, a little box you carry with you that records your EKG a few ...
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| Chest and left arm pains | 2/10/2009 |
Q: I have had a left twinging chest pain and a sore left forearm since nov 06. I get pins and needles ...
A: Pain in left forearm may be referred from chest pain, or may be cramp of muscles in forearm. Very ...
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| WPW Ablation Protocols? | 2/9/2009 |
Q: I'm a 50 yo female, 5'8", 110 lbs, BP 98/50, with lifelong (can't remember ever NOT having this) ...
A: 1) Retrograde aortic seems better to me. 2) Best criteria are how much the SVT interfere with your ...
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| Chest and left arm pains | 2/9/2009 |
Q: I have had a left twinging chest pain and a sore left forearm since nov 06. I get pins and needles ...
A: If the pins and needles are in both hands, they're probably from over breathing due to anxiety about ...
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| Ectopic beats | 2/8/2009 |
Q: I'm 48 and have been experiencing skipped beats for the past 13 years. I saw a specialist when I ...
A: Holmes, Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with a ...
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| heart issues | 2/7/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I have a few more questions about heart rates and the cardiac muscle. 1) Do PVC's ...
A: 1) No 2) No 3) Exercise is always a good idea for a healthy person. Helps relieve anxiety. 4) ...
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| HDL | 2/6/2009 |
Q: Are there any foods that you would suggest to raise HDL levels? Also, a couple of times after ...
A: Avoid carbohydrates. Use oils like olive oil instead of butter to maintain calloric intake if ...
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| long QTc syndrome | 2/6/2009 |
Q: I'm a 23 year old female (5'4, 117lbs) being treated for anxiety. Currently I am on Klonopin (.05mgs ...
A: Here are the normal, borderline and long values for QTc. Rating 1-15 years (msec) Adult Male (msec) ...
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| Pulmonary artery rebuilding..... | 2/6/2009 |
Q: My 39 year old sister has pulmonary stenosis (artery, NOT valve). She had a couple of open heart ...
A: I'm very sorry, but I don't know. Look around at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed by entering ...
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| premature beats | 2/5/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I wrote some time back and was experiencing premature beats, halter monitor showed ...
A: 100-120 PACs in 24 hours are not minimal, but not a problem either. Normal heart activity. Yes ...
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| PACs | 2/5/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, 32 yo male, overweight, take toprol 50mg 1x/day, normal echo,ekg, and passed nuclear ...
A: 1. PACs for 5-6 beats are not threatening to life or health. Only if they get more than 20 in a row ...
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| premature beats | 2/4/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I wrote some time back and was experiencing premature beats, halter monitor showed ...
A: See an electrophysiologist and explain that the skipped beats are ruining your life and interfering ...
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| PVC's | 2/3/2009 |
Q: I am a 38 year old women with a Fibromyalgia.I take absolutely no meds. I had a heart ablation back ...
A: Heart attack is extremely unlikely in a 38-year-old woman. Isn't the pain due to your fibromyalgia? ...
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| ekg/ septal infarct | 2/3/2009 |
Q: i just went to a cardiologist had an EKG it said septal infarct.he said it is a couple of years old. ...
A: EKG is not very good about septal infarcts. It may well be a false positive. The cardiologist can ...
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| Heart flips then races | 2/3/2009 |
Q: I have had PVCs since I was a teenager. Lately, I'm 54, I've had the flip sensation followed by a ...
A: If the racing starts and stops abruptly, in one heart beat, and exceeds 145 beats a minute (35 beats ...
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| Unresposive person with eyes open | 2/2/2009 |
Q: My father was in the hospital two week ago with what they said was Atrial Flutter. They did a few ...
A: Sorry, but I'm not a good enough neurologist to understand why eyes open or shut is important. Did ...
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| dizziness | 2/1/2009 |
Q: echo,holter,stress) all ok but recently also I get them so forceful I get a slight dizziness I worry ...
A: IF the dizziness is spinning, like you're spinning round and round or the room is spinning around ...
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| fast heart rate; tramadol, 50mg, percocet7.5, synthroid 175, bp 130/80-180/120, 128lbs, 5'6 | 2/1/2009 |
Q: When relaxing or dozing-off, (mostly in slight sitting position), I awake to a pounding heart, so ...
A: Symptomatic SVT needs attention. You're not stupid to see a doctor about that. Ask the doc to ...
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| Qtc | 1/31/2009 |
Q: I did an holter-ECG which found a QTc of 430.(min. qt230 and max qt 449). Is this borderline or long ...
A: With no unexplained faint, exercise-triggered faint, a doorbell triggered faint, seizure, or family ...
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| recent chest pains | 1/31/2009 |
Q: I am a 23 year old female who is concerned about some recent chest pains. To give a little ...
A: Most likely it's your body telling you to exercise more and lose weight. In a 23-year-od former ...
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| increase heart rate, heart burn | 1/29/2009 |
Q: I am 37, fit, 5'2 107 lbs, who has a family history of heart disease. I have normal cholesterol, ...
A: Your family history increases your risk a little. Only parents and siblings count a lot. Your ...
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| b vitamins and in stent restenosis | 1/29/2009 |
Q: My new cardiologist just told me that a 2004 study in the New England Journal of Medicine suggested ...
A: I knew nothing about this. Please send me the reference to the NEJM article. My opinion is that B ...
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| Heart | 1/29/2009 |
Q: I am 31 years old and all of a sudden my blood pressure has spiraled out of control I failed my EKG ...
A: No, damage to heart would lower BP, not raise it. The echo will show if your heart was damaged, but ...
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| premature beats | 1/28/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I wrote some time back and was experiencing premature beats, halter monitor showed ...
A: You need not be concerned. Two PACs in a row is still normal. In some people, slowing the heart ...
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| irregular heart beat and edema in left foot | 1/27/2009 |
Q: I am a 26 year old female, exercise 4 times a week (30 mins. of cardio + light lifting), 5’6”, BMI ...
A: Edema of one foot is probably from obstruction of veins or lymphatics in that leg. Nothing to do ...
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| antibiotics/rheumatic fever | 1/27/2009 |
Q: age 61, ambien, levoxyl, 5' 8", 170, BP 128/75 Hi, At 8, I was diag with heart murmur/rheumatic ...
A: Here's what the guidelines say, The writing committee concluded that only a small number of ...
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| high heart rate | 1/27/2009 |
Q: . about 125 bpm.. i take a pill called atenonol 25 mg per day.. im frightend that with my heart rate ...
A: Fast heart rates are probably accompanied by shorter life, a little shorter. Dull chest pain at ...
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| heart surgery and exercise | 1/26/2009 |
Q: My husband had a quadruple bypass in Jan. of 2008 after having a heart attack in Dec. (The reason ...
A: Gresham, I'm very sorry about all your troubles. More than two people should have to bear. ...
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| Chemical Stress Test | 1/26/2009 |
Q: My father is 73 y/o white male with hx of insulin dependent diabetes since 1955 (yes, that's right ...
A: Unless he is greatly bothered by chest pain or pressure, I see no point in a stress test. The ...
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| Homeopathic cure for Afib | 1/26/2009 |
Q: My latest bout with Afib conclusion is to leave me in Afib but on Warfarin. Do you have any comment ...
A: I know of no homeopathic meds effective in afib. Thanks for the two references. Note that the ...
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| Angina or Anxiety or neither? | 1/25/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson. I come to you with the question...if I am actually feeling angina, whether it ...
A: Sue, stable angina can go on for years. Unstable angina can mean fairly abrupt increase in anginal ...
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| Angina or Anxiety or neither? | 1/24/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson. I come to you with the question...if I am actually feeling angina, whether it ...
A: If the problem in paragraph 1 is the tingling vibration in paragraph 2 then it is certainly not ...
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| cardiac ablation | 1/24/2009 |
Q: I am a 46 YO male with history of multiple pvc's and unsustained v-tach. I am very physically ...
A: Look at http://www.cardiosmart.org/ManageCondition/Default.aspx?id=814 for some answers. Ablation ...
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| return of symptoms | 1/24/2009 |
Q: Richardson, I had an ablation conducted two weeks ago. The doctor told my family that it was ...
A: 115 seems okay for one with all your stress and anxiety. I doubt if you need another ablation. If ...
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| Endocarditis? | 1/23/2009 |
Q: I am 37 years old, and have had little to no medical issues in the past. My previous physical ...
A: Look at http://www.cardiosmart.org/Search/?q=endocarditis And write back if you have any questions. ...
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| palpitations | 1/23/2009 |
Q: I am a 22 old man, one month ago i had palpitations when i was walking. Suddenly my heart was going ...
A: Your episode sounds like atrial fibrillation, which can cause breathlessness and lightheadedness. ...
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| Heart Problem? | 1/23/2009 |
Q: Doctor. This is my problem. I don't get chest pain on exertion. I don't get shortness of breath. ...
A: Discomfort from clogging of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart is usually pressure ...
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| Echo report | 1/22/2009 |
Q: Richardson, I'm a 52-year old female with a history of two open-heart surgeries due to a bicuspid ...
A: Hypokinetic means a part of heart muscle is not contracting well, either asleep or damaged or an ...
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| Another question about EKG "gLon QT" | 1/22/2009 |
Q: My EKG the last time I had one showed an QT interval at 396, whatever that means. Is this ok? ...
A: It depends on your heart rate. If your heart rate is 60, QT up to 430 is normal, but if your heart ...
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| Echo report | 1/22/2009 |
Q: Richardson, I'm a 52-year old female with a history of two open-heart surgeries due to a bicuspid ...
A: MAYBE a branch of a coronary artery was blocked during the valve replacement or aneurysm repair. ...
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| hypertension | 1/21/2009 |
Q: I am 50, no major health issues other than being overweight (who isnt) and I have sleep apnea- I am ...
A: Genetics play a big role in hypertension, and chronic stress can be a factor, though a small one. ...
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| rapid heart rate & spiking BP | 1/21/2009 |
Q: I'm a 50 y/o female, 145 lbs, 5'6". Cholesterol is 204, HDL 79, LDL 113, triglycerides, 61. BP is ...
A: No good idea about the bubbly vibration. Falling onto your desk without losing consciousness leaves ...
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| PVC Questions again... | 1/21/2009 |
Q: I was reading this forum and came across another Dr. (Cardiologist) who posts to people with ...
A: PVCs, no matter how frequent are dangerous only to people with an abnormal echo AND EKG, namely long ...
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| Heart Disease, Diabetes | 1/20/2009 |
Q: I am diabetic. I have a 6.9 A1C. I am not taking medication as I'm trying to take care of the ...
A: Low A1C probably lowers the odds that you will have heart disease. "for every percentage point of ...
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| CPKMB TEST | 1/20/2009 |
Q: On Lipitor 10mg, 5'6" and 150 lb and normal BP. Under blood tests for CPKMB What does Ckmb mean? ...
A: CPKMB stands for creatine phosphokinase, muscle type B, B being cardiac muscle. CPKMM is skeletal ...
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| Lightheadedness, other symptoms after CABG | 1/18/2009 |
Q: Age: 48 year old male Height/Weight: 5' 11", 220 lbs. PMH: Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia, CAD s/p ...
A: Take your blood pressure standing quietly for 1,3 and 5 minutes. If it gets below 90, that's the ...
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| R on T phenomen | 1/17/2009 |
Q: I m a neurology doctor in Turkey, I am 30 years old and I have sometimes PVC, last holter one dr ...
A: Banu, R on T is not a problem for people without prolonged QT interval and with a normal echo. The ...
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| Coronary calcification, "benign" PVC's | 1/17/2009 |
Q: For two years I have complained of intermittent chest pain (by the breastbone), shortness of breath ...
A: Calcification of the coronaries does indicate increased risk of trouble (angina, heart attack, etc) ...
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| Stressed to Death? | 1/17/2009 |
Q: I have dealt with panic attacks for most of my life and managed to control them by convincing ...
A: I guess you're correct. Look at ...
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| follow up on fast heart rate | 1/17/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I wrote to you just the other day about a fast heart rate I was experienceing during ...
A: Erin, a normal stress echo give you great confidence for no severe heart trouble like heart attack ...
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| Cardiac myopia and periecarduim, Peripheral resistance. | 1/16/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, Can LVEF value be affected by heart rate and BP at the time of echo? It seems to me ...
A: No, LVEF is not affected by HR & BP. High peripheral resistance just raises BP and doesn't affect ...
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| Cardiac myopia and periecarduim | 1/16/2009 |
Q: A friend of mine is suffering from possibly both of the above. Her doctor's seem very reluctant to ...
A: Cardiac myopia makes no sense It's probably cardiomyopathy. Pericardium is the outside lining of ...
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| Heart palpitations | 1/16/2009 |
Q: I've been experiencing skipped heart beats, hard thumping beats, and what feels like bubbles in my ...
A: Skipped heart beats are normal cardiac activity. About half of us have them, they are easy to ...
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| tachycardia | 1/16/2009 |
Q: I am an 18 yo female who plays D2 college soccer, and have played soccer all my life. I am 5'3'' and ...
A: There's a disorder called diastolic dysfunction in which the heart contracts well but doesn't relax ...
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| heart | 1/15/2009 |
Q: i am 28 male, for the past three year i have feeling like my heart skips some times i get them 10 ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with a normal EKG ...
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| ecg | 1/14/2009 |
Q: for weeks now ive had heart palps, skipped beats (long pauses) and discomfort (like a murmur ...
A: No, an ecg would not rule all severe, life-threatening diseases. Skipped beats, however, are ...
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| In afib again | 1/14/2009 |
Q: 1-9-09 Follow up. Was converted after 4/08 Afib bout, but it lasted only 17 days. Cardio said since ...
A: Charlie, I got the article o.k. I still tilt toward rhythm control. Atrial fib begets atrial fib, ...
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| rapid heart rate & spiking BP | 1/14/2009 |
Q: I'm a 50 y/o female, 145 lbs, 5'6". Cholesterol is 204, HDL 79, LDL 113, triglycerides, 61. BP is ...
A: No, nothing else to worry about. See if you can get your BP measured when you're having an episode ...
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| heart palpitations | 1/14/2009 |
Q: I have been drinking for about 20 years, I will be turning 50 next week. For a few months now ...
A: If the palpitations are single skipped beats in an otherwise regular heart rhythm, these are normal ...
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| Premature beats | 1/11/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I will try to explain my concerns as lucidly as possible... For starters, I am a ...
A: Premature beats are normal cardiac activity, no threat to life or health now or in the future. They ...
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| rapid heart rate & spiking BP | 1/11/2009 |
Q: I'm a 50 y/o female, 145 lbs, 5'6". Cholesterol is 204, HDL 79, LDL 113, triglycerides, 61. BP is ...
A: Spikes of BP and heart rate raise the question of pheochromocytoma, a very rare benign tumor of ...
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| pvc's | 1/10/2009 |
Q: However, when I exercise, I get pvc's and fluttery feelings with a rapid heartbeat after I stop the ...
A: The pause of a PVC is surprising and forces you to hold your breath for a second. This is not ...
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| Chest pain | 1/10/2009 |
Q: Basically this is a plea for some help. I had a bad throat infection in late November of 2006. I ...
A: Pericarditis is a faint possibility, tho that usually doesn't last so long. If you haven't had an ...
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| In afib again | 1/10/2009 |
Q: 1-9-09 Follow up. Was converted after 4/08 Afib bout, but it lasted only 17 days. Cardio said since ...
A: I don't completely agree with your recent study. Would you please send me the reference to that ...
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| sleep and heart sensations. | 1/10/2009 |
Q: Richards, I have a question about something that seems to happen to me when I am falling asleep ...
A: You're probably feeling a premature beat that is so premature that the heart hasn't had time to fill ...
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| Should I Try Ablation for Possible Arrhythmia That Happens Only When Sleeping? | 1/9/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson. First, the history. In February of 2008 at the ripe old of age of 37, I ...
A: 1. I haven't heard of such, and don't know why. 2. No, an arrhythmia produces symptoms only when ...
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| Frequent PVC's | 1/9/2009 |
Q: Richardson, I have written you before and I thank you again for your time and expertise! I hope ...
A: PVCs, no matter how frequent, have no effect on life or health in people with a normal EKG and ...
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| FAINTING, DIZZINESS | 1/8/2009 |
Q: David, I am 43 yr old probably about 43 pounds overweight. blood pressure normal range but the ...
A: Measure your BP lying, then sitting, then standing quietly for 1,3,& 5 minutes. If it gets below 85 ...
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| PVCs and LVEF | 1/8/2009 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, Iam a 52 years old male. My LVEF is 47% with normal echo as far structural aspects ...
A: Not much risk or danger for PVCs with EF over 35%, and presumably normal QT on EKG. Maintaining ...
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| is this heart? | 1/7/2009 |
Q: can y pls answer me the foll query: i am 33fem. today i was returning from shopping and feeling ...
A: I think your BP got a little too low, like 90, at the top of the steps. Your symptoms are ...
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| tachycardia, PVC's | 1/7/2009 |
Q: I went to the Cardiologist because I was complaining about chest pain and hypertension. It is ...
A: A stress test will not put you in any danger. PVCs are usually less during exercise. Your pulse ...
