You are here:

Heart & Cardiology/Questions Answered by Expert David Richardson

SubjectDate Asked
Possible heart problems2/11/2012
  Q: over a month ago I've started having times of significant discomfort with my digestion. They usually ...
  A: The tired and faint feeling is from stimulation of the vagus nerve by the impending diarrhea. That ...
persistant left side chest pain2/10/2012
  Q: info: had constant left side chest pain and tightness, heart palpitations when chest pain is at ...
  A: Chest pain in a young person is usually cramping of muscles in the chest wall. If pushing on the ...
heart pvcs2/9/2012
  Q: i asked several questions in regards to pvcs and you said no matter how many in a normal heart they ...
  A: 1. That article forced me to increase the risk of PVCs slightly. But the article has the ...
Abnormal EKG2/8/2012
  Q: I am a healthy 19 year old (5'4, 130 lbs. normal blood pressure - 120/80. i am prescribed ...
  A: Chest pain in a young person is usually cramping of muscles in the chest wall. If pushing on the ...
Heart Palpitations2/8/2012
  Q: Dr. Richardson, I have experienced palpitations in the last couple of weeks and since I am overly ...
  A: If your palpitations are skipped beats, they are not scary. Skipped beats are normal heart ...
pvcs2/7/2012
  Q: i have been diagnosed with pvcs in both ventricles. Is that dangerous? i have had echos (3of them) 2 ...
  A: The right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) is the site of origin of the most common type of ...
pain right side2/5/2012
  Q: I'm a 35 year old male lately I've been having chest pain on my left side its above and be love te ...
  A: Chest pain in a young person is usually cramping of muscles in the chest wall. If pushing on the ...
Palpitations/Rapid Heart rate2/5/2012
  Q: Richardson: There are couple types of palpitations i experience.. 1. Sometimes heart rate seems to ...
  A: The faster heart rate, 85-102, is sinus tachycardia. Perfectly normal. The thuds and skips are ...
panic or heart attack???2/4/2012
  Q: ..I am a 26 yr old female. I have some questiond regarding heart attack. I am having panic attacks ...
  A: Yes, the weird sensation is due to coughing. To lessen risk of heart attack, exercise a lot, ...
panic or heart attack???2/4/2012
  Q: ..I am a 26 yr old female. I have some questiond regarding heart attack. I am having panic attacks ...
  A: Heart attack is EXTREMELY rare in women below age 50. Chest pain from coughing is not heart ...
A-Fib on top of PVC's, Anxiety2/3/2012
  Q: You were instrumental in addressing my concerns back in September of 2006 and I always speak of you ...
  A: 1. No time at all. Only nitroglycerine-type meds require waiting before Viagra. 2. All drugs have ...
A-Fib on top of PVC's, Anxiety2/3/2012
  Q: You were instrumental in addressing my concerns back in September of 2006 and I always speak of you ...
  A: Anxiety can precipitate afib by releasing adrenaline from sympathetic nerves and the adrenal glands. ...
pvcs2/2/2012
  Q: i have been diagnosed with pvcs in both ventricles. Is that dangerous? i have had echos (3of them) 2 ...
  A: Yes, PVCs, no matter how many, are normal heart activity in someone with normal echo. ...
arteial filleberration1/31/2012
  Q: im 78 and in good health with well controlled diabetes mild kidney impairment and hypertensin.last ...
  A: I'm not expert enough in Pradaxa in people with impaired kidneys to satisfactorily answer your ...
heart disease1/30/2012
  Q: I am a 46 yr female. Had a negative stress test, echo, and holtor last year. Holtor showed rare pvc ...
  A: If the stress test was monitored by radioisotopes or echo, a negative test gives you 95% probability ...
Lightheadedness, etc.1/28/2012
  Q: Richardson, I have not written in a long time and it is so nice to put a face finally to a name. ...
  A: Lightheaded standing means your blood pressure gets too low when you stand. I take ibuprofen 800 ...
Heart problem1/28/2012
  Q: Age 57(Male) Final diagnosis # Type 2DM # ACS- ASMI(10/4/2011) Post STK(10/4/2011) ...
  A: If STK stands for stroke, and if the stroke involved his left arm, then the weak left arm is ...
High Blood Pressure1/27/2012
  Q: Dr. Richardson, I am 58 year old female, and stand 5'3" and weigh 105 lbs. I am in good physical ...
  A: Sometimes people in their 50's get narrowing of the artery to one or both kidneys that causes high ...
Tachycardia1/27/2012
  Q: I am a diabetic and have been for 20 years. Type 2. tablet controlled. Within a year my pulse rate ...
  A: Fever, severe anemia, hyperthyroidism and pheo are all I can think of. Try 1/2 a tablet of ...
fluttery chest1/26/2012
  Q: and thank you for being there. I'm a 50-year-old male, a vegetarian, in good health. For the last ...
  A: With no change in pulse, its's probably not skipped heart beats. Maybe little contractions of ...
Blood Pressure1/25/2012
  Q: I have been having trouble finding a blood pressure medicine I can take without bad side effects. I ...