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| Heart racing | 1/7/2009 |
Q: I have bad heart 'skips' and heart racing....I'm on Atenolol 50 mg twice a day for 100 mg/day....I ...
A: Could it be the clonazepam or Paxil? Try stopping both for a while unless your fast heart beat ...
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| chest pain | 1/6/2009 |
Q: I am a 24 year old nonsmoking light drinking female, I am 5'9 about 180lbs, normal blood pressure ...
A: You can probably find the cause of your chest pain yourself. If firm pressure with fingers on a ...
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| pvcs assoc with costochronditis? | 1/6/2009 |
Q: 29yr old femal over weight. dx with costochronditis at the same time dx with bi-jiminey and ...
A: PVC's are not painful. You can prove it's costochondritis if pressing on a painful spot modifies ...
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| Positive pulse in aVR lead | 1/5/2009 |
Q: For the last few years I've been having odd feelings in my chest area. I went in an ECG about a ...
A: The S wave is the upward deflection at the end of the QRS in aVR. Your aVR has a sharp downward ...
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| Atypical vs. angina | 1/5/2009 |
Q: I am sick of being confused! In june I had a normal cardiolite stress test, echo and holter monitor. ...
A: We doctors are not very good at dealing with atypical pain. Could be fibromyalgia. Look at ...
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| Audible pulse | 1/4/2009 |
Q: I am a 42-year-old male, 6' tall, 150 pounds, bp 130/80. No medication, no history of health ...
A: Go to file:///%20%20Medicine%2012:07/Patulous%20Eustachian%20tube%20.webarchiv and see if that fits. ...
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| High Cholesterol and CAD | 1/4/2009 |
Q: I have ignored my cholesterol levels for years because I didn't want to take statins. My cholesterol ...
A: Your excellent HDL is quite protective. A stress test would be needed only if you were having chest ...
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| whooshing in ear | 1/3/2009 |
Q: For a couple days I can hear and feel my heart beat in my right ear. I do get migraines, but haven't ...
A: Probably bending of an artery to that ear. If stretching you head far back or to the side opposite ...
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| Thumping In throat & chest | 1/3/2009 |
Q: First off i'd like to say Happy New Year & Thank You so much for helping people like me with their ...
A: Overactive thyroid or Xanax withdrawal or nicotine are the most likely causes. Ask the doctor about ...
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| Bad Heart Why Bother!!!??? | 1/2/2009 |
Q: Dr. I am a 47 male. I am very heavy (330). I had an MI in Jan 06. I just had another Cath. (3 more ...
A: Weight loss would improve the quality of your life if it is now impaired by breathlessness or ...
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| Lump Bulge upper left thigh that does not go away | 1/2/2009 |
Q: David, I am 43 over weight by about 40 pounds normal blood pressure range dialistic around 90+ ...
A: If the lump is on the inside of your thigh, where your leg joins your body near your testicles, ...
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| SVT | 1/2/2009 |
Q: I have written before (female, 51 with RA and skipped beats). I finally have all of my tests back. ...
A: Mary, a "skipped" beat may be a premature atrial contraction that could start a run of SVT, which ...
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| Pulmonary Embolism | 1/1/2009 |
Q: I hope you had a wonderful Holiday and a wonderful New Year! I have a family member that has had ...
A: Hermans, A small clot would not cause air hunger. One must lose one whole lung to develop air ...
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| SVT | 1/1/2009 |
Q: I have written before (female, 51 with RA and skipped beats). I finally have all of my tests back. ...
A: SVT is not dangerous. The worst that can happen is more frequent or prolonged episodes. Are you ...
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| Tightness in Chest | 1/1/2009 |
Q: First of all Happy New Year. It's so kind of you to be here for us in cyberspace. Onto my ...
A: Chest tightness caused by clogging of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart is ...
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| oxygen and our bodies | 1/1/2009 |
Q: I was wondering if you could possibly explain how oxygen works in our bodies. I know that MOST life ...
A: Oxygen is the energy source for muscular contraction and brain function and for the work of every ...
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| heart attacks and beer | 12/31/2008 |
Q: my husband drinks 4to5 beers a night and has had two heart attacks and takes isosorbs, plavix and ...
A: Explain that liver disease is terrible, itching all over, no appetite, vomiting, swollen abdomen ...
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| heart pain | 12/30/2008 |
Q: i now get very painful dull pains over my heart. always over heart. can radiate to back but not ...
A: Heart pain is usually in center of front of chest, brought on be exercise and relieved in 5 minutes ...
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| SVT | 12/30/2008 |
Q: What keeps SVT from being dangerous. Mine skips then races to 189 or 200. I get so paniced of dying. ...
A: SVT is NEVER fatal and does not cause blood clots because blood doesn't pool in your heart during ...
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| Multiple Runs Pvc's | 12/30/2008 |
Q: I have just had a pacemaker put in six weeks ago. I have been on solatol for eight years for pvc's. ...
A: With a normal echocardiogram, runs of PVCs are not dangerous to life or health, except for the ...
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| Lisinopril 2.5 mg | 12/30/2008 |
Q: Richardson, I have written to you on 3 seperate occasions. I have been taking Lisinopril 2.5 mg ...
A: I don't know why your hands and feet are so cold. Hypothyroid? Anxiety? Exercise will warm them ...
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| Missing heart beat | 12/29/2008 |
Q: I am 51 year old with height 180 cm and weight 58 Kg. Eight year back I was sensing missing heart ...
A: Your missing beats are premature ventricular contractions, occurring so soon after the preceding ...
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| heart rate question | 12/29/2008 |
Q: Is a finding of "symmetrical ventricular hypertrophy" on an echo reversible or am I doomed to ...
A: Symmetrical ventricular hypertrophy is reversible. If your blood pressure is high, lowering it will ...
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| pvc's | 12/28/2008 |
Q: However, when I exercise, I get pvc's and fluttery feelings with a rapid heartbeat after I stop the ...
A: You need no stress echo. PVC's are harmless is someone with normal EKG and echo. PVC's are more ...
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| palpitations | 12/23/2008 |
Q: You answered a few questions for me the other night and were very helpful (female with RA and heart ...
A: An echo will show how well your valves are working and how well the ventricles are pumping. They ...
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| Chest pain | 12/23/2008 |
Q: I was wondering if you could give me some advice on the chest pain I have been having for the past ...
A: Megan, pulmonary embolism is VERY unlikely. The chief symptom of pulmonary embolism is ...
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| Heartburn and Bystolic | 12/23/2008 |
Q: I have rather severe heartburn. It began around the time I started taking Bystolic. I wondered if ...
A: Epocrates, the online drug reference, does not list heartburn as an ill effect of Bystolic. The ...
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| irregular heart beats | 12/22/2008 |
Q: Over the past year or two I've been experiencing what feels like a single strong heart beat every ...
A: Single strong heart beats occur after a premature heart beat. During the long pause after a ...
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| Chest pain | 12/22/2008 |
Q: I was wondering if you could give me some advice on the chest pain I have been having for the past ...
A: Chest pain that worsens when you press on it is chest wall pain, since you can't press on heart, ...
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| palpitations | 12/22/2008 |
Q: You answered a few questions for me the other night and were very helpful (female with RA and heart ...
A: An echo tells that your heart's structure and function are normal. Drinking, especially through a ...
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| chest pain alert | 12/21/2008 |
Q: David, I'm currently working here in the Middle East. Two weeks before my flight going here last ...
A: Most likely cramping of muscles around ribs. If firm pressure on the painful area modifies the ...
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| Chest pain | 12/21/2008 |
Q: I read your answer to Sarah regarding her "dull chest pain" and I wondered if this answer would ...
A: Probably cramping of muscles around ribs. Press firmly on the area that hurts. If pressure ...
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| 22 YEAR OLD VERY CONFUSED | 12/20/2008 |
Q: I am a 22 year old mother or 3 , I was diagnosed with anxiety at age 17 i ahev been on lexapro since ...
A: Most likely it was sinus tachycardia, a normal response to fright. The other possibility is ...
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| pvs and svt | 12/20/2008 |
Q: I have had a history of heart arrhythmia for the past 20 years off and on. Lately in the past year I ...
A: What are pvs? Did you mean pvc's? Flecainide is effective in preventing svt and is safe for ...
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| Abnormal ecgs | 12/20/2008 |
Q: I am 59; woman; nonsmoker, slim, no previous history of cvd. Previous ekgs all normal. I felt ...
A: Well, you're getting a second opinion. If you send me your email address, I'll send you mine and my ...
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| Electrolyres and PVCs | 12/20/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I have suffered with PVCs for several years and have been monitoring my labwork and ...
A: I'll share it with people who have PVC's. Have you found information on electrolytes and PAC's? ...
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| Giddiness | 12/19/2008 |
Q: I have undergone CABG with 3 grafts on Nov 20, 2007. I am on DOSPIN 75 MG, BEPLEX FORTE AND 10 MG ...
A: I don't know what Dospin is. Could its generic name be clopidogrel? If so, none of your meds are ...
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| Heart Palpitations | 12/18/2008 |
Q: David, I am a 51 year old , female with rheumatoid arthritis. I think all of my life I have had ...
A: Neither Enbrel or methotrexate cause skipped heart beats, which are just normal heart activity. ...
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| EKG question | 12/18/2008 |
Q: I am a 61 year old woman. 5'6". I am only on Atenolol 25mg. once daily. My question is: I have read ...
A: Linda, send me your email address and I'll send you my fax number. I don't like to have my fax ...
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| Heart Palpitations | 12/18/2008 |
Q: David, I am a 51 year old , female with rheumatoid arthritis. I think all of my life I have had ...
A: Percent is less than 1. Skipped heart beats are normal heart activity, no threat to one whose heart ...
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| leaking heart valve | 12/16/2008 |
Q: I'm a 40yo female and I have just had an ECG. It showed that one of my upper chambers has a leaking ...
A: Presumably you mean you just had an echo. ECG wouldn't show all that. Concern is reasonable since ...
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| Palpilations | 12/16/2008 |
Q: I'm a 22 year old man and I have frequent pvc's after a excercise(recovery phase). It's like this; ...
A: PVC's are harmless in people with a normal echo. They don't mean you have heart trouble or lead in ...
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| Hypertension | 12/15/2008 |
Q: I am male, 60 years old, 5'6, 160lbs. I have had high blood pressure for over 7 years. On certain ...
A: Probably not. Your blood pressure should affect both eyes. And if 130-140 is the top number on ...
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| ST depression | 12/14/2008 |
Q: I am 40 years old with mild hypertension recently diagnosed in June of this year. In 1992 I was ...
A: Modification of chest pain by pressure proves the pain is in your chest wall, since you can't press ...
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| slow heart rate | 12/14/2008 |
Q: i am a 47 year old 140 pound male. I have has high particle scores (99th percentile) with ...
A: Chris, please send me any literature that says below 60 is abnormal. No test is needed, just count ...
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| creative protein showed 2.4 | 12/13/2008 |
Q: I am a 55 year old female who has never had any health issues in the past. Recently I had some blood ...
A: Medved, Creatinine of 2.4 is abnormal and means your kidneys are not functioning correctly, and ...
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| Benign heart rhythms? | 12/13/2008 |
Q: I am 24, and have been stressed out lately. I went for my medical examination for citizenship. Had a ...
A: Extra heart beats are normal heart activity and no threat to life or health in someone with a normal ...
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| Dull pain in chest | 12/13/2008 |
Q: Over the past year, i have noticed a dull pain/tightness in the left side of my chest. It doesn't ...
A: Well, being a doctor, I think it's never too early to get a checkup. But at age 30, dull chest pain ...
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| creative protein showed 2.4 | 12/12/2008 |
Q: I am a 55 year old female who has never had any health issues in the past. Recently I had some blood ...
A: Medved, Sorry, but neither I nor the US Library of Medicine know about creative protein. There's a ...
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| Hard Heartbeats | 12/12/2008 |
Q: For about a week i have experienced a hard heart beat. My heart will beat normal and then it will ...
A: You're feeling premature beats, which cause the heart to contract, then have a pause, and then go ...
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| EKG | 12/12/2008 |
Q: I am a 43 year old female (5'4" 154lbs). While at the gym I was doing a 35 minute interval training ...
A: Your EKG is nearly normal. The PR interval is long, but that never hurt anybody. Yes, you'll be ...
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| Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy et al. | 12/11/2008 |
Q: I am a 48 year old male, 275 lbs., 6'0". I have a history of Rheumatic Fever and have had a heart ...
A: Ah ha! You didn't have cardiac arrest at all. Severe bradycardia and low BP. Please ask what your ...
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| coronary artery calcification | 12/11/2008 |
Q: Will Zocor help contain coronary calcification so that it does not separate and possibly cause a ...
A: Diet and exercise can bring down your cholesterol, but are not likely to eliminate calcium. Zocor ...
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| A-Fib & Intimacy | 12/11/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson - First I want to thank you for taking the time on this forum. I can't tell you how ...
A: I think it was coincidence that your afib occurred during climax. It's a remote possibility that ...
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| Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy et al. | 12/11/2008 |
Q: I am a 48 year old male, 275 lbs., 6'0". I have a history of Rheumatic Fever and have had a heart ...
A: No, not terminal. Tho of course if you don't have an internal cardiac defibrillator, you're still ...
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| coronary artery calcification | 12/10/2008 |
Q: Will Zocor help contain coronary calcification so that it does not separate and possibly cause a ...
A: Calcification is not the cause of stroke or heart attack. The rupture of plaques that causes stroke ...
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| high resting pulse after heart attacks and stents | 12/10/2008 |
Q: am a 49 yr.old female that had 3 heart attacks in nov. 4004 and 3 stents put in LAD,one in a bad ...
A: I think you need not call your cardiologist. Just report your pulse rate next time you see him. ...
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| left side chest pain, palpatations | 12/10/2008 |
Q: I have written to you before but incase you don't remember since you see alot of emails, I'm a 23 yr ...
A: Your chest pain probably IS cramping of the muscles around your ribs. You can test this probability ...
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| Heart beating strange | 12/9/2008 |
Q: My husband is a 34 year old white male who weighs around 315 lbs. and is 6'5" tall. He has been on ...
A: Several problems. For the racing heart, count his pulse when it's not racing and when it is. If ...
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| 2nd Ablation??? | 12/9/2008 |
Q: in August at age 29 I had a heart Ablation. I went in for PVC's that were really making me crazy...I ...
A: Seems to me you should try meds first. Flecainide is pretty effective in reducing PVC's, safe in ...
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| Poor ozygen supply related to Ischemic cardiomyopathy | 12/9/2008 |
Q: I am a fifteen-year-old male and for about a year now, I have not been able to breathe through my ...
A: No, you have not developed ischemic heart disease. The pain is probably cramping of muscles around ...
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| 25-yr-old with palpitations and slight chest pain | 12/9/2008 |
Q: I've been having trouble posting this message. Hopefully this time it works. About a month ago, I ...
A: The palpitations are probably skipped heart beats, which are no threat to life or health in someone ...
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| NSAID's and increased risk of heart attack | 12/8/2008 |
Q: I read that studies have shown that here is a link between taking NSAID's like Ibuprofen (advil, ...
A: Not at all risky if you take ibuprofen only now and then. Taken every day, ibuprofen and other ...
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| pause heart beat | 12/8/2008 |
Q: iam 38 male about 2 half mounts ago i started working out tring to lose weight and get in shape ...
A: Skipped heart beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in one with normal heart ...
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| skipped beats | 12/7/2008 |
Q: I've asked you a question before and you were kind enough to respond...i'm 62, male, 185lbs, ...
A: Your cardiologist is correct in saying skipped beats are no threat to life or any catastrophe. But ...
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| Heart Matters | 12/7/2008 |
Q: Hey Dr Richardson, I recently had an echo and it showed what the cardiologist described as less ...
A: Trivial mitral and tricuspid leaks would not cause any symptoms, but might cause worry about your ...
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| Perplexing HR variations | 12/7/2008 |
Q: I'm a 22 year old girl, no smoking and very fit (I work out 3 hours twice a week and I'm on a low GI ...
A: The skipped heart beats and awareness of your heart beat are normal, but the rapid heart rate and ...
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| abnormal ecg | 12/7/2008 |
Q: how kind of you to offer this service. I have been experiencing sinus tachycardia for several ...
A: The ECG is no cause for concern. Probably slight difference in the positions of the chest ...
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| heart rhythm/breathlessness | 12/6/2008 |
Q: I have ectopic heartbeats and irregular heartbeat,just lately i have been so breathless, ive had 2 ...
A: Frequent ectopic beats can cause breathlessness and chest pain and even atrial fib, tho that's rare. ...
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| SVT | 12/6/2008 |
Q: I am a 26yo, 5'10", 140lb - usually very fit with no medical history, normotensive, and run ...
A: Dave, the R' in V1 indicates partial block of the right bundle branch caused by the fast rate. The ...
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| SVT | 12/6/2008 |
Q: I am a 26yo, 5'10", 140lb - usually very fit with no medical history, normotensive, and run ...
A: I've not seen such a rhythm. It's not AF if you can see P waves. Doesn't sound dangerous. Probably ...
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| pvc's | 12/5/2008 |
Q: I am a 38 year old female and have been having pvcs for nine years but lately I have been having ...