  A: Clonidine is very safe. It may lower standing BP enough to make you dizzy when you stand up. No ...
atenolol or metoprolol1/24/2012
  Q: I am male 54 years old with HBP Recently I underwent regular check up I furnish below my report My ...
  A: J. Metoprolol has shorter duration of action than atenolol, unless you get Toprol extended release. ...
slow pulse rate1/24/2012
  Q: dr richardson,i live in atlanta ga where the cardiology doctors are few and far between.im 78 in ...
  A: What about increasing the dose of metoprolol? 100 mg twice a day is the maximum recommended dose. ...
MVP1/24/2012
  Q: Richardson, first of all thank you for taking your time to answer the following questions. I'm 24 ...
  A: 1. Yes, many athletes get mild concentric left ventricular hypertrophy. It assists in pumping blood ...
painful palp1/23/2012
  Q: my question is can you.. or is it possible to have a painful palpitation ? i thought i experienced ...
  A: Yes, echo and stress test are applicable for at least seven years. Replacement of aortic valve has ...
MVP1/22/2012
  Q: Richardson, first of all thank you for taking your time to answer the following questions. I'm 24 ...
  A: Mitral Valve Prolapse without regurgitation is not now and never will be a problem. You can ...
Heart palpitations - caused by mitral valve?1/20/2012
  Q: Dr. Richardson, I'm a 39 year old female, 5'4", 135 lbs., my average blood pressure is 100/70. I ...
  A: PACs and PVCs are the palpitations. They are normal heart activity, occur in about half of us ...
bicuspid aorta1/19/2012
  Q: I have a bicuspid aorta with no leak regurgitation narrowing or dilation.. I am 27 do a lot of ...
  A: The average life expectancy of those with bicuspid aortic valves is the same as those without it. n ...
Heart murmur1/18/2012
  Q: I'm 22 years old, 5'9 tall, weight 127 pounds and have a heart murmur since birth. I've been told I ...
  A: Your heart is doing very well as shown by your exercise ability. Vodka and electrocution in the ...
coronary artery spasm1/17/2012
  Q: As i have anxiety disorder since last 10 years with chest pain, short of breath & chest tightness, ...
  A: Your palpitation with shortness of breath and chest tightness are not likely to be spasm, but just ...
Mild tachycardia1/16/2012
  Q: Ive recently had intermittent spells (2-3 days apart) of tachycardia. First time I went to hospital ...
  A: 1, HR in 50's and 60's is quite normal. The lower limit of normal for heart rate is 45 awake, 35 ...
Mild tachycardia1/16/2012
  Q: Ive recently had intermittent spells (2-3 days apart) of tachycardia. First time I went to hospital ...
  A: 1. Very familiar. If it starts slowly over several minutes and stops gradually over several ...
coronary artery spasm1/15/2012
  Q: As i have anxiety disorder since last 10 years with chest pain, short of breath & chest tightness, ...
  A: No. Spasm can last long enough and be severe enough to cause heart attack with death of heart muscle ...
Bicuspid aortic valve1/14/2012
  Q: I am rposting my query with two more symptoms I forgot to mention earlier and the Echo reports. I ...
  A: S. It's almost impossible for me to read the second echo report. Can you enlarge it before sending ...
coronary artery spasm1/14/2012
  Q: As i have anxiety disorder since last 10 years with chest pain, short of breath & chest tightness, ...
  A: 1. Spasm can produce brief pain or pain that lasts for hours. 2. Yes, the pain subsides on its own. ...
hard beats following pacemaker implant1/13/2012
  Q: I am a 34 y.o. woman who had a pacemaker implanted 3 weeks ago for Sick Sinus Syndrome r/t 2 ...
  A: Yes, at least I think the pacemaker is causing the hard beats. Can you call the pacemaker ...
echo vs ct scan1/13/2012
  Q: I was wondering would a normal ct scan from 5 years ago still be good today? The only symptoms I ...
  A: Ectopics during exercise are a symptom of CAD. Extra beats are not caused by ischemia, but ischemia ...
Frequent multifocal PVC´s, Bigeminy, Trigeminy1/12/2012
  Q: Richardson, I have been asking you questions before on this site and I have really appreciated your ...
  A: 1. Perhaps a tiny bit of a risk, tho the studies may have been biased because some of the ...
echo vs ct scan1/12/2012
  Q: I was wondering would a normal ct scan from 5 years ago still be good today? The only symptoms I ...
  A: 8 years is a bit too long. Breathlessness lying down can be caused by anxiety, and is also common in ...
burning chest/left arm pain1/11/2012
  Q: recently i will be sitting on my couch after dinner, i get burning in the center chest and a numb ...
  A: It's probably not gastric acid refluxing in to your esophagus, since pepcid hasn't helped. but try ...
irrigular heartbeat when on laying on left side1/10/2012
  Q: I 37yrs old and 350 lds at 6.2. Yes overweight. I aslo take a mild blood pressure medicine. ...
  A: You have skipped heart beats. Skipped beats are normal heart activity, easy to understand as ...
what do you make of this?1/10/2012
  Q: I have another if you don't mind. For the past few years I have been getting upper left side pains ...
  A: Chest pain is usually cramping of muscles in the chest wall. If pushing on the painful area ...
Continous heart palpitations1/9/2012
  Q: My name is Abhijith and I am 22.sir I am seeking urgent medications. sir I have a problem since 3 ...
  A: I'm very sorry, but I can't help. Naming medicines without knowing what kind of heart rhythm you ...
Sinus Arrythmia ?1/7/2012
  Q: I've been taking Asmanex for 4 months, but I've been sort of on-off with in, I haven't been ...
  A: Certainly sounds like sinus arrhythmia, which is an extra good rhythm that shows your heart is ...
Improve LVEF1/7/2012
  Q: My mother (age : 59)suffered a Cardiogenic shock recently with LRTI. She has Diabetes Mellitus for ...
  A: Her blood pressure should stay on the low side of normal, 110 or less. Medicine like amlodipine or ...
ekg and thank you1/6/2012
  Q: Mr. Richardson, My name is Lee and about a month ago I sent the same ekg that I am sending you know. ...
  A: Your EKG shows ST depression in V4 especially, and slight ST depression in V5 and aVF. More than 1 ...
Mystery PACs1/5/2012
  Q: Richardson, Young man, suffering from PACs (confirmed on Holter august 2009, approx. 25 PACs during ...
  A: A PAC late in the cycle, just after atrial contraction of the previous beat, finds the heart very ...
ekg and thank you1/5/2012
  Q: Mr. Richardson, My name is Lee and about a month ago I sent the same ekg that I am sending you know. ...
  A: Your EKG may be normal but raises the question of inadequate blood supply to the heart. A normal CT ...
RBBB and Left Anterior Fascicular Block1/5/2012
  Q: I’m a 27 year old white male and appear in good shape. I’m not overweight (I don’t think), I weigh ...
  A: Hell Mr. Stricklin, The left anterior fascicle and the right bundle branch are both very thin ...
About mild MR, Trivial AR, No TR1/2/2012
  Q: Richardson, Wish you and your family a happy holiday season and a successful New Year! I am 25 years ...
  A: 1. MR stands for mitral regurgitation and means that the mitral valve, which separates the upper ...
Coronary heart disease1/2/2012
  Q: my husband has left ventricular dysfunction, ischametric heart disease, cardiomyopathy and diabetes. ...
  A: Ischemia means lack of blood supply. Infarction means a dead area, ef stands for ejection fraction, ...
THALLIUM STRESS TEST1/1/2012
  Q: First of all HAPPY NEW YEAR. I am 51 years old male. In my ECG ,there is T-wave inversions since ...
  A: Helllo Gui, I vote for no stress test. The indication for a stress test is chest discomfort you ...
beta blocker1/1/2012
  Q: I am 51 years old male.I am taking ATENOLOL 25mg daily since a long period for the prevention of ...
  A: I don't see anything about atenolol causing diabetes. Do you? As stated above, I doubt if the ...
reasons of trivial mitral regurgetation12/30/2011
  Q: i just would like to know what is the reason of that trivial mitral regurge and TR trivial regurge ? ...
  A: 1. Both mitral and tricuspid valves leak a little before the leaflets close. They close a little ...
Atenolol and Levothyroxine12/30/2011
  Q: I am a 61 year-old female in reasonably good health. After struggling unsuccessfully to control an ...
  A: Yes, atenolol and levothyroxine are okay together, Check your pulse. If it's totally irregular all ...
amiodarone with 2nd-degree AV block?12/30/2011
  Q: Richardson, I would really appreciate it if you could look at my grandpa's treatment. He is being ...
  A: Amiodarone seems unneeded and is not usually given with second-degree AV block. Aspirin and Plavix ...
heart rate12/29/2011
  Q: I was just wondering whether an increase/decrease in the environment could affect the heart rate of ...
  A: Environmental temperatures above 100 and below 32 increase heart rate, but don't affect blood ...
pain right side12/29/2011
  Q: Doesn't hurt more if I press the area what could this be? I have taken advil doednt work
  A: Chest pain in a young person is usually cramping of muscles in the chest wall. Pain caused by ...
Anxiety about coronary artery spasm12/29/2011
  Q: you have helped me a lot with your answer and removed many doubts which helped me cope with my ...
  A: So long as you don't get pressure on the front of your chest, you will not get ventricular ...
A Fib Meds12/28/2011
  Q: I'm a 41 year old fit male workout 5 times a week, out of which i run 5 k 3 times a week. I watch ...
  A: Taking flecainide alone seems sensible. Flecainide has no increased risk of cardiac death in ...
anxiety or heart related?12/27/2011
  Q: I had a question regarding the true nature of heart related symptoms. I am a 37 yr old male with a ...
  A: Yes, Coronary disease would probably have shown up at the visit to your cardiologist. Heart pain ...
Frequent PVC/PACs12/26/2011
  Q: I am a 35 year old, 6'' 73kg male suffering with Genralised Anxiety Disorder and Panic Attacks. ...