A: With a normal echo and EKG, PVC's are not a threat to life, but they seem to bother your health, ...
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| heart & headaches | 12/5/2008 |
Q: I am 28 yrs old. std bp 140/85..pulse all over.I also have an abnormal fast heart rate ...
A: I'm not aware of any relation between PSVT and headache, but that doesn't mean there is no ...
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| Continous crushing/squeezing senation around heart | 12/5/2008 |
Q: For three years, I had a continuous crushing/squeezing sensation around my visceral heart, and I ...
A: Yes, endocarditis would show as vegetations on echo. Usual nitroglycerine tablets are 0.4 mg. A ...
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| metropolol side effects | 12/4/2008 |
Q: I USED TO BE A SINGER BEFORE,I HAVE BEEN TAKEN METROPOLOL FOR LAST 3 YEARS, I HAVE BEEN LOOSING MY ...
A: Haven't heard about metoprolol interfering with singing,but it is possible. Can you stop the ...
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| Continous crushing/squeezing senation around heart | 12/4/2008 |
Q: For three years, I had a continuous crushing/squeezing sensation around my visceral heart, and I ...
A: Yes, I think you had myocarditis when you were very sick. The recent echo shows your heart to be ...
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| Heart Matters | 12/4/2008 |
Q: Hey Dr Richardson, I recently had an echo and it showed what the cardiologist described as less ...
A: Yes, it means almost nothing. No, exercise will not increase the regurgitation or cause it to ...
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| 24 hr breathlessness, palps | 12/3/2008 |
Q: im a 23 yr old girl, i am a bit overweight. i used to be a heavy drinker and my palps started then ...
A: Skipped heart beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life for someone with normal EKG and ...
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| Chest Pain | 12/3/2008 |
Q: I'm a 24 year old female. For about 6 months now I have had frequent chest pain. I occasionally have ...
A: Chest pain in a 24-year-old woman with a normal echo and EKG is almost certainly cramping of muscles ...
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| age and chest pains | 12/3/2008 |
Q: I don't understand why it is that you say to some who ask heart-related questions that they are too ...
A: Chest pain from clogging of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart is unusual before ...
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| could i have heart disese | 12/2/2008 |
Q: i have been getting pain in my chest for over a month now it is normally in two places and is ...
A: The pressure on the breast bone that gets worse with walking or running is probably angina caused by ...
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| re chest pains | 12/2/2008 |
Q: i have the foll question. i have chest pains which are a puzzle to me. they come and go, ...
A: The most likely cause of chest pain like yours is cramping of muscles around ribs, a nuisance but no ...
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| Effects of alcohol on my body | 12/2/2008 |
Q: . I am a 27 year old 130lb female. When i consume an alcoholic beverage even a wine cooler, my arm, ...
A: Alcohol dilates blood vessels everywhere, which might make arms ache, but I don't know why just the ...
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| PAUL FITTON AGED 21 DIED SEPT 08 UNDIAGNOSED HEART PROBLEMS | 12/1/2008 |
Q: MY NEPHEW PAUL HAS BECKER MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY - HAD ABNROMAL LIVER FUNCTION RESULTS, INTERMITTENDENT ...
A: Pitton, Cough might be a sign of dilated cardiomyopathy, but the rest aren't. Well, abnormal liver ...
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| Inverted t-wave & delay of QRS anteriorly | 12/1/2008 |
Q: My dad (52yrs old) was recently diagnosed with ARVD after an episode of ventricular tachycardia, ECG ...
A: Inverted T in V1 is normal if the QRS is mostly downward. Minor delay of QRS anteriorly defeats me, ...
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| toxic nodular goiter/rapid heartbeat/internal tremors | 12/1/2008 |
Q: I have a toxic nodular goiter. My Dr. tells me that it is not active at this time however my blood ...
A: If your heart rate was rapid, over 100, when your BP was 200, overactivity of your thyroid may be ...
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| chronic fatigue | 11/30/2008 |
Q: I am 36, female and suffering from chronic fatigue that has gotten worse in recent years. ...
A: You need an echocardiogram to see if your heart is performing well. A stress test would probably ...
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| Echo....psvt | 11/29/2008 |
Q: I asked this same question to you about 2 weeks ago but never received a reply. I will give it ...
A: Very sorry you didn't receive my reply. Another echo is not needed, unless some new symptoms ...
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| Heart attack and emergency room care | 11/29/2008 |
Q: A 5'-10", 249lb 47 year old male enters emergency room of large hospital by ambulance with lower ...
A: It's been decades since I worked in an ER. I'm 83. Go to medscape.com and see what you can find ...
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| re mild mvp -mitral regurg | 11/28/2008 |
Q: dr richardson, i've written to you before regarding palpitations and you've been very reassuring. ...
A: The cardiologist may have thought it too mild to mention. Ask him or her. Repeat echo every 5 ...
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| Constant severe faintness | 11/28/2008 |
Q: Greetings, first I thank you for your time and any advice you can provide. It is deeply appreciated. ...
A: Your blood pressure and its variability are okay. BP is not the cause of your faintness. Your ...
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| Heart attack and emergency room care | 11/27/2008 |
Q: A 5'-10", 249lb 47 year old male enters emergency room of large hospital by ambulance with lower ...
A: An ER should have a doctor or nurse see a patient within minutes of arrival if the ER knows heart ...
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| Constant severe faintness | 11/27/2008 |
Q: Greetings, first I thank you for your time and any advice you can provide. It is deeply appreciated. ...
A: Take your blood pressure. If it's above 90 sitting and standing, low blood pressure is not the ...
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| Chest Discomfort | 11/27/2008 |
Q: I've recently had some issues with minor chest discomfort and am curious if you might offer me some ...
A: Coronary disease is certainly rare in a 32-year-old athlete with, but not impossible. Next test ...
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| Cholesterol | 11/27/2008 |
Q: Greetings! I am a female, 69 and my latest cholesterol results are: Total 270 HDL 79 LDL 151 Sugar ...
A: Statin medicine is the obvious answer. Safe and very effective in lowering LDL. Exercise and ...
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| Zocor and Tricor combo therapy | 11/26/2008 |
Q: Richardson, I am 45 yrs. old female.non smoker. non drinker. My doctor put me on Zocor and Tricor ...
A: There is a tiny increase in muscle and liver trouble when taking both, but less than the risk of ...
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| blood pressure | 11/26/2008 |
Q: My husband's age is 38yrs & for the past 2 years he has been having blood pressure around 140/88.we ...
A: Best treatment would be to lose 65 pounds, which would get his blood pressure lower and remove the ...
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| inverted t wave repolarization - abnormal EKG | 11/25/2008 |
Q: I will be sixty next year but am a licensed professional in a stressful field albeit with no real ...
A: T inversion can come and go, especially in leads where the QRS is about equally up and down. And ...
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| Aneurysm | 11/25/2008 |
Q: Richardson, Last year a CT scan showed an ascending aortic aneurysm measuring 4.5 cm. A couple of ...
A: It's hard for a trans-thoracic echo to see the upper aorta, tho maybe not in a small person. A ...
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| False results on EKG? | 11/25/2008 |
Q: Good evening Dr. Richardson, My husband is a 44 year old man in a high-stress job. Ironically, one ...
A: Yes, an EKG can be false positive, especially if the chest leads are placed too high on his chest. ...
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| Hello! | 11/24/2008 |
Q: I'm 18, and weigh around 290-300 pounds. I eat alot of candy, and I drink alot of Vault, the ...
A: High BP doesn't cause pain. The usual cause of chest pain in an 18-year-old is cramping of pectoral ...
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| PVC's and more | 11/24/2008 |
Q: First thing first David you have answered a few questions of mine in the past and i cant express my ...
A: Deaar Mr. Free, Note that the article was about recovery from a stress test. If you had more PVC's ...
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| Chest/Arm Pain | 11/23/2008 |
Q: I am a 24 y/o 6-foot 1-inch 220-pound male with no medication. I have not seen a doctor in almost a ...
A: In a 24-year-old man the most likely cause of chest pain is cramping of muscles around the ribs. ...
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| heart rate = high BP? | 11/23/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson: I have noticed when my heart rate is low (54-60) in response to beta blockers or ...
A: The low heart rate is probably caused by the high BP, not the other way around. Rise in BP ...
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| heart arrhythmia's | 11/22/2008 |
Q: I have severe high blood pressure,i was sent to Vanderbilt Hypertension clinic,i don't go back until ...
A: Nifedipine certainly causes swollen ankles, and arrhythmia is listed among it's bad effects. If ...
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| left side chest pain | 11/22/2008 |
Q: I am a 35 year old for a few days now my chest has been very heavy lungs thru to my back and the ...
A: Chest pain in a 35-year-old woman is probably cramping of muscles around ribs and is no threat to ...
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| blood test | 11/21/2008 |
Q: and would a blood test for blood count, kidney and liver function remove possibility of a blood ...
A: Joel, the blood tests you had wouldn't help about clots in veins, though the ultrasound seems to ...
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| Heart Issues | 11/21/2008 |
Q: My name is Dana Cooper. I'm a 25 year old women. I am five feet tall and weigh 90lbs. I do not smoke ...
A: Cooper. You're having bout of supraventricular tachycardia probably. You need help from a ...
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| abnormal ekg | 11/21/2008 |
Q: I am a 74 year old male. My cholesterol is 134. My doctor said my latest EKG was abnormal. "The ...
A: The information given you is not adequate to make a good recommendation. If the doctor means new ...
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| Cardiac Surgeon | 11/21/2008 |
Q: I'm doing a project for school and i was wondering if i could ask you a few questions. 1) What are ...
A: 1. Training takes a long time. 4 years of med school, 3 or 4 years of general surgery postgraduate ...
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| blood test | 11/20/2008 |
Q: and would a blood test for blood count, kidney and liver function remove possibility of a blood ...
A: Blood clots are very unlikely to cause pain in hip, unless by hip you mean groin, where the front of ...
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| Heart Skipping Beats | 11/20/2008 |
Q: Tonight after having sex, I was laying in bed trying to go to sleep, but I kept having a funny ...
A: No, you need not see your doctor. You'll be okay. Loss of appetite is not related to the skipped ...
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| NSVT | 11/20/2008 |
Q: Ty in advance for taking my question...u have been so helpful to me in the past. My concern is ...
A: Not unless they become frequent or prolonged or make you dizzy. But why not make an appointment ...
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| bigeminy and pvcs | 11/20/2008 |
Q: Richardson, I want to thank you in advance for your expertise and I appreciate your input. I am a 52 ...
A: Accept the opinion of the doctors and ignore the bigeminy unless the worry is interfering with your ...
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| Heart | 11/19/2008 |
Q: I am 58 yrs. old.5`5" 165 lbs.BP,130/90 Was admitted to hospital 3 wks. ago with chest pain.They did ...
A: Your blood pressure is probably too low. If possible get your BP measured sitting and while you're ...
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| Elevated heart rate | 11/19/2008 |
Q: I'm a 24 year old female, 5'10 150lbs who is consistently mildly active (walk 30 minute/day 5 ...
A: Target heart rate for exercise is 270 minus age in years, if I remember correctly. For you that ...
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| PFO and Pseudo Tumor Cerebri | 11/19/2008 |
Q: I am a 36 year old female. I was diagnosed with a PFO almost 7 years ago. The first cardiologist I ...
A: There is no connection between PFO and pseudo-tumor cerebri that I know of. PFO does not cause ...
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| heart murmur | 11/18/2008 |
Q: i was born with a heart murmur.from what ive been told most people grow out of it.i didnt as far as ...
A: Single skipped or premature heart beats are normal heart activity and no threat to life or health in ...
|
| Prosthetic Aortic Valve Leakage | 11/18/2008 |
Q: I have a St. Jude aortic valve which was implanted in 2001. At my last visit with my cardiologist ...
A: 1. Yes, a little leakage is normal, and your leakage must be small since it didn't show up last ...
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| PVC | 11/18/2008 |
Q: I am a 37 year old white male, with no previous significant medical problems. I had blood pressure ...
A: 1. PVC's are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. They usually appear at age twenty ...
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| high pulse rate | 11/17/2008 |
Q: I am on Co-Diovan blood pressure medication, my blood pressure is not high (116/70) but my pulse ...
A: Probably the Co-Diovan. Diovan is well known to me but I don't know what Co-Diovan is. Diovan plus ...
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| inverted t waves | 11/17/2008 |
Q: Last week I felt upper chest (inch below my adams apple) pressure. It wasn't debilitating, but it's ...
A: Inverted T waves are normal in leads with inverted QRS, but are suspicious in leads where the QRS is ...
|
| 3-4 heart block? | 11/17/2008 |
Q: Husband will be drenched in perspiration, low b/p,hr 190, some chest pain.Had echo and ...
A: Yes, though hr 190 is very unusual. If his heart slows down gradually over several minutes, 190 is ...
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| Chest pain for 6 days | 11/16/2008 |
Q: I'm a 24 year old female and I've been having chest pains for about 6 days now. I've been having a ...
A: In a young person, the pains are probably cramping of muscles around ribs. If pressing on a painful ...
|
| chest pain | 11/16/2008 |
Q: healthy and no recent injuries. i had chest pains a year ago where i completed a ECG and Xray both ...
A: In a young person, the pains are probably cramping of muscles around ribs. If pressing on a painful ...
|
| low oxygen level upon exertion | 11/15/2008 |
Q: I am not sure I am asking the right kind of Dr., but,I am out of breath and my oxygen level drops to ...
A: Heart failure? An echocardiogram would answer that question. Breathlessness is caused by heart, ...
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| About LVEF = 26% | 11/15/2008 |
Q: My father has recently hospitalized because of breathing problem. doctor has tested him and told ...
A: At times does he have tiredness and shortness of breath? These are the symptoms produced by LVEF of ...
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| blood vessels | 11/15/2008 |
Q: is it possible when i use vaso in general that maybe only artery dilated without vein for example or ...
A: Dilated arteries don't increase blood flow. It's dilation of arterioles that leads to increased ...
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| Results of an echo | 11/15/2008 |
Q: Should I be concerned if I am 36 yrs old female, 67 inches tall and weigh 120lbs, have a history of ...
A: You shouldn't have dilated IVC & hepatic veins unless you're in severe heart failure or have ...
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| Heart skipping beats after sex | 11/14/2008 |
Q: Tonight after having sex, I was laying in bed trying to go to sleep, but I kept having a funny ...
A: Skipped heart beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. They don't mean you ...
|
| Which Exercise Type Is Better For Heart? | 11/14/2008 |
Q: David, I like to know whether aerobic or anaerobic type exercise is better for the heart in terms ...
A: Aerobic exercise is better for heart. Coenczyme Q does seem to have no benefit. Best diet ...
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| Gurgling sounds in heart | 11/13/2008 |
Q: Iam a 23 year old male, weight 63, height 6 feet 2 inches, I have had a history of TB, dengue and ...
A: Mild MR would not make a gurgling sound, or cause any symptoms. The gurgling sound when you wake up ...
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| heart disease and peridontal disease | 11/13/2008 |
Q: I have had periodontal disease for over 20 years. I am a 52 year old, female, 136 lbs. no smoking, ...
A: Periodontal infection might lead to infection on a heart valve. Borrow a stethoscope from someone, ...
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| sss | 11/11/2008 |
Q: I am 44 I have tacky and bradycardia my Dr. did a loop monitor at one time my heart rate was 138 ...
A: Sorry to be slow. My email program broke yesterday. Tilt test will see if your blood pressure ...
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| heart pain/pressure | 11/11/2008 |
Q: First off, the basics: 23 year old physically active female (varsity athlete in both high school and ...
A: Sorry to be slow. My email software broke. At your age and with your excellent athletic ...
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| blood vessels | 11/10/2008 |
Q: is it possible when i use vaso in general that maybe only artery dilated without vein for example or ...
A: You're correct, vasodilation means dilation of any vessel. It's usually restricted to blood vessels ...
|
| Stress test for heart | 11/10/2008 |
Q: can a stress test be done in one day or will it take several days to do it? Also what is it done for ...
A: Stress tests can be done in one day. You walk on a treadmill while your heart is watched by EKG and ...
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| Bigeminy, electrolytes imbalance, Echo | 11/9/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I had my echo and stress last year and both were ok. Recently, my PVCs have been ...
A: Another Stress test and echo are not needed unless you're over 45 years of age, in which case ...
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| Possible endocarditis/myocarditis | 11/9/2008 |
Q: For the past 2 weeks I have been having a subfebril temperature (37.5-38.5). Before I started with ...
A: Risteska, Thyroiditis seems most likely with your very low TSH. A thyroid scan may help. An ...
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| Mitral valve Prolapse | 11/8/2008 |
Q: I was idagnosed with having a minor Mitral Valve Prolapse last Marcy (2007). I have a slight murmur ...
A: When you press where the pain is, does the pain go away, or is it not modified at all? Pain with a ...
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| strange sensations. | 11/8/2008 |
Q: im a 20 year old male, fit, dont smoke or drink and i do not take drugs. awhile ago i was ...
A: To find out what's going on with your heart rhythm, ask your doctor for an event monitor, a little ...
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| strange sensations. | 11/8/2008 |
Q: im a 20 year old male, fit, dont smoke or drink and i do not take drugs. awhile ago i was ...
A: The thuds you feel are premature heart beats followed by a pause so the heart gets extra full of ...
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| Question about ECG findings | 11/7/2008 |
Q: I am a 24 year old girl. My Cholestrol level is - HDL-35 and LDL-108. My ECG findigs show Q,S in III ...
A: QS in III but not aVF is normal, as is downward T in III, V2 and V3. Correlate clinically means see ...
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| av block/palpitations | 11/7/2008 |
Q: I am a 48 yr old female, overweight but normal BP. Non smoker and otherwise healthy. For several yrs ...
A: You're probably feeling premature heart beats, which are normal heart activity and no threat to life ...
|
| Mitral valve Prolapse | 11/7/2008 |
Q: I was idagnosed with having a minor Mitral Valve Prolapse last Marcy (2007). I have a slight murmur ...
A: Coutts, Sharp chest pain is not likely to be from heart and is probably cramping of muscles around ...
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| PVC or NSVT? | 11/6/2008 |
Q: I am 34 y/o male with 17 years history of PVCs. They firstly diagnosed as a consequence of viral ...
A: 1. Yes, anxiety can trigger a greater number of PVC's. 2. 100 mg of amio can reduce PVC's, and it is ...
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| frequent beat missing | 11/6/2008 |
Q: i get attacks of beat missing.first of all when started counting it,the 60th beat is missed.then ...
A: All the doctors said skipped heart beats are normal heart events and no threat to life or health, I ...
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| weird heart sensation | 11/5/2008 |
Q: i;ve written to you before and you've always been very helpful. pls answer me this. last night as i ...
A: No need to be scared. What you felt was an extra beat so soon after the preceding normal beat that ...
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| PVCs and PACs | 11/2/2008 |
Q: Im 22 yrs old, and Im 5 months pregnant. For the past 2 weeks I have been feeling my heart stop, for ...
A: If it really stops for FIVE seconds, something is not right. The pause after a PVC doesn't exceed a ...
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| rvh or cvd is it serious | 11/1/2008 |
Q: i am 43 non smoker, non drinker,non drug user, i have gerd and other issues with my stomach i have ...
A: What symptoms? Heart pain is usually pressure in the center of the front of the chest brought on ...
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| Repetive fluttering and skips in heart | 10/31/2008 |
Q: I have had an echo test done and pressure test, both were fine... i was having heart flutters maybe ...
A: Skipped heart beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health for someone with a normal ...
|
| SVT? | 10/30/2008 |
Q: I have PAC's and PVC's almost every day. I am 47 year old female with no other ailments except this ...
A: Yes, it all sounds normal. Two or three PVC's in a row can cause light headedness in anyone. You ...
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| heart pain | 10/30/2008 |
Q: however i am most bothered over the CONSTANT chest fluttering sensation in my heart. can this be ...
A: The most likely cause of sharp chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles around the ...
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| Pain in Pectorial region | 10/29/2008 |
Q: I'm post BMV and getting treatment for last 2 month for AF .I'm on metolar 50 BD, lanoxin ...
A: A heart with normal large coronary arteries, as shown on your angiogram, can cause chest pain ...
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| heart pain | 10/29/2008 |
Q: I HAD SIMILIAR PAIN LAST YEAR WHERE I COMPLETED A X-RAY AND ECG WHICH WERE FINE. HOWEVER IN THE LAST ...
A: In a quite young man, the most likely cause of chest and back pain is cramping of muscles around the ...
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| WPW, LBBB, MVP | 10/28/2008 |
Q: I'm a 24yrs old male. I am scheduled for doppler heart examination in 2 weeks time (which I've been ...
A: I can see what your doctor is talking about, but I'm not a good enough echocardiographer to know ...
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| Fast heart rate and pounding after a meal | 10/28/2008 |
Q: I have been noticing lately right after a meal, my heart beats much quicker. I can feel in outside ...
A: If your heart speeds up and slows down gradually, over a few minutes, and its rhythm remains ...
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| High frequency pvc's. | 10/28/2008 |
Q: Richardson, I have posted before awhile back. And I firstly thank you for your services. I am a ...
A: No matter how frequent, even every other beat, PVC's are benign for someone with normal echo and ...
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| question..... | 10/27/2008 |
Q: im 19 years old, but for the past year or 2 i would get these random pains in my chest by my heart. ...
A: At age 19, chest pain is most likely cramping of muscles around ribs. Some congenital heart trouble ...
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| Taurine | 10/27/2008 |
Q: There have been talks about the effects of oral taurine and arginine on helping to alleviate PVC's, ...
A: I didn't know anything about taurine and arginine helping arrhythmias, and find this interesting and ...
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| PVCs double checked? | 10/27/2008 |
Q: I've noticed PVCs for about a year. I've had an echo, two holter monitors, a few EKGs, chest xray, ...
A: You may be having two PVC's in a row (pause, pause, thud) A run of PVC's would feel like three or ...
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| atrial enlargement | 10/27/2008 |
Q: I am a 54 yr old woman, and had an ekg in Mar 08 that was "borderline," (done as routine) with ...
A: EKG is not very accurate in diagnosing atrial enlargement. The interpretations are probably false ...
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| Catheter Ablation | 10/26/2008 |
Q: I have dilated cardiomyopathy and Vtach. I had MBP all my life. Finally 2 1/2 years ago they had ...
A: Ablation is very difficult. Ask the electrophysiologist how many successful and failed ablations he ...
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| palpitation | 10/26/2008 |
Q: i have been experiencing problem to my heart beat i feel like my hear stop for micro second and then ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health if you have a normal ...
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| ASD Closure | 10/25/2008 |
Q: next month, I'm undergoing Cardiac catheterization to close an ASD. I never went through anything ...
A: You should feel normal afterwards and you will feel nothing at all during the procedure. The vein ...
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| Continuous MVP Symptoms at Night | 10/25/2008 |
Q: I was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse when I was 18. I am 43 now, and for the most part have ...
A: MVP doesn't cause symptoms. If your fluttering is skipped beats, they are normal cardiac activity ...
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| exercise, diet and heart problems | 10/25/2008 |
Q: I have a question about excessive exercise and heart problems. Do you know of any conditions ...
A: Heart pain is usually brought on by exercise or strong negative feelings like fear or anger, and ...
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| Heart movement inside chest | 10/25/2008 |
Q: I have a question that I hope you can answer. I am 44 about 5' 5" and 165. At times whenever I move ...
A: The heart is just suspended from the aorta at its top, so it's free to swing back and forth in the ...
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| PACs and rapid heart rate | 10/12/2008 |
Q: I am a 33yo male, 250 pounds. I am moderately overweight and have become very inactive. I was a ...
A: The episodes may become more frequent, but just as likely they will not be frequent. I'd wait until ...
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| 15 second electrocardiogram | 10/12/2008 |
Q: I recently went to a new primary care physican who told me that he gives all of his new patients an ...
A: Electrocardiograms were invented in the late 1800's by a doctor named Einthoven. They're pretty ...
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| WPW, LBBB, MVP | 10/12/2008 |
Q: I'm a 24yrs old male. I am scheduled for doppler heart examination in 2 weeks time (which I've been ...
A: Sleepiness may be apnea, especially if you're overweight. You need to spend a night in a sleep lab ...
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| spasms in sternum area | 10/12/2008 |
Q: I am a 33 year old female 5'4" and 215#. About 3 months ago I woke up with acid in my throat. I ...
A: Probably cramps of the muscles around ribs, a big nuisance but no threat to life or health. Hearts ...
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| High blood pressure and low heart pulse | 10/11/2008 |
Q: David Richardson! I am writing this message on behalf of my mum. She is 70 years old woman who ...
A: Tactoprillum is not available in USA, so I don't know what it is. Usual next step is to add ...
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| flutters in chest | 10/11/2008 |
Q: can you pls tell me the difference between benign palpitations and atrial fibrillation. what are a. ...
A: 1) Not many. Even every other heart beat is not too many. 2) No, a Holter will only count the ...
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| palpitations | 10/11/2008 |
Q: I am a 30 yr old female. Have been diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse, with mild leakage, no ...
A: You need have no fear of dropping dead. Atrial fib is not life-threatening. Atrial fib makes ...
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| irregular ekg | 10/10/2008 |
Q: my husband has been having right sided chest pains for about a week, they were getting worse and ...
A: Tiffany, You need not worry about chest pain in a 24-year-old man. The heart almost never causes ...
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| flutters in chest | 10/10/2008 |
Q: can you pls tell me the difference between benign palpitations and atrial fibrillation. what are a. ...
A: Benign palpitations are single skipped heart beats. or pairs or triplets of skipped beats. Atrial ...
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| PACs and rapid heart rate | 10/10/2008 |
Q: I am a 33yo male, 250 pounds. I am moderately overweight and have become very inactive. I was a ...
A: As you know, premature beats are no threat to life or health in someone with a normal echo and need ...
|
| heart palpitations | 10/9/2008 |
Q: I have MVP, and have skipped beats sometimes and rapid beats sometimes, I have had holters and ...
A: As you know, skipped and rapid beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health for ...
|
| Heart Rate | 10/9/2008 |
Q: I do cardiovascular exercise fairly regularly and my resting heart rate is around 50. I have a blood ...
A: Heart rate and BP bounce up the minute we wake up and rise a bit more as we get out of bed, then ...
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| heart bypass | 10/9/2008 |
Q: I had triple bypass in July of 2008 and gone back to work on october 7th of 2008. On Tuesday I got ...
A: Please worry. Your heart should not cause pain after a bypass. Please report to your doctor in the ...
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| abnormal EKG | 10/8/2008 |
Q: I had an EKG today which came back abnormal. Rate 69 BPM PR: 288 Qt/QTc 434/451 QRSD: 131 P Axis: ...
A: Probably no need for worry. The reading sounds very minor to me. If you wish, send me your email ...
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| ectopic heart beats | 10/8/2008 |
Q: I am a 54 year old female, I experienced my first irregular heart beat when I was 17 years old,and ...
A: As you know, skipped heart beats are normal cardiac activity, no threat to life or health in a ...
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| D.O.T. physical | 10/7/2008 |
Q: I was diagnosed with Wolff Parkinson White syndrome at a young age and i thought i understood the ...
A: Sorry, but I just don't know. Nor do I know how to find out. Cardiology textbooks don't include ...
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| tachycardia | 10/6/2008 |
Q: i am 48 years old. i had an mi last year which resulted in one stent. i have been on a low dose beta ...
A: Do nothing. Or try another beta blocker. The tachycardia won't lead to another heart attack. If ...
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| Skipped beat frequency | 10/6/2008 |
Q: In regards to the phenomenon of "skipped heartbeats," the evidence seems pretty clear that they are ...
A: In someone with normal heart structure and function, skipped beats even every other beat are no ...
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| Seasonal Tachycardia? | 10/5/2008 |
Q: While going through the internet trying to find some answers, I've found most of my symptoms are ...
A: SVT starts and stops abruptly, in one beat. There's lots you can do. Lie down for a minute and ...
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| PVCs | 10/5/2008 |
Q: I am a 44 yr. old female & was diagosed, this past May, with PVCs. I wore a Holter Monitor in July, ...
A: About half of us have PVC's or PAC's. The heart's electrical system is built so that they are ...
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| SVT,A-Fib,NSVT,Dysautonomia | 10/4/2008 |
Q: I am a 35 yr old female with a five year history of pvc's and sinus tachy. I don't smoke, drink or ...
A: Dysautonomia means the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves to your heart are not working ...
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| racing heart skipped beats | 10/4/2008 |
Q: I train alot say about 4 to 5 times a week I have a history of panic attacks and anxiety I am ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health, easy to understand as normal ...
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| SVT? | 10/3/2008 |
Q: I sffer really bad from panic idsorder for about 2 years now, however i have had palpitations for ...
A: SVT starts and stops abruptly in one heart beat. Normal sinus tachycardia starts and stops slowly, ...
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| Long QT Wave & High Level Teen Athletes | 10/3/2008 |
Q: My daughter is a college freshman basketball player for a major midwest college. This past week ...
A: Here is some info about risk and possible benefits of genetic testing "In adults aged 18 to 40, the ...
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| Pregnancy and Pvc's | 10/2/2008 |
Q: I am a 25 year old female with no significant health history, normal weight, non-smoker with no ...
A: No, your echo will still be normal. PVC's are normal heart activity, normal in the senses that ...
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| heart skipping beats | 10/2/2008 |
Q: I have recently been to see my doctor about my heart skipping a beat. He felt my pulse and said that ...
A: Premature heart beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. About half of us have ...
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| Long QT Wave & High Level Teen Athletes | 10/2/2008 |
Q: My daughter is a college freshman basketball player for a major midwest college. This past week ...
A: With no fainting spells behind her, I think it's o.k. to play basketball, especially if there is no ...
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| takeing a beta blocker at 23 years old ? | 10/2/2008 |
Q: i was wondering if they can tell if you have heart valve problem with ekg and with a ultrasound of ...
A: Beta blockers have almost no ill effects and have been taken for at least 30 years. Need to know ...
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| Heartbeat skipped of stopped with urge to cough | 10/1/2008 |
Q: Yesterday while driving I experienced a sensation that felt as though my heart had stopped for ...
A: Single or double skipped beats are of course normal heart activity. They may well induce a cough, ...
|
| angina, aortic insufficiency, high/low risk Heart Attack? | 10/1/2008 |
Q: You've answered a previous question on this topic for me. Thank you. I have another: If angina can ...
A: Angina can be caused by SEVERE aortic insufficiency, which should not occur in someone whose valve ...
|
| panic attacks and chest pain | 10/1/2008 |
Q: In June of this year I had a normal cardiolite stress test, echo and holter monitor. I have panic ...
A: Your pains are not cardiac, not with a normal stress test, echo and Holter. Cramping of muscles ...
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| RBBB shown on EKG | 9/30/2008 |
Q: Good morning, I am a 38 yr old female, smoker, and about 12 lbs overweight. I have reoccurrent ...
A: Rybak, RBBB is no problem at all. Pericarditis usually causes pain worse with deep breath in. An ...
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| Chest apin | 9/30/2008 |
Q: I'm 29 years old, nearly 30 and I have been having chest for about the last 6 months. I am a smoker, ...
A: Tess, ask the doctor about an echo to be sure your don't have cardiomyopathy. which should be ...
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| pains in left chest area | 9/30/2008 |
Q: last night i was woken up by pains in my left chest area. the pains were sharp but i managed to ...
A: The most likely cause of sharp pain in left chest is cramping of muscles around the ribs. There are ...
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| Why do I have a rapid heart rate after my ablation procedure?? | 9/30/2008 |
Q: Doctor- I recently had an ablation procedure done for afib. I have had periodic episodes of afib ...
A: In about two months after the first procedure. Maybe the sinus node was stunned by the ablation or ...
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| Frequent Skipped Beats | 9/29/2008 |
Q: Richardson, Thanks a lot for your wonderful volunteering service here, through All Experts – It’s a ...
A: Cruz, No need to worry. PVC's are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health, no matter ...
|
| PVC's when to be concerned? | 9/29/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I am a 50 year old male, 6'1", 260 pounds (have lost 70 pounds since January 1st, ...
A: No need to worry. PVC's are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health for someone with a ...
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| echo-stress test for aortic insufficiency | 9/28/2008 |
Q: I was diagnosed last month with moderate Aortic Insufficiency. This was based on "resting" ...
A: Aortic insufficiency doesn't cause chest pain unless it's very severe. Presumably your pain is in ...
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| Chest apin | 9/28/2008 |
Q: I'm 29 years old, nearly 30 and I have been having chest for about the last 6 months. I am a smoker, ...
A: The most common cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles around the ribs, and the fact ...
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| AVR and PVCs | 9/27/2008 |
Q: 55 years old, warfarin, atenolo, HCTZ, diovan, 125/70 Dr. Richardson I have really enjoyed reading ...
A: PVC's are normal cardiac activity, no threat to life or health in someone with a normal echo, no ...
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| Pinching Pain in Heart side | 9/27/2008 |
Q: I am 24 years old, 68 kg weighted and 5 feet 6 inches tall man. I am having pinching pain in my ...
A: Pressure on the painful spot may help, and stretching the muscle by bending your body away from the ...
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| Heart catheterization hemitoma | 9/27/2008 |
Q: Three weeks ago my wife underwent a heart catheterization, the doctor used a protein plug to seal ...
A: There is nothing you could have done better. Protein plugs are supposed to be better than just ...
|
| mitral valve prolaspe | 9/27/2008 |
Q: My question is about Mitral valve prolaspe. I had gotten a TEE and it showed that I had Mitral Valve ...
A: None of your symptoms come from the mitral prolapse, which just means the mitral leaflets bulge a ...
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| ectopic beats | 9/25/2008 |
Q: Im writing you from Mexico, Im 45, 6', 190 lbs, 120/80 BP, 60 resting HR, I have been doing gym and ...
A: Your normal echo proves that there was no damage to any heart valve. PAC's, no matter how frequent, ...
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| prolonged QT interval | 9/25/2008 |
Q: I am 36 yoa, female. I weigh 163 lbs and 5'8 in height. I am healthy and active. I take Omeprazole ...