  A: 1. It's okay to stop the propranolol, but it must be stopped gradually. Take 40 mg daily for a ...
my heart12/23/2011
  Q: i have a rbbb and a lapb for about 8 months now without any symptoms. will i need a pacemaker ...
  A: If lapb stands for left anterior hemiblock or left anterior fascicular block, then you will never ...
Vertical axis, etc12/20/2011
  Q: My son, who is 46, recently had an EGK. The findings are as follows: Vertical axis unuual for age. ...
  A: None of these are abnormal. The high QRS voltage is because he's thin and tall. So is the vertical ...
Pounding Heart / Thyroid12/18/2011
  Q: Firstly may I say thank you for some of the responses you have already posted - for weeks I have ...
  A: Overactive thyroid makes the heart pound. Pounding heart is not by itself abnormal, but with ...
beta blocker12/18/2011
  Q: I am 51 years old male.I am taking ATENOLOL 25mg daily since a long period for the prevention of ...
  A: My textbook says nothing about atenolol bringing on diabetes. Many of my diabetic patients take ...
ekg and thank you12/18/2011
  Q: You state that it looks like a normal ekg, correct. I will attach it again for you just incase you ...
  A: The computer read St T abnormality correctly. The ST is down 1 mm. below the baseline (between T ...
rapid heart rate12/17/2011
  Q: I started having heart palpitations and chest pain about 10 years ago. I have head every cardiac ...
  A: If the fast heart rate starts and stops abruptly, in one heart beat and is faster than 180/min, you ...
ekg12/17/2011
  Q: 1.What are the early symptoms of LVH? 2.What is the Ekg's Computer interpretation of LVH?Is it ...
  A: The EKG shows no PVCs, just normal sinus rhythm at rate about 140. It read possible LAA because the ...
LHV12/17/2011
  Q: 1.What are the early symptoms of LVH? 2.What is the Ekg's Computer interpretation of LVH?Is it ...
  A: 1. None. 2. LVH is read by the EKG computer if there is high QRS voltage in AVL, V1 (downward QRS) ...
ectopics12/16/2011
  Q: Can you please explain the process to why ANXIETY=PVC's? Is it the central nervous system? If so ...
  A: PVCs are made by the heart. Anxiety acting through the central nervous system makes PVCs more ...
neck palpitations12/16/2011
  Q: I'm a 21 year old male and lately I've been experiencing palpitations in my neck. I can feel the ...
  A: After we obtain final height, the arteries continue to grow a little and one of the arteries in the ...
qtc12/15/2011
  Q: David I requested some old ekg results from 2008 and have noticed a slightly elevated qtc interval ...
  A: 1. At least for several hours. 2. No more concern if they occur at faster heart rates. 3. I can't ...
ECG Reading12/12/2011
  Q: my name is Viktor I'm currently a law student, I like to lift heavy and eat healthy but since some ...
  A: The EKG is normall, Chest pain in a young person is usually cramping of muscles in the chest wall. ...
PVCs & Holter12/11/2011
  Q: (I wanted to ask you a follow-up question, but it wouldn’t work, so sending it as a new question) I ...
  A: The VEs and SVEs will not cause any damage to your heart. QT is one of the intervals on the EKG, ...
different types of arrhythmias12/10/2011
  Q: Good Evening, I tried to send this question to you earlier but I think my internet page went down ...
  A: I agree with your doctor in general, tho it might help your peace of mind if you got an event ...
Pacs12/10/2011
  Q: Richardson, I have been a long time sufferer of pacs since 2000. I see an ep who put me on ...
  A: PACs don't lead to heart failure, and are poor at predicting atrial fibrillation too. For your ...
palpitations12/10/2011
  Q: I have been having palpitations over the las two months. They come and go. They definitely are ...
  A: D'Alessandro, The thump occurs when a premature beat occurs so early after the preceding normal ...
PVCs12/10/2011
  Q: ... I am 64 years old, have no heath problems, take no medicines, and have never smoked. I am 6 ...
  A: No, the results of the Holter are not serious or dangerous. PVCs are not a threat to someone with ...
Heart Details12/8/2011
  Q: I asked you some questions about certain heart functions before, and now I have done more research ...
  A: You need to deliver 100 mv dc to the upper right atrium about 75 times a minute, each pulse lasting ...
NICM, SVT and Anemia12/7/2011
  Q: I just wanted someone to shine some light on my little situation. I was diagnosed with NICM ...
  A: I'd stop the sotalol for about 5 days first, tso see if it's causing the fatigue. Asymptomatic SVT ...
what to do about this ( vagal 'spasm' , oesophagus, skipped heartbeats, hernia diaphragmatica)12/6/2011
  Q: http://www.allexperts.com/user.cgi?m=6&catID=964&expID=47111&qID=4950230 Sorry to write you back. ...
  A: 1. No, there is no concern that this can trigger a health problem. 2. Yes. Any of those could ...
Reg EKG12/6/2011
  Q: As i experience pressing discomfort in my chest esp left extreme of the chest, i record EKG. The ...