A: In adults aged 18 to 40, the odds ratio for life-threatening cardiac events is 2.68 for female ...
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| chest tightness on left side | 9/25/2008 |
Q: I have a tightness on the left side beginning about mid-breast radiating around the left side to the ...
A: Cramping of muscles around ribs is most likely. You can prove that it's chest wall pain if pressure ...
|
| MVP | 9/24/2008 |
Q: "One week ago I was diagnosised as Mitral Valve Prolapsed by my cardiologist. I was feeling some ...
A: Those symptoms are not caused by MVP. Lightheadesness, stiffness and tremor. If these only occur ...
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| holter monitor report | 9/24/2008 |
Q: You answered a question about PVCs for me before, and I can't thank you enough. I recently had a ...
A: Katrina, PVC's can occur soon after the QRS, early in the relaxation period that's called diastole, ...
|
| heart seems to flip/flop | 9/23/2008 |
Q: I am 36 years old. I have menieres disease which I take dyazide to help. I also take lexapro 20mg ...
A: If by flip-flops you are describing single skipped beats followed by an extra large beat, these are ...
|
| Rapid Heart Rate, But Then... | 9/22/2008 |
Q: I have bouts with terrible rapid heart rate, with POTS symptoms. I'm on 75 mg/day of Atenolol as ...
A: Matt, I don't think you're being snotty. You're in trouble. I wish I could help. Almost any ...
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| Rapid Heart Rate, But Then... | 9/21/2008 |
Q: I have bouts with terrible rapid heart rate, with POTS symptoms. I'm on 75 mg/day of Atenolol as ...
A: Anxiety, I think, not a life-threatening problem but a big nuisance. Anxiety is especially likely ...
|
| Blood pressure,different readings in each arm | 9/21/2008 |
Q: I been taking lisinopril for my high blood pressure for a couple years now.The doctor,(a free ...
A: Persistently lower BP in one arm than the other suggests partial obstruction of the arteries to the ...
|
| Pinching Pain in Heart side | 9/20/2008 |
Q: I am 24 years old, 68 kg weighted and 5 feet 6 inches tall man. I am having pinching pain in my ...
A: Probably cramping of muscles, a nuisance but no threat to life or health. If rubbing the painful ...
|
| Increasing list of symptoms | 9/20/2008 |
Q: At the age of 18 I was diagnosed with Hypertension with no primary cause. I have always been within ...
A: About 95% of hypertension has no discernible cause. It's called essential hypertension in doctors' ...
|
| AORTIC VALVE | 9/20/2008 |
Q: MY BABY AGE IS FIVE MONTH AORTIC VOLVE BLOCK PLEASE GUIDE ME FOR THE SOLUTION what is the sollutions
A: If the block is severe, the only solution is operation on the valve soon. If the block is not too ...
|
| Chest pain, high pulse and distorted vision? | 9/19/2008 |
Q: Richarson, I am twenty years old, female, 5'7", 190 lbs with no history of high blood pressure. ...
A: I don't know what's causing your chest pain. It might possibly be heart, tho I doubt it. You need ...
|
| enlarged left atrium | 9/19/2008 |
Q: My fiance has been taking Strattera for ADHD for about 5 months as part of a study in Cleveland. ...
A: There are a lot of adverse reactions to Strattera, but none include irregular heart rate and ...
|
| possible arrhythmias or palpitation/flutter | 9/19/2008 |
Q: First off, thank you for being so generous in providing such insightful information to those ...
A: Ricci, Yes, consult your physician. It was probably just a skipped beat making a long pause ...
|
| Ectopic heartbeats | 9/18/2008 |
Q: I am delighted to have found your site and hope you can help me. I have been having skipped or ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life in someone with normal heart structure ...
|
| wpw and some thing unidetify | 9/18/2008 |
Q: I m 30 year old male One month ago I feel some uncomfortablness on right side of my chest, I go to ...
A: Chest pain almost never comes from heart in a 30 year old with a normal echo. Try pressing firmly ...
|
| increased size of veines on temple | 9/18/2008 |
Q: For the last month i've noticed that the veines on my left temple have become more prominant, ...
A: Probably normal, but a connection between the arteries running up to the left side of your head and ...
|
| PVC as a side effect of PPI | 9/17/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, After reading many of your answers to the multitude of arrhythmia sufferers, I ...
A: They are still benign even when frequent for people with normal hearts on echo. You need not worry. ...
|
| Recent HBP & Chest Pain | 9/17/2008 |
Q: Please help, as I am very confused and scared. I am a 31 year old white male, 6'1, 215. A few ...
A: Might be anxiety, but angina, caused by clogging of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the ...
|
| Heart or anxiety | 9/16/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson.....I have been waking up to racing heart for several years along with anxiety ...
A: Bouts of rapid heart beat and very high BP can occur from anxiety of course, but there is a rare ...
|
| 15 year old daughter with chest pain | 9/16/2008 |
Q: for almost 2 years my daughter 15 has had symptoms of headaches dizziness fainting and chest pain ...
A: Bowman, You need not worry. Irregular heart beat will turn out to be skipped heart beats, known in ...
|
| Heart or anxiety | 9/16/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson.....I have been waking up to racing heart for several years along with anxiety ...
A: Doesn't sound like clogged artery at all. A racing heart would cause chest pain and shortness of ...
|
| upper left chest pain, under pecs | 9/14/2008 |
Q: I am a fit, active 70 year old (liveaboard sailor, cruising Baltic and Med since early retirement 14 ...
A: Chest pain at rest is most likely cramping of muscles in the chest wall, a nuisance but no threat to ...
|
| heart problem | 9/14/2008 |
Q: i am 32 years old. i am observing very mild pain on left side of my chest from last 2-3 months. I ...
A: The left chest pain is probably cramping of muscles around ribs, a nuisance but no threat to life or ...
|
| PVC's, Anxiety, and chest pain | 9/13/2008 |
Q: I'm a 21 year old female who does not smoke, doesn't drink, and has recently adopted a more healthy ...
A: Skipped beats are of course normal cardiac activity, no threat to life or health. Your chest pain ...
|
| LVEF Normal on ECHO 43% on Cardiolite | 9/13/2008 |
Q: I am 33 yr old male with prior history of mild but controlled asthma, I am 6'4 325 lbs, 44 inch ...
A: You probably couldn't exercise strenuously if your EF were 43, and the echo is better at estimating ...
|
| what is wrong with my heart? | 9/12/2008 |
Q: i am 22 year old mother and i have been having problems with my heart. i have a fast pulse rate, ...
A: The missed beats followed by a hard beat are normal heart activity and no threat to life or health ...
|
| MVP | 9/12/2008 |
Q: "One week ago I was diagnosised as Mitral Valve Prolapsed by my cardiologist. I was feeling some ...
A: The report signifies that you have MVP, which is no problem, just slight bulging of the mitral valve ...
|
| early heartbeat , not relaxing | 9/12/2008 |
Q: I have had a funny heartbeat all my life I am 55 now and last year had several days where this beat ...
A: Jones, Hmmm. The two are related in the sense that your heart's difficulty with relaxation means ...
|
| Digoxin | 9/11/2008 |
Q: To Dr. David Richardson, Does digoxin help control a-fib? I used to have a-fib and took digoxin ...
A: Digoxin strengthens the force of contraction of the heart muscle and is often used to treat heart ...
|
| LBBB and irregular heart beat | 9/11/2008 |
Q: I am a young 66 yr old female, 5'6", 153 lbs. I've had Rheumatic Fever as a child and left me with a ...
A: With only 20% blockage, LBBB is not serious and you have not had a previous myocardial infarct. If ...
|
| Bypass | 9/11/2008 |
Q: my father-in-law had a heart attack 3 weeks ago and didn't feel the symptoms due to his diabetes. ...
A: Treatment of heart failure is pretty good, and he can probably survive without surgery. If the ...
|
| Chronic right coronary occlusion | 9/10/2008 |
Q: I am 70 years old. Blood pressure historically 120/80, pulse in the 50's. Beta blockers slowed me ...
A: A pacemaker would probably lessen your fatigue if your heart rate now is below 45, not otherwise. ...
|
| Aspirin | 9/9/2008 |
Q: I take a baby aspirin a day, but how long does it take for a baby aspirin to get into the blood ...
A: It takes an hour or two for a baby aspirin to get into the blood stream, but the ant-clotting ...
|
| flutters?, Raynards?(bad circulationProbs), upper muscular probs | 9/9/2008 |
Q: Are these all related, does it mean i have a heart problem? I have a neck injury, which these all ...
A: No, they don't mean you have a heart problem. If the flutters are skipped heart beats, that's ...
|
| Rheumatic Fever/ MVR? | 9/8/2008 |
Q: I've been talking to you for quite some time now on here.. and after I've done a ton of research.. ...
A: If you've had a recent echo, it would show how much mitral regurg you have and if any other valves ...
|
| ischemia | 9/8/2008 |
Q: I had a TEE test 6/08 indicating there is a strong evidence of a "heart ischemia" I also have a few ...
A: Small TIA's may be tiny clots from leg veins (almost everyone has tiny clots in leg veins) slipping ...
|
| early heartbeat , not relaxing | 9/8/2008 |
Q: I have had a funny heartbeat all my life I am 55 now and last year had several days where this beat ...
A: Jones, If the heart doesn't relax well, pressure builds up in the left ventricle because it's not ...
|
| Rheumatic Fever/ MVR? | 9/8/2008 |
Q: I've been talking to you for quite some time now on here.. and after I've done a ton of research.. ...
A: Bounding pulse is not common with mitral regurg, where the ventricle ejects extra blood back into ...
|
| heart health/diets | 9/7/2008 |
Q: My husband just had a heart attack..he is on a low sodium low cholesteral and low fat ...
A: Pearce, Low sodium is less than 5 grams of salt a day. That means no salt added in preparation or ...
|
| Anxiety that feels Physical | 9/7/2008 |
Q: I have been having issues with an anxiety for a few months now. I have been having heart palpations, ...
A: PVC's, no matter how frequent, even one every other heartbeat, are normal heart activity, normal in ...
|
| Chronic right coronary occlusion | 9/6/2008 |
Q: I am 70 years old. Blood pressure historically 120/80, pulse in the 50's. Beta blockers slowed me ...
A: Appropriate medicines are a baby aspirin (81 mg.) daily, a statin and a beta blocker if they don't ...
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| Hypertension | 9/6/2008 |
Q: I have had hard to control High blood pressure for 6 years now. Recently my blood pressure spiked ...
A: Your family doc probably wants help in controlling your BP, and nephrologists are the current ...
|
| Abnormal ECG | 9/5/2008 |
Q: I am a 41-year-old female who has had abnormal ECG readings since I was in college. I am 5'7", ...
A: It's midnight and looking up the normal ranges will take a long time. I'll answer tomorrow. David. ...
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| abnormal heart rate and chest buring | 9/5/2008 |
Q: to fix it in tx. Now has chest pain and buring in the chest with a little fast heart rate when her ...
A: Watterson, She needs an echocardiogram to be sure there's nothing wrong with her heart structure, ...
|
| Echo results and some thoughts. | 9/4/2008 |
Q: I am an active 22-year-old male with PVC's and PAC's. I weight 163 lbs, and am 6 feet in height. I ...
A: Trace regurgitation is normal. A little blood slips backward through a valve when the ventricle ...
|
| coxsackie virus and palpitations | 9/4/2008 |
Q: Last year I suffered for several weeks from an awful ache in my chest and fatigue. My GP said it ...
A: Yes, Ma'am. If the palpitations are skipped beats, these are normal cardiac activity, no threat to ...
|
| heart flutters | 9/3/2008 |
Q: and you would be the perfect person to ask my heart flutter question to. I just turned 40 female, ...
A: PVC's are normal heart activity, normal in the senses that 1) at least half of us have them, (2) ...
|
| abnormal cardiolite stress test | 9/2/2008 |
Q: 47 yr. old female, 5'3", 175 lb., regularly taking 75 mcg. synthroid, 250/50 advair, 10 mg. ...
A: The only chest pain you've had was on the treadmill or with exercise, and was in the center of the ...
|
| Emotional Distress& Prolonged QT | 9/2/2008 |
Q: Our daughter was emotionally and verbally abused over a period of time in high school by her field ...
A: The long QT is not congenital, which means present at birth. Long QT is often hereditary but may ...
|
| Heart or anxiety | 9/2/2008 |
Q: Can you give any advice on how to get past the fact that the symptoms I feel are anxiety and not ...
A: A normal cardiolite stress test gives you 95% probability of no heart attack or cardiac death for 7 ...
|
| Changes in lab results | 9/2/2008 |
Q: I just got home from a doctor appointment and I don't understand the changes: 4/5/08 Triglycerides ...
A: Triglycerides, and HDL which varies inversely with TG (when TG are high, HDL is low) are quite ...
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| Difference between PVC's & PAC's | 9/1/2008 |
Q: Richardson. You have been so helpful in the past and now another couple of questions. I would like ...
A: PAC's precede episodes of SVT. Both PAC's and PVC's are more likely to occur when the heart rate is ...
|
| teeth and heart | 9/1/2008 |
Q: I have posted before. I have major panic disorder. I have TMJ with my PD. I had an echo, holter and ...
A: Yes, antibiotics are needed before dental work only in people with severe valve disease or some ...
|
| Emotional Distress& Prolonged QT | 9/1/2008 |
Q: Our daughter was emotionally and verbally abused over a period of time in high school by her field ...
A: Her long QT must not be congenital, since previous EKG's were normal. Stress does not cause long ...
|
| skipped heart beats driving me mad! | 8/31/2008 |
Q: i wrote to you a few weeks ago and you gave me some re-assuring advice, i seem to get these skipped ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. It would have been unlikely ...
|
| heart failure?? | 8/30/2008 |
Q: Back in March I had a feeling of flutters in my chest.. I was scared out of my mind thinking I was ...
A: A normal white count is pretty good evidence against infection on the valve. The hsCreactive ...
|
| What happens when heart "skips a beat"? | 8/30/2008 |
Q: I'm 32 yrs old and I'm on verapamil 120mg(1 pill per day) for SVT. I also suffer from "skipped ...
A: During the long pause of a skipped beat, extra blood flows into the heart, so the beat after the ...
|
| irregular ECG | 8/30/2008 |
Q: I just had my yearly physical and the ECG indicated that I had a long QTc interval. my vent. rate ...
A: Debra, QTc corrects for the slow heart rate. For adult women, a QTc of 456 is borderline long. ...
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| heart failure?? | 8/29/2008 |
Q: Back in March I had a feeling of flutters in my chest.. I was scared out of my mind thinking I was ...
A: Purple fingers and splinter hemorrhages raise the question of bacteria growing on your mitral valve. ...
|
| Abnormal EKG | 8/29/2008 |
Q: I am 41, overweight with 120/70 BP. I was given and EKG that showed conduction system disease, 1 av ...
A: I see lowish QRS voltage in all leads, and Qr in V1-V3. The latter could be old anterior myocardial ...
|
| skipped heart beats | 8/29/2008 |
Q: i wrote to you a couple of weeks ago regarding my skipped heart beats, im 28 and apart from being a ...
A: Skipped heart beats are normal cardiac activity, no threat to life or health now or in the future. ...
|
| irregular ECG | 8/29/2008 |
Q: I just had my yearly physical and the ECG indicated that I had a long QTc interval. my vent. rate ...
A: You didn't ask a question. You should consult a cardiac electrophysiologist, the experts on QT. ...
|
| heart failure?? | 8/27/2008 |
Q: Back in March I had a feeling of flutters in my chest.. I was scared out of my mind thinking I was ...
A: The first signs of heart failure are breathlessness on mild exertion like walking three blocks or ...
|
| Rapid Heart rate | 8/27/2008 |
Q: I have had a condition where I have a rapid heart rate when moving around a bit and especially a ...
A: Increased heart rate after vomiting is not unusual, especially in someone with POTS. I don't know ...
|
| Pulse Pressure | 8/27/2008 |
Q: Richardson, You were kind enough to help me back in 2005 and I look forward to hearing your opinion ...
A: Campbell, Pulse pressure of 60 is close to normal, for example 140/80. Pulse pressure nearly 80 is ...
|
| Blood Pressure | 8/26/2008 |
Q: If someone's blood pressure profile changes, does that mean the condition has changed? This is for ...
A: Chris, Try to time the medicines that may lower BP (ACE,Coreg and patch) to avoid the hours when his ...
|
| Left side pain | 8/25/2008 |
Q: Richardson, Recently, I have been feeling some pain on my upper left side, from just underneath my ...
A: The most common cause of pain like yours is cramping of muscles around the ribs and under the collar ...
|
| Persantine MIBI Stress Test | 8/18/2008 |
Q: How are the results calculated when the Arteries in the heart are smaller than normal
A: Sorry, I don't know what you mean. If the test is negative, no abnormal distribution of the MIBI in ...
|
| pacemaker | 8/18/2008 |
Q: I have been here before. 76 yr old male with congestive heart failure for 40 years. All sorts of ...
A: The third lead is to pace the other side (left ventricle if the current lead is in the right ...
|
| PVC's back to back.. | 8/10/2008 |
Q: I just wrote to you Dr. Richardson and I thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. I ...
A: 3 or 4 PVC's in a row is not a threat to life or health, so long as your heart's structure and ...
|
| Bystolic | 8/9/2008 |
Q: I am on 5 mg of Bystolic and since I have started it I have a strained sensation in my esophagus. ...
A: In the empty space in the middle where the clavicle starts below the adam's apple. Do you know how ...
|
| Bystolic | 8/9/2008 |
Q: I am on 5 mg of Bystolic and since I have started it I have a strained sensation in my esophagus. ...
A: Your symptoms don't appear in the list of adverse reactions to Bystolic, so the beta blocker is not ...
|
| Stress test results | 8/7/2008 |
Q: I had a stress test because of abnormal ecg and high blood pressure. The cardiologist sent my test ...
A: Yes other than the mild concentric LVH, the report is normal. Inducible ischemia means not enough ...
|
| tachycardia | 8/7/2008 |
Q: I am a woman of 74 years of age, height 5'3" and weight 170 lbs. Blood pressure around 140/75, pulse ...
A: Darline, it all seems normal. 107 is certainly a normal heart rate for someone going to an ER. Any ...
|
| Palpitations and Lower Blood Pressure | 8/7/2008 |
Q: Can you please tell me if low blood pressure has anything to do with skips in the heart? I know my ...
A: On Holter, about 25% of us have PVC's and 25% have PAC's, so about half of have neither on one 24 ...
|
| Aorta vascular calcification | 8/6/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richards, I just got results back from a CT scan I had done of my abdomen. In the summary it ...
A: Some aortic calcification is present in most people. It will probably never cause any trouble. ...
|
| Constant PVC's.. | 8/6/2008 |
Q: I am new here and just in need of some advice. I am a 31 year old female. I am 5'4, weigh 131 lbs. ...
A: PVC's, no matter how frequent, are normal cardiac activity and no threat to life or health. They do ...
|
| tachycardia | 8/6/2008 |
Q: I am a woman of 74 years of age, height 5'3" and weight 170 lbs. Blood pressure around 140/75, pulse ...
A: How fast does your heart race? Does it start to race gradually and subside gradually: if so it is ...
|
| PVCs- Bigeminies/trigemies/SVEs | 8/6/2008 |
Q: Richardson: I am a 77 year old man with long history of CAD. Last summer, I had sought your advice ...
A: I think you should do nothing. With your good EF and exercise ability, PVC's, no matter how ...
|
| Skipped beats | 8/5/2008 |
Q: I'm an american living abroad. I have had panic disorder for many years, with different ...
A: Your doctor is correct. Extrasystole means a very premature heart beat, so early that the heart ...
|
| Heart Catherization | 8/5/2008 |
Q: I am 46 years old. I have had Atrial Fibrillation for at least 15 years. It stays this way ...
A: The catheter is usually inserted where your leg joins your body because there is a great big blood ...
|
| hypertension dizzy and hypotension | 8/4/2008 |
Q: I am a 61 year old male. 7X bypass 5 years ago. I have been on 50mg Metoprolol since surgery; ...
A: BP above 90 is o.k. If you think you have orthostatic hypotension, get someone to measure your ...
|
| Fear | 8/3/2008 |
Q: I have a big fear of a sudden cardiac arrest but don't know if it is a real fear? 8 years ago I had ...
A: Sudden cardiac arrest strikes people with plaques in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the ...
|
| problem with high blood pressure | 8/3/2008 |
Q: Richardson. I have a very dear friend who is in her late sixties and is under a lot of stress due ...
A: Tranquilizers are not much help in lowering BP. Talking with a counselor would help her deal with ...
|
| Enlarged Left Atrium | 8/3/2008 |
Q: An echocardiogram indicated essentially normal results except indexed left atrial volume 40 cc per ...
A: Possible left atrial enlargement, wheezing, BP 135/90 and fatigue as main symptom. The BP is ...
|
| Abnormal EKG | 8/3/2008 |
Q: David, I am 41 right now. In 2006 I had an abnormal EKG reading during a routing physical. I went ...
A: With a negative cath, the EKG is normal for you, that is, the EKG is a false positive. Get a copy ...
|
| Mitral Regurgatation | 8/2/2008 |
Q: I've been suffering from this visible pulse (bounding pulse?) in my abdomen, wrist and temple.. My ...
A: Very slight mitral regurgitation causes no problems, is probably normal. The mitral valve ...
|
| PVC | 8/2/2008 |
Q: Doctor I am a 32 year old female with normal blood pressure. I am fit and well and have played ...
A: PVC's are normal cardiac activity, no matter how frequent. Normal in the senses that about half of ...
|
| Enlarged Left Atrium | 8/2/2008 |
Q: An echocardiogram indicated essentially normal results except indexed left atrial volume 40 cc per ...
A: 2 standard deviations above the mean includes only 90% of the normals, so 10 % of those above 2 SD's ...
|
| ANXIETY OR HEART SYMPTOM | 8/1/2008 |
Q: could this be stress or anxiety related.. im 32 yr old male , over the past year i have had a high ...
A: Sounds like anxiety. Dizziness and blurred vision may be caused by breathing too fast and too deep. ...
|
| Heart palpitations | 8/1/2008 |
Q: "Hi, I am a 31 year old female, in pretty good health. For the past 2 weeks I have been feeling my ...
A: Skipped and extra heart beats are normal cardiac activity. Normal in the senses that (1) about half ...
|
| Wellbutrin XL 300mg and occasional skipped heartbeat with urge to cough | 7/31/2008 |
Q: Two weeks ago I increased my Wellbutrin (Buproprion) dosage from 150 to 300mg. I suffer from ...
A: Skipped heart beats are normal cardiac activity, no threat to life or health so long as the heart's ...
|
| aortic valce sclerosis | 7/31/2008 |
Q: When I was 29 years old (I am 32 now) I had an echo done that my cardiologist insisted was normal ...
A: Yes, it should have been discussed with you. Mild aortic sclerosis almost never causes trouble, but ...
|
| SVT | 7/31/2008 |
Q: What are the five types of SVT and how can you distinguish them? second ? Describe the management of ...
A: Wilson, I didn't know there were 5 types of SVT. Please send me the reference to where you read ...
|
| Anxiety - Heart Related? | 7/30/2008 |
Q: For a few years I've been waking up during the night with racing heart accompanied by ...
A: Yes, anxiety raises heart rate and BP, and can make a person with clogged coronary arteries a little ...
|
| PVC's after cardiac ablation | 7/30/2008 |
Q: First thank you for being here for all who inquire with you...it is a wonderful service you are ...
A: I'm very sorry, but I don't know the answer to most of your questions. Sounds to me as if the ...
|
| Niddle prick heart | 7/29/2008 |
Q: I am 17 and weigh 131. Sometimes when I forget to eat (oddly it happens often) I get a sharp almost ...
A: It's not heart. Hearts don't cause pin prick pain. It's probably cramping of muscles between ribs. ...
|
| All over Edema with loww blood pressure and a high resting heart rate | 7/29/2008 |
Q: I am going to see a cardiologist only because I asked to see one. I have had low blood pressure with ...
A: More details are needed. Heart, liver, thyroid, kidneys edema can cause edema. Do thyroid lab ...
|
| cardiology | 7/29/2008 |
Q: I was recently diagnosed with Pure Autonomic Failure following autonomic function testing/nerve ...
A: The first common ill effect listed for Florinef is nausea. Edema (swelling) and headache are ...
|
| Irregular Heartbeat Symbol on Omron Blood Pressure Monitor | 7/28/2008 |
Q: I recently on a few occasions have had the irregular heartbeat symbol show up on my blood pressure ...
A: Probably your monitor detected the skip as 25% lower than the average rhythm, since the monitor ...
|
| svt and pregnancy | 7/27/2008 |
Q: Also they can not put me on treatment then take me off to have children as it could make it worse?, ...
A: Ask about flecainide. It has no contraindication for pregnancy like beta blockers do. Another ...
|
| Oxygen dependency | 7/27/2008 |
Q: Mom had a quadruple bypass 7 years ago, now 3 our ot 4 are blocked, Type 2 diabetes with ...
A: The only way she can get off oxygen is to fix her heart. She'll need oxygen for the rest of her ...
|
| test results | 7/26/2008 |
Q: I had an echocardiogram done back in december. I was wondering if you could explain the results I ...
A: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common cause of chest pain in a young person. Skipped heart ...
|
| Cardiologist said I am OK but still a bit worried | 7/26/2008 |
Q: Dr Richardson, One afternoon I was in my kitchen, not stressed, and I felt a pain in my left ...
A: If the treadmill test was monitored by radioisotopes or echocardiogram, then infarct is ruled out. ...
|
| recurring sinus tachycardia | 7/26/2008 |
Q: I am 20 years old and have been experiencing repetitive tachycardia and palpitations in the past ...
A: Persistently elevated heart rate is called inappropriate sinus tachycardia unless it occurs only ...
|
| heartbeat in head | 7/25/2008 |
Q: my heart beating in my head sometimes all day long. I lost my husband in January 08 and my father ...
A: I doubt if anything is seriously wrong inside your head. Anxiety is a possibility, and the ...
|
| test results | 7/25/2008 |
Q: I had an echocardiogram done back in december. I was wondering if you could explain the results I ...
A: Yes, the echo results are fine. They are good for at least 10 years, probably 20. No need to worry ...
|
| Re: Afib | 7/24/2008 |
Q: I am not able to get the link in the answer to work? It is this one (I tried with the %20s taken ...
A: Maybe the link works only on a Mac computer, which is what I use. The link describes various ...
|
| Elevated Blood Pressure | 7/24/2008 |
Q: My question is sometimes my blood pressure elevates from a normal reading to extremely high numbers ...
A: Marge, I'm unclear about what heart-related means. If you mean, "Can the heart cause such ...
|
| Elevated Blood Pressure | 7/24/2008 |
Q: My question is sometimes my blood pressure elevates from a normal reading to extremely high numbers ...
A: Heart-related only in that sustained peaks of blood pressure may strain the heart, but peaks lasting ...
|
| pain behind left ear | 7/24/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I am a 58 year old female and have atrial fibrillation and recently developed ...
A: It seems insignificant to me, too. It's not coronary blockage; coronary pain is brought on by ...
|
| ectopics | 7/23/2008 |
Q: I have had occasional afib for 8 years, and 2-3 episodes of SVT in the first year but apparently not ...
A: Yes. See ...
|
| EKG results: 1st degree, septal infarct | 7/23/2008 |
Q: Dr Richardson, I found your answer to a question about 'Septal Infarct' on an EKG. ...
A: Elaine, Q in V1 and V2 is normal, 90 %, i think, because often the chest leads are placed too high ...
|
| tachy arrythmia | 7/23/2008 |
Q: i am 44 and had a sincope episode twice. was out for over 20 mins. I had a hard time getting ...
A: Totally unconscious for 20 minutes doesn't sound like heart. Did he perchance feel your pulse or ...
|
| Why are PVC's and PAC's Normal? Can potassium supplements block PVC's and PAC's | 7/22/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson: I have read a multitude of your answers about PVC's and PAC's being normal cardiac ...
A: There's no good explanation of why half of have PVC's or PAC's and the other half don't. There's no ...
|
| Abnormal EKG/T wave inversion V1,V2,V3 | 7/22/2008 |
Q: Richardson... I've had an abnormal EKG since I was 25...am now 45. I was diagnosed at 15 with MVP ...
A: Pam, it's perfectly possible that the technician always puts the leads too high. Mitral prolapse ...
|
| Afib | 7/21/2008 |
Q: Our last communication we discussed that I take flecainide before being cardioconverted. Did not ...
A: Sorry about the recurrence. Ask about propafenone, which isn't associated with arrhythmia. ...
|
| Very labile blood pressure | 7/21/2008 |
Q: I have had labile blood pressure for about 3 years, driven mainly by anxiety according to my doctor ...
A: Please consider adding hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg a day and an angiotensin receptor blocker like ...
|
| Slow Heart Rate? | 7/20/2008 |
Q: I am a 43 year old female, 5'5", 150 lbs and have noticed the last two weeks that my heart rate has ...
A: Low levels of potassium can also cause fatigue. But your fatigue is not likely to come from ...
|
| Chest Pains | 7/20/2008 |
Q: I have had pains on the left side of my chest for about 6 days. The pain is constant throughout the ...
A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young woman is cramping of muscles between and around ribs. ...
|
| Feeling of Skipped Hearteat then a double beat. | 7/19/2008 |
Q: I am a 45 year old male who is 6 foot and 225 pounds with a BMI of 24. I quit smoking in March. In ...
A: Skipped beats tend to slowly subside, usually in 10 years or so. There are medicines more effective ...
|
| Echocardiogram: biatrial dilation and normal ventricles | 7/19/2008 |
Q: I had an echo on Jun 8 the with these results and the following: "Echo cardiogram also shows ...
A: The echo shows no significant problems. Near syncope is a problem, which the Holter didn't clarify. ...
|
| Feeling of Skipped Hearteat then a double beat. | 7/19/2008 |
Q: I am a 45 year old male who is 6 foot and 225 pounds with a BMI of 24. I quit smoking in March. In ...
A: Skipped heart beats are normal cardiac activity, normal in the senses that about half of us have ...
|
| Nitro pills | 7/19/2008 |
Q: I had a heart attack April 23, 2008. I have 3 stents - main artery, left and right. I take Zocor ...
A: Heart-related pain is usually brought on by exercise or strong unpleasant emotion and relieved ...
|
| skipped beats | 7/18/2008 |
Q: First of all, thank you for this service. I've read your comments many times about how PAC's, PVC's ...
A: Sure, mention it to your cardiologist. If your LVEF is over 50%, PVC's are no threat even with a ...
|
| HEART PAIN | 7/18/2008 |
Q: I HAD A FULL CARDIO WORK UP BETWEEN SEPT 07 AND FEB 08 INCLUDING NUCLEAR STRESS TEST , 24 HOUR ...
A: Matt, If the dizziness is vertigo, that is you feel like you're spinning round and round or the room ...
|
| HEART PAIN | 7/17/2008 |
Q: I HAD A FULL CARDIO WORK UP BETWEEN SEPT 07 AND FEB 08 INCLUDING NUCLEAR STRESS TEST , 24 HOUR ...
A: The most common cause of sharp chest pains is cramping of muscles between and around ribs. You can ...
|
| curing heart blockage without angioplasty | 7/16/2008 |
Q: My mom recently had Angiography and results showed that she is having 60% and 95 % blockage in the ...
A: The only indication for angioplasty is heart pain she doesn't want to put up with. Treatment with ...
|
| heart beat | 7/16/2008 |
Q: im a 15 year old 145 pound swimmer, a few weeks ago i was laying on my couch and i had these two or ...
A: Not serious. Heavy heart beats are the beats after a skipped beat, which are no threat to life or ...
|
| Angina Symptoms in 22 year old | 7/15/2008 |
Q: I am a 22 year old male (5'11, 175 lbs) who for the past four months has been experiencing chest ...
A: Angina at rest in a 22 year old man can be spasm of a coronary artery. I hope the event monitor ...
|
| 64-slice CT scan | 7/15/2008 |
Q: My dr. wants me to have an angiogram although a regular (not 64-slice) CT scan showed zero plaque. ...
A: Neither a CT scan or an angiogram show the mitral valve condition well. Echocardiogram is best for ...
|
| missing heart beat | 7/14/2008 |
Q: i am 71yrs. undergone bypass12years back. doctors after echo told me pumping 30%blood only. diabetic ...
A: Your note indicates that you are doing well. Please continue unless your cholesterol is above 190, ...
|
| Irregular heartbeat | 7/14/2008 |
Q: I have noted that I have an irregular heartbeat. As a Firefighter/EMT, I have always been aware of ...
A: None of what you describe sounds bad. I see no reason to be concerned unless you should faint ...
|
| heart palpitations | 7/13/2008 |
Q: I'm a 22 year old female and have been having heart palpitations since i was about 16. They usually ...
A: No, it's not possible that you had a heart attack. The usual cause of QS in V1 and V2 is placement ...
|
| tachy arrythmia | 7/13/2008 |
Q: i am 44 and had a sincope episode twice. was out for over 20 mins. I had a hard time getting ...
A: Resch, Not enough info. Were you standing, sitting or lying? Did anyone observe you while you ...
|
| Abnormal EKG/T wave inversion V1,V2,V3 | 7/13/2008 |
Q: Richardson... I've had an abnormal EKG since I was 25...am now 45. I was diagnosed at 15 with MVP ...
A: Sure, your EKG is probably normal for you. Maybe it's read as abnormal because the leads were ...
|
| breathless when lying down | 7/12/2008 |
Q: My husband is breathless when lying down but only for about 30 seconds. He walks to the kitchen and ...
A: Dragt, Heart is much more likely. He should tell a doctor about this. If you can't afford a ...
|
| Chest discomfort | 7/12/2008 |
Q: I weight 165, I am 5’11 and my blood pressure is good I had it tested two weeks ago. For years now I ...
A: The most common cause of chest pain like yours is cramping of the muscles between the ribs, a normal ...
|
| chest pain | 7/11/2008 |
Q: About 4 months ago I moved to a new area, living in a basement apartment. After about a week I ...