  A: At age 32, doing nothing is a good option, and treadmill test monitored by echo or radioisotopes is ...
interp stress echo results12/6/2011
  Q: What does this mean in non-technical English: MILD LVH WITH NORMAL FUNCTION AT REST TRACE MR, TR, & ...
  A: LVH stands for left ventricular hypertrophy and means the muscular walls of the left ventricle (the ...
Reg EKG12/5/2011
  Q: As i experience pressing discomfort in my chest esp left extreme of the chest, i record EKG. The ...
  A: If you're over 40 years old, better get a stress test, monitored by echo or radioisotopes. If less ...
Bigeminy Concern12/4/2011
  Q: First of all when I first started having pvc's about 5 years ago really helped me with coping and ...
  A: Even in bigeminy, PvCs are harmless in someone with normal EKG and echo. Maybe some sleeping ...
High Pressure Inside Heart12/2/2011
  Q: Richardson, I am 54 years old. I have Type 2 and have 3 heart stints. Even with medications, my ...
  A: I can't tell you much. If the pressure of 40 was pulmonary artery, that's not bad. Normal is less ...
echo results12/2/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson, Iam 51 female, 126lbs, 5'7, 100/60 I had an echo result saying technically difficult ...
  A: Yes, CRP should be elevated. Other symptoms are fever, around 101, highest around 5-6 p.m., and ...
Switching beta-blockers very quickly12/1/2011
  Q: I am a 19 year old female with a depressed ejection fraction of 35-40% I was prescribed Coreg by my ...
  A: No beta blocker is needed for EF 35-40. I'd just stop the metoprolol and not take the Coreg. If ...
echo11/29/2011
  Q: 26y f I've had hypertension for several years now. I'm taking hydrochlorizide for this. I've just ...
  A: That's all normal. Regurgitation and insufficiency mean that a valve leaks a little. All valves ...
echo results11/27/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson, Iam 51 female, 126lbs, 5'7, 100/60 I had an echo result saying technically difficult ...
  A: I don't know what would cause technical difficulty. Over inflation of lungs from smoking a lot is a ...
heart flutters11/25/2011
  Q: Is there ever a time when heart flutters should be further looked into? I've had the occasional ...
  A: If an episode of fluttering lasts more than 15 minutes, and the episodes occur more than ones month, ...
Heart details11/23/2011
  Q: I need some information about certain heart details because I am about to do a science project. The ...
  A: If you shock the right atrium, the heart will transmit the signal all over itself and contract. If ...
sudden spate of PVCs11/22/2011
  Q: Richardson, Thank you for taking your time to answer my questions. I am a 41-year-old male who two ...
  A: PVCs probably add a small increase in risk of cardiovascular disease. I'm a little confused too, ...
T wave inversion11/20/2011
  Q: Here are my stats: 29 Female, 5'3", 138 lbs. BP has been ranging from 140/92 to 115/70, depending ...
  A: T inversion in V2 is normal if the QRS in V2 is mostly negative. Slight change in positioning the ...
heart pvcs11/19/2011
  Q: three years ago I begin having very rapid heart beats I was diagnosed with having SVT. After an ...
  A: Premature beats are normal heart activity, easy to understand as normal from knowledge of the ...
QRS11/18/2011
  Q: Im a male, 38 years old. Had a normal echo and x ray test. Ive been diagonised with a left hemi ...
  A: 1.Left anterior hemiblock is a minor EKG abnormality that means a speck of dust has interrupted the ...
skipped heart beats and stomach /oesophagus?11/17/2011
  Q: My english isnt that good but i will try to explain my symptoms. I've had a lot of tests. 2xStress ...
  A: 1. No, skipped beats are never serious in someone with normal exercise ability and EKG. Spasms ...
sudden spate of PVCs11/17/2011
  Q: Richardson, Thank you for taking your time to answer my questions. I am a 41-year-old male who two ...
  A: 1. The heart is slower after a big meal, so there is more time when the heart is relaxed for pVCs to ...
skipped heart beats and stomach /oesophagus?11/16/2011
  Q: My english isnt that good but i will try to explain my symptoms. I've had a lot of tests. 2xStress ...
  A: Skipped heart beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with good ...
CHest pain and rapid heartbeat11/16/2011
  Q: I have been having chest pain off and on for as long as I can remember it is a stabbing pain that ...
  A: Viglione, Chest pain in a young person is usually cramping of muscles in the chest wall. If ...
stress test11/15/2011
  Q: am a male 54 years weight 103 kg with Hypertensin and Tachycardia with normal lipids No thyroid, ...
  A: In my opinion, the indication for angiography is pain that you don't want to put up with and that ...
hello sir11/14/2011
  Q: i am suffering from left side chest pain which sometimes moves to left upper back i am 30 yrs old ...
  A: Epocrates lists abdominal pain and extremity pani as ill effects of olanzapine, but not chest pain.. ...
pain11/13/2011
  Q: sir im a 35 male over the past 4 to 5 years i have had a nuclear stress teast. 2 echos, numereous ...