A: The most common cause of chest pain is cramping of muscles between ribs, a big nuisance but not a ...
|
| test | 7/11/2008 |
Q: i was wondering if they can tell if you have heart valve problem with ekg and with a ultrasound of ...
A: Chris, some afib runs in families that have one or more base pairs in their genes altered, a ...
|
| test | 7/11/2008 |
Q: i was wondering if they can tell if you have heart valve problem with ekg and with a ultrasound of ...
A: Echo is best for valves. It shows the structure and function of each of the 4 valves in great ...
|
| heart question | 7/11/2008 |
Q: I'm 25 years-old, 5'5", 100 lbs., blod pressure always around 102-120/70. I have been having pain ...
A: Heart trouble at age 25 with normal echo and EKG is EXTREMELY unlikely, practically impossible. ...
|
| heart Cath | 7/10/2008 |
Q: I just turned 36 yrs old and had a nuclear stress test today due waking up at night with the feeling ...
A: Miller, Yes, false positive pictures are very common, more than 50% at your age and with no chest ...
|
| Palpitations | 7/9/2008 |
Q: You have answered a PVC question for me already and thanks for that. I have a new situation the ...
A: Yes, please don't worry when PVC's occur. Since you have normal EKG's and echoes, they are no threat ...
|
| heart palpitations | 7/9/2008 |
Q: Please help. I am 37, 5'8, 165 lb female with no blood pressure problems. I have had several EKGs ...
A: Doesn't sound dangerous, since you have normal EKG's and presumably the stress tests showed normal ...
|
| Palpitations | 7/9/2008 |
Q: You have answered a PVC question for me already and thanks for that. I have a new situation the ...
A: SVT lasts many minutes to hours and stops very abruptly, in one heart beat. If your heart rate was ...
|
| heart question | 7/8/2008 |
Q: I'm 25 years-old, 5'5", 100 lbs., blod pressure always around 102-120/70. I have been having pain ...
A: Gall stones or pancreatitis are more likely than heart to cause upper abdominal and back pain. ...
|
| Abnormal EKG/T wave inversion V1,V2,V3 | 7/8/2008 |
Q: Richardson... I've had an abnormal EKG since I was 25...am now 45. I was diagnosed at 15 with MVP ...
A: T inversion in V1-V3 is normal if there is rS, not QS, in V3. If not, the leads were probably ...
|
| conduction delay post cryo-ablation | 7/8/2008 |
Q: Re my 33 year old son, 18 mo post cryo surgery for wpw. 5'10", 170#. Excellent BP, history of & ...
A: No worries. Premature heart beats are normal heart activity, don't lead to WPW tachycardia. RSR' ...
|
| MVP and heart palpitations | 7/8/2008 |
Q: I have MVP, with now leakage. However, when I exercise, I get skipped beat and fluttery feelings ...
A: Skipped beats are normal in anybody, MVP or not. They are normal heart activity, no threat to life ...
|
| presyncope | 7/7/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson: I am a 50 years old male with hypertension under control (low dose of CCB and beta ...
A: Ask someone to observe you during one or more episodes. Do you get pale? Do you sweat? What ...
|
| BP readings | 7/6/2008 |
Q: The information booklet for my BP machine (Omron) says to wait five minutes before taking a second ...
A: The machine doesn't care. BP falls when you change from active to sitting, which is why the second ...
|
| Heart Questions | 7/6/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, Hi My name is Tyler and I am 17. I have questions regarding my heart. Lately, I've ...
A: Maybe your blood pressure gets too low when you stand up. Ask someone to measure your blood ...
|
| DD and diuretic (previous posts) | 7/6/2008 |
Q: I am on 50 mg of HCTZ already, but that is for my kidneys. So it does double duty. I couln't get the ...
A: If your potassium was low before you took HCTZ and you had high BP, ask your doctors about ...
|
| unsustained v-tach in a healthy heart | 7/5/2008 |
Q: I am a 23 year old single mother who has been having pvc's since I was 12 years old. I have ...
A: With all your concern and insomnia, you should seek a second opinion for reassurance, though I agree ...
|
| heart beats | 7/5/2008 |
Q: Richardson I am an 18year old male and have been suffering from supposed post viral fatigue ...
A: Athletes who die young almost always have structural abnormalities that would show up on echo. Your ...
|
| Diastolic dysfunction and moderate LVH | 7/5/2008 |
Q: AT 33, I had PPCM in 2000, I also had a stroke.At the time my EF was 20% and they thought I would ...
A: With edema and breathlessness, you probably should be on a diuretic like furosemide. Here's a ...
|
| atrial fibrillation | 7/4/2008 |
Q: my name is Jessica, Im 24 (5'4" and BP 90/60)and I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation 6 months ...
A: The fast heart rate probably comes from anxiety. The pop around your heart might be a skipped heart ...
|
| Diastolic dysfunction and moderate LVH | 7/4/2008 |
Q: AT 33, I had PPCM in 2000, I also had a stroke.At the time my EF was 20% and they thought I would ...
A: Why are you listing diastolic dysfunction? Do you still have easy breathlessness and fatigue, i.e. ...
|
| Stress Test | 7/3/2008 |
Q: My husband's doctor is scheduling a stress test for him. It is not going to be the thallium kind, ...
A: His diet should reduce carbohydrates, because they raise triglycerides. Increase unsaturated fats ...
|
| Stress Test | 7/3/2008 |
Q: My husband's doctor is scheduling a stress test for him. It is not going to be the thallium kind, ...
A: I hope it's a treadmill test monitored by radioisotopes or echocardiogram. (Tests monitored by EKG ...
|
| Aortic question | 7/2/2008 |
Q: Richardson? A couple of general questions. Are valve problems more serious with the aortic valve ...
A: Generic drugs are always best, no matter what the drug, statins included. The FDA makes certain ...
|
| Clonidine and beta blockers | 7/2/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I am on beta blocker (bystolic 5mg/d) and norvasc (5mg/d) for hypertension. I also ...
A: Should be o.k. Beta blockers may produce a big rise in BP when clonidine is stopped, but one dose ...
|
| Skipped heartbeats and exercise | 7/1/2008 |
Q: I have asked you questions before and once again I wanna thank you for your time and advice. I have ...
A: Exercise tends to prevent skipped beats, so the more the better. Remember than skipped beats are ...
|
| A-fib | 7/1/2008 |
Q: Three months ago I had an episode of a-fib. That day I had been under stress I have gone back to ...
A: If you avoid taking motrin and a bunch of tums, your afib may not recur, tho afib tends to recur ...
|
| Abnormal EKG/Dysautonomia?? | 6/30/2008 |
Q: Richardson. I am a 34 yo female, smoker for 18 years and pretty sedentary. I take 25 mg Atenolol, ...
A: It's not Brugada. EF above 50 is perfectly normal, and increase with exercise is good. Heart ...
|
| RIght bundle branch block | 6/30/2008 |
Q: A few days ago I underwent a stress test which produced some abnormal findings. My doctor said he ...
A: Probably not. RBBB often causes ST depression. Can you find out which leads had ST depression? ...
|
| vasovagal | 6/30/2008 |
Q: I have vasovagal events every morning now between 8 and 10 am. I am going to an ep cardiologist and ...
A: Chud, Do your events occur only when you're standing, and does your blood pressure drop below 80 ...
|
| 47 yr old woman with vasospasms | 6/29/2008 |
Q: Recently my spasms increased in number and was put on Norvasc. Spasms increased and had angiogram. ...
A: Spasm is uncommon during angiogram. The doc was lucky to catch it. Some Italian cardiologists left ...
|
| Post-CABG persistent shortness of breath | 6/29/2008 |
Q: My 74 year old father underwent triple bypass surgery 6 months ago. He continues to fail stress ...
A: Food stopping at mid sternum sounds like esophageal narrowing, which would certainly cause weight ...
|
| high heart rate | 6/29/2008 |
Q: im a 32 male for over a year now i have had a high heart rate at rest it is about 105-120, i have ...
A: Your high heart rate, chest pain and tremors are most likely all the result of anxiety, even every ...
|
| hypertension | 6/29/2008 |
Q: I have panic disorder and suffer from anxiety often. In 05 I had an abnormal EKG in the ER during a ...
A: Karen, I don't know the percent of echo readings of PAH that are false positive, just pretty common. ...
|
| hypertension | 6/28/2008 |
Q: I have panic disorder and suffer from anxiety often. In 05 I had an abnormal EKG in the ER during a ...
A: Sure, false reading of PA hypertension is common with transthoracic echo. I'd ignore this as false ...
|
| new to a-fib | 6/28/2008 |
Q: i have a question about a-fib, i was at work one day, and i experienced flutter in my chest wen tto ...
A: If your heart rhythm is regular, it's not afib. Bloating and heart burn will speed up your heart, ...
|
| Never Ending PVCs | 6/28/2008 |
Q: I have read other posters talk about runs of 2, 3, or 4 PVCs that occur in a row. Mine seem to never ...
A: Pelletier, Congratulations on your good weight, at least. Now that your PVC's are happening all ...
|
| High heart rates during nights. | 6/28/2008 |
Q: I am 21 year old male from India.Height - 172 cm.Weight - 74Kg . Recently my heart rates are higher ...
A: If your heart rhythm is regular and it's rate is less than 140, that's normal. If irregular, that ...
|
| Irregular Heart Beat - hyperparathyroidism? | 6/27/2008 |
Q: I am a 33 yr old male who has been experiencing irregular heartbeats for 10 years now. I have had ...
A: Skipped heart beats are so common in all of us (about 50% of us have them) that I doubt that ...
|
| fluctuating heartbeat | 6/26/2008 |
Q: I had a rather peculiar question, one that probably will be far less urgent than most you recieve. ...
A: Richards, The tachycardia is a normal response to anxiety and panic, even over 160. Numbness comes ...
|
| circulation | 6/26/2008 |
Q: Richardson, I'm curious about blood rushes to the head that occur when inverted. In me, they occur ...
A: No idea, really. If the whites of your eyes stay red longer than a few minutes, then you're ...
|
| NSVT and HCM | 6/25/2008 |
Q: What if you have NSVT from time to time and also have a thickened apex? That being the only ...
A: Mitchell, See if this helps: http://www.cardiosmart.org/ManageCondition/Default.aspx?id=814 If ...
|
| My Heart | 6/25/2008 |
Q: i am 25 years old, female 165 cm tall and 61 kg,walk regularly, i think i have to tell you these ...
A: You're not too young to have paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, abbreviated PSVT. It's a ...
|
| Heart Hiccups | 6/24/2008 |
Q: I have been to a cardiologist last year about extra hearts beats and I have a normal heart. I get ...
A: PVC's are normal cardiac activity, no threat to life if you have a heart with normal structure and ...
|
| High BP and low pulse | 6/23/2008 |
Q: I am retired Army, I retired 4 1/2 years ago and haven't had an exercise routine since then, ...
A: Exercise more and lose weight are the best steps. But with pressure in the center of the front of ...
|
| PVC's | 6/23/2008 |
Q: I have read your answers and many of them have come to help me so thanks for that already! Heres my ...
A: PVC's are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health so long as your heart structure and ...
|
| Ejection Fraction | 6/22/2008 |
Q: I have read on the internet that a normal ejection fraction is from 55 to 75 percent. The echo ...
A: Bill, 69 is far below 75, and the echo would of course have shown any abnormality of heart structure ...
|
| Heart Rhythm and Prolonged QT | 6/21/2008 |
Q: This will require a little background, so I apologize for the length. My family history includes ...
A: Miller, Look at file:///%20Cardiology%2012:07/%20Cardiology%2011:07/QT/T%20shape%20in%20LQT and ...
|
| Aortic question | 6/21/2008 |
Q: Richardson? A couple of general questions. Are valve problems more serious with the aortic valve ...
A: Aortic sclerosis is not serious at all, of course. Severe aortic stenosis is quite serious. ...
|
| Enlarged heart ride side | 6/21/2008 |
Q: I was just diagnosis with an enlarged heart on my right side. Plus also I have been having severe ...
A: More information needed. How was the diagnosis made? Echocardiograph? Can you send me the report? ...
|
| Chest pain | 6/20/2008 |
Q: I started having a chest pain like 2 weeks ago. The pain was so bad i thought i was going to die. i ...
A: Pain you can modify by touching your chest is in the chest wall, probably cramping of muscles ...
|
| heart racing | 6/20/2008 |
Q: I went to the doctor to day to get hook up to a 24 hr holter monitor , I was pancking and shoot my ...
A: Heart rate of 170 is o.k. during panic. It will show up on the Holter as sinus tachycardia, ...
|
| High pulse rate | 6/20/2008 |
Q: Richardson, I'm 52, female, and had an aortic valve replacement/aneurysm repair nine years ago. I ...
A: Systolic blood pressure is what strains the aorta and aortic valve. High diastolic values are easy ...
|
| Antibiotics and Dentistry for Heart Patients | 6/19/2008 |
Q: My 85 yr old dad (has a weak heart, defibulator and stents) always is asked to take antibiotics ...
A: Deep cleaning of teeth and root canal work may push bacteria into the blood stream, and these may ...
|
| skipped beats with dizziness | 6/18/2008 |
Q: I was diagnosed with SVT in 2005 when I had to go to hospital with bad palpitations that lasted more ...
A: Skipped heart beats are normal heart activity and no threat to life or health. They are unrelated ...
|
| Nuclear Stress Test Results | 6/17/2008 |
Q: Richardson. I am a 48 yo man. My BP went to 200/100 in January. High BP runs in my family. I am ...
A: Yes, it's a normal result. Stress tests monitored only by EKG without radioisotope scanning or ...
|
| intra-operative MI | 6/17/2008 |
Q: I recently had what was supposed to be out-patient shoulder surgery. When I woke up in the recovery ...
A: It's possible to have spasm of a coronary severe enough to cause a myocardial infarction that ...
|
| Echo Results | 6/17/2008 |
Q: Richardson: I am a 67-year-old male. Last week my primary care doctor was concerned about a heart ...
A: Bill, sclerosis means hardening, stiffening. If the valve leaflets fuse together or get stiffer and ...
|
| Echo Results | 6/16/2008 |
Q: Richardson: I am a 67-year-old male. Last week my primary care doctor was concerned about a heart ...
A: Yes, Bill, your echo shows no enlargement of the heart. Left ventricle of 4.3 cm is normal and the ...
|
| Echo Results | 6/16/2008 |
Q: Richardson: I am a 67-year-old male. Last week my primary care doctor was concerned about a heart ...
A: You asked no questions. The diastolic dysfunction is probably the result of your calcified aortic ...
|
| Slow pulse | 6/15/2008 |
Q: Age - 54 Meds - Premarin daily Height - 5'4" Weight - 150 Blood Pressure - 108/80 My blood pessure ...
A: Slow pulse is good, predicting long life. Skipped heart beats are normal cardiac activity, no ...
|
| Baby with VSD | 6/12/2008 |
Q: My baby aged 2 months has been diagnosed with a large VSD and we were told by the paediatrc ...
A: A large VSD probably will need surgery and is unlikely to close spontaneously. Over some years, the ...
|
| cholesterol | 6/12/2008 |
Q: In Canadian terms, my latest cholesterol readings are: CHOL 5.95, HDL 1.59, LDL 3.72, CHOL/HDL ...
A: Your CHOL is high. Less than 4.66 is ideal HDL is very good. Higher than 1.30 is good for women. ...
|
| cholestero | 6/12/2008 |
Q: In Canadian terms, my latest cholesterol readings are: CHOL 5.95, HDL 1.59, LDL 3.72, CHOL/HDL ...
A: James, Sorry, but my knowledge doesn't include Canadian terms. Have you some reference to how to ...
|
| My Mom Heart | 6/11/2008 |
Q: Dr.Richardson the enjection rate is 30 percet. If you of any protcols that might help I would be ...
A: Depends on what kind of heart trouble you have. Did you have a heart attack? Do you have coronary ...
|
| my ekg results vs my stress | 6/11/2008 |
Q: I have recently lost a 5 wk old grandchild do to my cooperation with cps about my son hurting the ...
A: The most common cause of downward spikes in V2-V3 is placement of the electrodes too high on your ...
|
| Palpitations? | 6/10/2008 |
Q: I get PVC's and PAC's every day but I was a little worried last night. Does anyone ever get them ...
A: No need for worry, no matter how frequent, even every other beat, so long as your heart's structure ...
|
| PSVT | 6/10/2008 |
Q: Richardson. I have another question about my PSVT attacks. I was reading an answer you gave to ...
A: PSVT won't kill you, no matter how long it lasts. If they frequently last longer than 10 minutes, ...
|
| Heart Rate | 6/10/2008 |
Q: I hope you can help. I am a 37 yr old female who had an anterior cervical fusion at C5/C6 a year ...
A: Seems logical that the surgery contributes to your heart rhythm attacks. Please ask the GP or ...
|
| Skipped beats with urge to cough | 6/9/2008 |
Q: I am on verapamil since 2006 for SVT. Occasionally I have noticed I had skipped heartbeats but it ...
A: Probably the extra large beat after the skip rubs against your trachea and makes you cough. It's ...
|
| Pulmonary Hypertension | 6/9/2008 |
Q: I am 43 years old, about 6' 2" and 215 pounds. Since I was a teenager, I have been a overweight (on ...