  A: Mello Matt, Chest pain in a young person is usually cramping of muscles in the chest wall. If ...
Chest Pains and Hot Flashes11/13/2011
  Q: I am 30 years old, female, 5'4", 195lbs, I don't know what my blood pressure is right this second ...
  A: Chest pain in a young person is usually cramping of muscles in the chest wall. If pushing on the ...
hello sir11/12/2011
  Q: i am suffering from left side chest pain which sometimes moves to left upper back i am 30 yrs old ...
  A: The palpitation was a skipped heart beat. These are normal heart activity and harmless. Chest pain ...
sudden spate of PVCs11/12/2011
  Q: Richardson, Thank you for taking your time to answer my questions. I am a 41-year-old male who two ...
  A: PVCs are normal heart activity, easy to understand as normal from knowledge of the heart's ...
Teeth and Chest Pain11/11/2011
  Q: My name is Joni. I always had beautiful teeth and took good care of them. About 10 years ago I got ...
  A: Infected teeth can bring on a heart attack, but your pain doesn't sound at all like heart pain. ...
High Heartrate and Blood Pressure11/11/2011
  Q: Ok after the birth of my son 2 months ago, I devloped high blood pressure my readings will range ...
  A: The BP med may be causing the faintness. Get your BP measured sitting and then standing quietly for ...
heart flutters11/11/2011
  Q: I have had heart flutters and palpitations for about 5 years or so, I am 27 female with 2 children, ...
  A: SVT starts and stops abruptly, in one heart beat, and runs 180-220 beats a minute. If your runs ...
frequent PACs11/10/2011
  Q: 40 y.o., levothyroxin (25mg/day, started taking for hypothyroid 2.5 months ago), 5'6'', 190lbs, ...
  A: 1. Noone knows why PACs get more or less frequent, Anxiety or stress, MAYBE. 2. None. PACs never ...
IVF and pvcs11/9/2011
  Q: I do have an anxiety over this in my case digging deep and trying to find answers actually causes ...
  A: No explanation for the panic with Zinc. Panic will of course increase PVCs. A tilt test would not ...
burning11/9/2011
  Q: . 35 male- not too healthy. have a bad burning sensation in my chest left side above the heart.. i ...
  A: Yes, GERD an hurt that high. Does milk or an antacid like Gelusil or Maalox help? If so, your pain ...
Palpatation11/8/2011
  Q: Mr mother gets this palpation attacks so I have to take her to the hospital wher they give her an ...
  A: It's possible that the opening from a vein from a lung to the atrium may get narrowed, causing ...
ANXIETY DISOFER & FEAR OF V TACH11/8/2011
  Q: i AM MALE OF 44 YEARS OF AGE & have been suffering fromo anxiety disorder for the past 10 years due ...
  A: PVC's lead to vtach only in people with damaged hearts, but are no threat in people with normal EF ...
Irregular heart beat when resting11/7/2011
  Q: Male aged 46. Ventolin to control mild asthma. (One puff before bed, one in the morning and then ...
  A: The fake beat is a premature beat. Premature beats are normal heart activity, easy to understand ...
Palpitations/Rapid heart rate11/7/2011
  Q: Richardson, The types of palpitations i've had over the years seem to be either like a skipped beat ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, easy to understand as normal from knowledge of the heart's ...
Palpatation11/6/2011
  Q: Mr mother gets this palpation attacks so I have to take her to the hospital wher they give her an ...
  A: The operation is called ablation of atrial fibrillation, probably. It is 80-90% effective in ...
High bp and pulse11/6/2011
  Q: I am asking this on behalf of my sister. She recently had a baby and her bp has been as high as ...
  A: The only things I can think of (that raise pulse and blood pressure) are hyperthyroidism and a VERY ...
High bp and pulse11/5/2011
  Q: I am asking this on behalf of my sister. She recently had a baby and her bp has been as high as ...
  A: A kidney doctor, known in the jargon as a nephrologist, would be better than a cardiologist, but a ...
etopic beats why are they getting worse11/5/2011
  Q: hi im a 52 yr old female i started getting etopic beats 10 yrs ago which kept getting worse a fast ...
  A: Terrible! Be sure to tell your doctor about nearly fainting and loss of vision. Could it be atrial ...
PVCs & Buspar11/4/2011
  Q: I have suffered with PVCs/PACs for 45 years. Was a world class runner in my 40's even though still ...
  A: The Buspar lowered your BP and that made it easier for your heart to pump blood; it didn't have to ...
ekg results11/3/2011
  Q: 1rst ekg results HR: 120 1rst ekg results ...
  A: 1. Yes, anterior anterolateral myocardial damage, and T abnormality in inferior leads. If you'll ...
ecg report11/3/2011
  Q: im 25 years old, 5.6ft and 60kgs. Blood pressure was 118 over 85 last time it was checked. Im not on ...
  A: Left axis deviation means your heart may be tilted a little more to the left than is usual, but it ...
propranolol overdose?11/3/2011
  Q: I was prescribed propranolol 60 mg once a day for chest pain and palpitations. I stopped taking the ...
  A: Propranolol 660 mg probably won't even harm you, but stick your finger down your throat enough to ...
Heart Pain11/2/2011
  Q: I am a 20 year old female. I am 5 foot 6 inches, 125 pounds, no medications. I do not know my blood ...
  A: Chest pain in a young person is usually cramping of muscles in the chest wall. If pushing on the ...
Heart rate during exercise11/2/2011
  Q: I have been having some issues with my heart rate during exercise. Some quick infro. I am a 34 year ...
  A: Your heart rate response to exercise seems within nprmal limits. Lightheadedness probably comes ...
dizzy- heart or not11/1/2011
  Q: 35 male Hi sir lately I've been feeling dizzy lightheaded and weak in the knees ! I was wondering ...
  A: If you're light headed only when standing, it's possible that your standing blood pressure is too ...
PVC's11/1/2011
  Q: First I have to apologize for my bad English. But I read your comment on PVC's. I am a male 58 years ...
  A: Westendorp, Ask your doc what your left ventricular ejection fraction is. If above 50, the PVCs ...
Bubble in the heart?11/1/2011
  Q: David A couple days ago I experienced a painful popping sensation in my chest, as if a bubble ...
  A: None of these symptoms sound at all serious. The most common cause of chest pain is cramping of ...
IVF and pvcs11/1/2011
  Q: I do have an anxiety over this in my case digging deep and trying to find answers actually causes ...
  A: C., 1. No, not with a normal echo and Holter. 2. The odds of getting knocked by a bus are about 100 ...
pain in heart while breathing10/30/2011
  Q: my name is Peter and i'm 19 years old . my heart beat rate is 76 beats per minute and my blood ...
  A: Chest pain in a young person is usually cramping of muscles in the chest wall. If pushing on the ...
anxiety pvcs high heart rate10/30/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson.....I thank you in advance for your answers, you really are kind. I am a 25 ...
  A: 1. No, not in a healthy heart. 2. Adrenalin won cause dangerous rhythms in a healthy heart. 3. ...
FOLLOW-UP: Frequent multifocal PVC´s, Bigeminy, Trigeminy10/29/2011
  Q: UNDERNEATH IS PART OF MY PREVIOUS QUESTION (TO GIVE YOU THE HISTORY), I TRIED TO DO A FOLLOW UP ...
  A: 1. No other tests would help. The tests you've had are all that ate needed. 2. No. Well, at least ...
anxiety pvcs high heart rate10/29/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson.....I thank you in advance for your answers, you really are kind. I am a 25 ...
  A: 1. Not cause them. They're normal heart activity. But anxiety can make them more frequent 2. No. ...
tmt10/28/2011
  Q: I recently did a ECG and the result showed Rate 75,PR 161,QRSD 87,QT 344,QTc 384,Axis P 17,QRS 14,T ...
  A: PR is the interval from onset of P wave (which indicates electric activation of the atria, the upper ...
Echo concerns10/27/2011
  Q: David Have a lot of respect for you and your professional opinion, i have some concerns with my ...
  A: Late/early mitral velocity >1 means the speed at which blood flows thru the mitral valve, which ...
Echo concerns10/27/2011
  Q: David Have a lot of respect for you and your professional opinion, i have some concerns with my ...
  A: 1. 35 is upper limits of normal. Get another echo soon to be sure it's not a mistake, then repeat ...
Irregular Heart Rate10/19/2011
  Q: I had a complete cardiac work up; labs, stress test with cardiolite a year and a half ago. Clear ...
  A: PVCs are no thrat to life or health in someone with normal echo and EKG. With your family history, ...
Mild Pulmonary Hypertension10/18/2011
  Q: I just received a phone call that an echo determined I have mild pulmonary hypertension(35). I am 33 ...
  A: Right heart cath is very safe and definitive. Waiting three months and then getting another echo is ...
AVF ECG10/17/2011
  Q: I have been suffering from palpitations/chest,throat/jaw pain for quite a while.I have had all the ...
  A: Blunting of costophrenic angles may be normal and occurs with congestive heart failure. I would not ...
AVF ECG10/17/2011
  Q: I have been suffering from palpitations/chest,throat/jaw pain for quite a while.I have had all the ...
  A: You didn't ask a question. If the palpitations are skipped beats, they are harmless in people with ...
R wave progression10/16/2011
  Q: I am a 57 yr old woman (5' 2 "/122 lbs) with normally 110/70 BP. No history of smoking. Excellent ...
  A: PVCs are benign, no threat to life or health in someone with normal QT a.d left ventricular ...
pvcs10/15/2011
  Q: Recently I've read about your change in view regarding pvcs which comes across as rather disturbing ...
  A: Supressing PVCs with meds doesn't improve mortality. Yes, smoking increases risk of mortality much ...
Left arm (Pinky and Ring finger ) numb...10/15/2011
  Q: David, I woke up today having some left arm numbness (mainly in the pinky and ring fingers) that ...