A: Mild MR can raise your PA pressure a little, maybe 5 I forgot that your LVIDs was high in the past ...
|
| Arrythmia Question | 6/8/2008 |
Q: I have been having the infamous ectopic beats since puberty. I went to a cardiologist for the first ...
A: Four or more PAC's in a row is called PSVT. It's no threat to life or health except sometimes makes ...
|
| Chemical Stress Test | 6/8/2008 |
Q: I am a male, 80 years old. I have shown no signs of heart disease, except High Blood Pressure, ...
A: 80-year-old men with hypertension and diabetes have statistically higher (above 10%) risk of heart ...
|
| new to a-fib | 6/8/2008 |
Q: i have a question about a-fib, i was at work one day, and i experienced flutter in my chest wen tto ...
A: Afib is totally irregular heart rhythm, varying from beat to beat. If your heart races regularly ...
|
| QTC | 6/8/2008 |
Q: My question is for my daughter, who is 8yrs old. Some history about her. She had been diagnosed with ...
A: QTC stands for QT interval, Corrected. QT is the time between the beginning of the QRS complex (the ...
|
| My Mom Heart | 6/7/2008 |
Q: My mom is going to a hospice Her heart runs fast and the heart is too weak for eltro-shock and ...
A: If her heart runs too fast because of atrial fibrillation, medicines called beta blockers can slow ...
|
| new to a-fib | 6/7/2008 |
Q: i have a question about a-fib, i was at work one day, and i experienced flutter in my chest wen tto ...
A: Afib is no threat to life. If you have frequent episodes, more often than once a month, or an ...
|
| heart and anxiety | 6/7/2008 |
Q: Richardson, I decided to get help for my anxiety attacks. An echocardiogram was done to rule out ...
A: You have no heart trouble, and need not be anxious. But such reassurance probably won't cure the ...
|
| Heart Disease? | 6/7/2008 |
Q: Richardson, I am a 37 year old female, on no medications. I've had borderline cholesterol levels ...
A: It may have been blockage of an artery in the brain. CT or MRI of head would show decreased blood ...
|
| Supplements | 6/6/2008 |
Q: Dr. David Richardson, What do you recommend, if anything, in terms of suppliemnts spefci to heart ...
A: CoQ10 is harmless, tho I doubt that it is helpful. Omega 3 is excellent. Garlic, Cal-Mag, and ...
|
| pvcs | 6/6/2008 |
Q: sleeping and whilst bowel movement,well i have been getting pvcs now for about 4 months,they just ...
A: PVC's are normal cardiac activity, no threat to life or health unless there is abnormal heart ...
|
| PVC'c | 6/6/2008 |
Q: I know about the dangers(blood clots-stroke) when one goes into afib. My afib symptoms were ...
A: Atenolol is one of a class of drugs called beta blockers that includes Corgard.. It slows the heart ...
|
| Blood pressure readings | 6/5/2008 |
Q: Richardson, So nice to finally put a face to the name. I don't know if you would remember me. You ...
A: Parker, I don't know any tricks to avoid rise in BP with anxiety. Most of the big studies that ...
|
| swelling and palpitations | 6/5/2008 |
Q: I an 33 and experiencing severe swelling recently of ankles, lower legs, hands and face. We have no ...
A: Yes, it's common for PVC's to be more frequent when lying on the left side. Remember that PVC's are ...
|
| Pulmonary Hypertension | 6/5/2008 |
Q: I am 43 years old, about 6' 2" and 215 pounds. Since I was a teenager, I have been a overweight (on ...
A: 1. Walking and waiting wouldn't affect PA pressure. Nervousness would raise it a little. 2. PA ...
|
| LBBB | 6/5/2008 |
Q: My 60-year-old mother was diagnosed as having LBBB...Her ECG was normal 2 years ago..she has no high ...
A: Yes, I'd suggest a treadmill stress test monitored by echocardiogram or radioisotopes. Stress tests ...
|
| when to see an electrophysiologist? | 5/18/2008 |
Q: I am a 33 year old male with hypertension and a bicuspid aorta. For years I have had a great deal ...
A: You're NOT crazy. We only have one heart, and know that arrhythmia can be fatal. Explain to your ...
|
| PVC'c | 5/18/2008 |
Q: I know about the dangers(blood clots-stroke) when one goes into afib. My afib symptoms were ...
A: Yes, flecainide has good record for converting afib if taken in 48 hours. Probably you will need it ...
|
| when to see an electrophysiologist? | 5/18/2008 |
Q: I am a 33 year old male with hypertension and a bicuspid aorta. For years I have had a great deal ...
A: Yes, EKG and echo together see almost all those syndromes. EKG is thought to miss Brugada in a few ...
|
| abnormal Ekg | 5/18/2008 |
Q: I am a 21 year old female. About 3 years ago I had an Ekg done and i was told it was abnormal and ...
A: Most likely the EKG wires were placed too high on your chest, which will make anyone appear to have ...
|
| PVCS and Mitral Valve Prolapse | 5/17/2008 |
Q: I am a healthy 28 year old. I was diagnosed with mild MVP about 2 years ago. Recently I have had ...
A: No, skipped beats are normal cardiac activity, no threat to life or health now or in the future, and ...
|
| reason of pain in left side below solder and side effect of cardiopril/ramipril 2.5 mg | 5/17/2008 |
Q: pl. tel me about reason of pain in left side below solder and side effect of cardiopril/ramipril 2.5 ...
A: Pain in left side below shoulder is most likely cramp of muscles between ribs and not a side effect ...
|
| extra beats, A-Fib and Ablation | 5/16/2008 |
Q: Sir; When you gave me some info. to look up the link or website did not click to any info. Do you ...
A: Try http://atrialfibrillationresourcecenter.com/ and ...
|
| heart hurts when running | 5/15/2008 |
Q: when I run my heart starts to beat really fast like 7 beats every 5 seconds. I call this heart ...
A: 7 beats every 5 seconds is 84 beats a minute, a perfectly normal heart rate when you're running. ...
|
| chest pain | 5/15/2008 |
Q: About an hour after a light dinner of soup and a piece of garlic/cheese bread, while playing ...
A: Maybe a little concerned. It was probably not heart, but to be sure you need to see a doctor and ...
|
| Blood Pressure | 5/14/2008 |
Q: I have been experiencing my heartbeat loudly pouding in my head for the past two months. A MRI/MRA ...
A: Maybe Patulous Eustachian tube. See ...
|
| How much can family history be overcome? | 5/14/2008 |
Q: How much people's medical family history can be overcome by minimizing controllable risk factors? ...
A: Yes, somewhat increased risk. I'd suggest you get your cholesterol measured and take a statin if ...
|
| Flutters and Early Heartbeats | 5/14/2008 |
Q: I get skips and flutters every single day. I am a 47 year old female with no other problems other ...
A: Skips and early heart beats are normal cardiac activity. Normal in senses that about half of us ...
|
| treatment for a-fib and i now have a extra beat | 5/13/2008 |
Q: I am being treated for A-Fib on and off for seven years. I am a healthy male age forty and I am in ...
A: Try file:///%20Cardiology%2012:07/%20Cardiology%2011:07/AFib/AFib%20Guidelines%2008 and ...
|
| Ectopic heartbeats and insomnia | 5/13/2008 |
Q: I am 62 and living in the UK. I have recently developed AF and have just had a cardioversion which ...
A: Flecainide is effective in reducing ectopic beats and in preventing AF. It's safe for people with ...
|
| Afib | 5/13/2008 |
Q: Expert: David Richardson Date: 4/30/2008 Subject: In A-Fib again Question This is my first post. ...
A: There is no reaction between flecainide and Corgard. Flecainide can bring you back to normal rhythm ...
|
| Angina following Persantine/Thallium stress test | 5/13/2008 |
Q: 86YOWM,Heartattackin"88,angioplasty;angioplastyin'02,attack in ...
A: Probably coincidence, Charles. Persantine can lower blood pressure, but in the first minutes after ...
|
| treatment for a-fib and i now have a extra beat | 5/12/2008 |
Q: I am being treated for A-Fib on and off for seven years. I am a healthy male age forty and I am in ...
A: For lots of people, premature beats in the areas where the pulmonary veins join the left atrium ...
|
| Heart Arrhythmia | 5/12/2008 |
Q: I am for the most part, a healthy 24 year old. Over the past six months I have started running on a ...
A: Take it fairly seriously. See a cardiologist or internist or family practitioner, describe what ...
|
| Pulmonary Hypertension | 5/12/2008 |
Q: My 21 year old daughter was complaining of heart palpations one year ago. I sent her to a ...
A: Sure. Echo can overestimate PA pressure, and upper 30's is not high enough to worry about. If the ...
|
| painful palpitations | 5/11/2008 |
Q: I'm 23, 5', and 105#. Hx of MVP, heart palpitations with pain, migraines. Was on Toprol XL in 2004 ...
A: Among the side effects listed for Imitrex are chest pain/tightness/pressure and dizziness. Imitrex ...
|
| strong visible pulse on one side of the neck | 5/11/2008 |
Q: My mum is 63. she has no known disease like HT DM. She has a slightly loss of hear on the right ...
A: Visible pulse in right neck is almost always normal. Perhaps she can get ultrasound exam of her ...
|
| Low Heart Rate | 5/11/2008 |
Q: Richardson, I am a 57 year old woman, 5' 4", 135 lbs. Blood pressure ranges from 93-165 over 57-97. ...
A: Your story is very well detailed and very interesting. Sounds as if amlodipine caused fluid ...
|
| my shortness of breath. bare metal stent | 5/10/2008 |
Q: my recent heart attack November 2007. a bare metal stent put in successfully. 3 days after i went ...
A: IT WOULDN'T SHOW HEART FAILURE OF THE DIASTOLIC HEART FAILURE, AND THE ANGIOGRAM DID SHOW NOT QUITE ...
|
| my shortness of breath. bare metal stent | 5/10/2008 |
Q: my recent heart attack November 2007. a bare metal stent put in successfully. 3 days after i went ...
A: Eddie, maybe a sleep lab to see if you have sleep apnea, especially if a room mate reports that you ...
|
| EKG results | 5/10/2008 |
Q: I recently went in and got my cholesterol checked and had an EKG done for a cardiac screening done ...
A: RSR' stands for RSR prime. R is the first upward swing of the EKG at the time of ventricular firing, ...
|
| Pulse irregular pulsating | 5/10/2008 |
Q: I have had this for about a year now and never paid too much attention to it but it is weird. When ...
A: It's most likely paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, which is no problem unless it occurs much ...
|
| my shortness of breath. bare metal stent | 5/9/2008 |
Q: my recent heart attack November 2007. a bare metal stent put in successfully. 3 days after i went ...
A: The slight pains and the midsection soreness when you wake up are not heart related and are ...
|
| Pregnancy and PVCs | 5/9/2008 |
Q: I'm a 31-year-old female who has been diagnosed by my cardio with PVCs and NSVT. I have had a ...
A: PVC's and NSVT are harmless whether you're pregnant or not, so long as your echo and EKG were ...
|
| Ectopic question for Dr. Richardson | 5/9/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I am a 21 year old male. Towards the end of last March I began having palpitations ...
A: PVC's are normal cardiac activity; normal in the senses that about half of us have them, that they ...
|
| EKG results | 5/9/2008 |
Q: I recently went in and got my cholesterol checked and had an EKG done for a cardiac screening done ...
A: All is normal except RSV' in V1 and V2 doesn't make any sense. Could it be RSR' in V1 and V2? If ...
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| understanding my results | 5/8/2008 |
Q: i would like to understand my results a bit holter moniter (vent) ...
A: (vent) means ventricular; beats of the lower chambers or the heart. (supr) means supraventricular; ...
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| Raised troponin | 5/8/2008 |
Q: Could you let me know what can cause a raised Troponin, other than cardiac muscle damage? I had ...
A: Analytic interferences include fibrin clots, microparticles in sample, hetereophile and human ...
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| Metropolol side effects | 5/8/2008 |
Q: I recently started taking metropolol to help address ejection function issue. My doctor previously ...
A: I'm glad the doctor cut the dose in half. What does 60-70% efficiency mean? A normal ejection ...
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| Metropolol side effects | 5/7/2008 |
Q: I recently started taking metropolol to help address ejection function issue. My doctor previously ...
A: Kathy, I'm still confused. Did you originally go to the cardiologist because your heart rate was ...
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| Metropolol side effects | 5/7/2008 |
Q: I recently started taking metropolol to help address ejection function issue. My doctor previously ...
A: Metoprolol makes some people excessively tired. What is the ejection fraction issue? If too high, ...
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| high blood count, cholesteral and tryglisorites | 5/6/2008 |
Q: My husband has been very moody and cranky and even has black outs and goes into rages. I told him ...
A: Anxiety about health can certainly change mood drastically, and I think diabetes itself may cause a ...
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| After catheter ablation | 5/6/2008 |
Q: I was born with a slight heart murmur and have had heart rhythm irregularities for at least twenty ...
A: Bruise lasting 3 weeks is o.k. It will heal up in another few weeks. Fleeting pains around heart ...
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| ventricular tachycardia | 5/6/2008 |
Q: I have been having significant episodes of heart palpitations for two months. My primary card ...
A: Yes, you should see a cardiologist, preferably a cardiac electrophysiologist because they are the ...
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| In A-Fib again | 4/30/2008 |
Q: This is my first post. At age 26 I had my first PVC. I am now 64. During these past years I have ...
A: With a normal echo, the only worry about PVC's is that the long pause after a PVC may let afib ...
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| metropolol | 4/30/2008 |
Q: I am currently being treated with metropolol for an ejection function issue. I am 51 years of age ...
A: Duhrkoop. If your ejection fraction is too high, metoprolol is a good suggestion. If EF is too ...
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| SVT and circuit training | 4/29/2008 |
Q: I have had SVT for years. I went to a womens gym and they said weight training (machines with weight ...
A: Weight lifting would bring on SVT only if it slows your heart by making you grunt. Otherwise ...
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| Skipped beats | 4/29/2008 |
Q: I am 46 years old, 5 years ago I had angioplasty with stents in 2 arteries. 6 months ago i had ...
A: Your BP may be low because of damage to your heart. The skipped beats may be serious if your heart ...
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| Tachacardia | 4/29/2008 |
Q: W/F 43yr 120lb 5'7" Health/Fitness instructor with NO medical history!!! Just delivered my fourth ...
A: Your high BP is of course pregnancy related and will go away. The tachycardia may disappear, I ...
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| Change from Lopressor to Coreg | 4/28/2008 |
Q: Sorry for the lack of brevity. I am a 60YOWM, two years out from a 10 day hospitalization for ...
A: It's safe to switch from Coreg to metoprolol. Go back at once to the previous dose of metoprolol ...
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| Frequent extrasystoles | 4/28/2008 |
Q: Approx 10 years ago I started noticing heartbeat irregularities. These were on top of other recent ...
A: Extrasystoles, ventricular or supraventricular, no matter how frequent, are not a threat to life or ...
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| NSVT | 4/28/2008 |
Q: This morning I was awakened by what I think was a run of NSVT (8 beats). I was laying on my stomach ...
A: Kathy, if you don't notice episodes of NSVT, they don't matter. Frequently means often enough to ...
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| Question on Diastolic Dysfunction | 4/28/2008 |
Q: I'm a 41 yr old female, 5'3", 131 lbs. and have had high bp for the last 3 yrs. I was on ...
A: Cardiac amyloid thickens the ventricles and causes systolic dysfunction as well as diastolic. ...
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| NSVT | 4/27/2008 |
Q: This morning I was awakened by what I think was a run of NSVT (8 beats). I was laying on my stomach ...
A: NSVT seems very likely. Doesn't seem to me a big problem unless it recurs frequently or lasts a ...
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| Question on Diastolic Dysfunction | 4/27/2008 |
Q: I'm a 41 yr old female, 5'3", 131 lbs. and have had high bp for the last 3 yrs. I was on ...
A: The Number 20 probably refers to LVEDP, which is normally 14 or less. LVEDP stands for left ...
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| A-fib | 4/27/2008 |
Q: I am a 30 year old male who was diagnosed with a-fib 1 month ago in ED. I was cardioverted and ...
A: If you were drinking heavily in the days just before the afib started, then you're probably safe ...
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| Skipped heart beats and low pulse rate | 4/27/2008 |
Q: Since last week I have noticed that I keep missing a heartbeat and the next beat is stronger than ...
A: You need not be stressed out. You're feeling skipped heart beats. The big thump is the beat after ...
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| skipped heart beats | 4/24/2008 |
Q: 5 foot 7inches normal blood pressure. Since i was about 17 ive noticed an irregular heartbeat ...
A: Single skipped beats that feel like your heart stops and then restarts are normal and no threat to ...
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| slow hart rate and palpatations | 4/24/2008 |
Q: iam a 22 ear old woman and my hart has been skiping beats i also have a slow hart rate i have had a ...
A: Skipped heart beats are normal cardiac events and no threat to life or health. They are especially ...
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| can coreg cause palpitations? | 4/23/2008 |
Q: I have cardiomyopathy latest ef was 38% but my ICD put in for nonsustained VT five years ago went ...
A: Full |