  A: 1. Yes, left arm numbness only can occur with CAD, tho it must be rare. 2. Yes, I'm sure. 3. It ...
heart rate and rhythm10/15/2011
  Q: 28 y/o female. 5'2, 140 lbs... Not sure of blood pressure except that its 'perfectly normal. (an ...
  A: The arrhythmia could be atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, especial,y if it jumps from normal to ...
Left arm (Pinky and Ring finger ) numb...10/14/2011
  Q: David, I woke up today having some left arm numbness (mainly in the pinky and ring fingers) that ...
  A: 1. Yes 2. Peobably. 3. Heart attack or inadequate blood supply to heart that doesn't cause pain. 4. ...
Chest pain10/12/2011
  Q: DR.David My name is Quintella I’m 28 year old, weight 110lbs, height 4’11, and I’m have asthma. I’m ...
  A: Chest pain in a young person is usually cramping of muscles in the chest wall. If pushing on the ...
TIA's, always with exact same symptoms10/12/2011
  Q: I'm a 67 year old female. I had the following episodes that I was told by doctors were TIA's: once ...
  A: It means that an artery in the same area of the brain was blocked both times. Atrial fibrillation ...
Could this be some cardo/heart disease problem?10/11/2011
  Q: I am a 40 yr old female, 5'1" tall, 180 lbs. My blood pressure is always normal, as is my overall ...
  A: Chest pain in a young person is usually cramping of muscles in the chest wall. If pushing on the ...
Echo and Holter results10/10/2011
  Q: I'm a 33 year old active female (run/walk 3-4 days per week for about an hour) and eat a relatively ...
  A: The heart rate of 120-140 was anxiety, So was the lightheadedness. The heart stop was probably the ...
Chest pain?10/10/2011
  Q: Sir, I recently asked dr. T a question regarding CAD risk. I have some new information I would like ...
  A: P, A) Yes. The left chest pain when lifting sounds like chest wall pain. If the muscles still ...
Mild Pulmonary Hypertension10/9/2011
  Q: I just received a phone call that an echo determined I have mild pulmonary hypertension(35). I am 33 ...
  A: 35 is borderline. Yes an echo can overestimate PAP a bit, like 5 or 6 points. I doubt if PAH will ...
Statin10/8/2011
  Q: I am a 58 year old female and just had my annual physical. Should I be started on a statin? My ...
  A: I think everyone with cholesterol over 180 should take a statin. Statins have beneficial ...
Some Heart Questios10/8/2011
  Q: David, I am a 42 y/o healthy male with my last stress ECG and echocardiogram done about 10 months ...
  A: 1. No, not at all like pain from heart disease. 2. Heart-related pan can be in arm only, tho that is ...
Echo and Holter results10/6/2011
  Q: I'm a 33 year old active female (run/walk 3-4 days per week for about an hour) and eat a relatively ...
  A: 1. No, not any result suggests need for concern. 2. No need to see a cardiologist. 3. No need to ...
Bigeminy/Ablation10/6/2011
  Q: I am a 62 year old white male. I am 5 ft. 4 in. tall. I weigh 170 lbs. My current blood pressure is ...
  A: Ablation of PVCs has about 60% chance of getting rid of PVCs if the ablater if very experienced, ...
Hello10/5/2011
  Q: I just have another quick follow up question. This morning I was sitting at my computer and I ...
  A: 1, Extra beats are followed by a long pause. It's normal heart response to a premature beat. They ...
Im worried heart question10/4/2011
  Q: chest pain and I can pinpoint it to one spot ill mention im 23 years old 130 lbs and recently ...
  A: Chest pain in a young person is usually cramping of muscles in the chest wall. If pushing on the ...
Hello10/2/2011
  Q: I just have another quick follow up question. This morning I was sitting at my computer and I ...
  A: You description of your heart rate speeding and then slowing makes turbulence a good term. A normal ...
Sudden rapid heartbeat10/1/2011
  Q: First, thanks for all your past advice. I'm 65 and in excellent physical health. I'm a daily runner ...
  A: Abrupt increase in heart rate suggests an arrhythmia. But atrial flutter has rate of 150, atrial ...
sharp pain10/1/2011
  Q: . 35 male- yesterday while sitting down. right below my heart on my left side just below the nipple ...
  A: Chest pain in a young person is usually cramping of muscles in the chest wall. If pushing on the ...
Anxiety or more9/30/2011
  Q: I am male 29 from India, in the month of April 2011, I started feeling constant short of breath, ...
  A: It's possible to have congestive heart failure as a cause of shortness of breath despite a normal ...
holter9/30/2011
  Q: I´m 24, all medical test including MRi perfectly passed, but I got lots of extrasystoles for quite a ...
  A: At least the 2nd apparent PVC in the upper tracing seems to be preceded by a P wave and therefore to ...
Hello9/29/2011
  Q: I just have one more quick question. About a week ago I was researching supraventricular tachycardia ...
  A: Your episode sounds like supraventricular tachycardia. SVT is caused by a pathway that lets ...
Flecainide for PVCs9/28/2011
  Q: I am a 39 year old female. I am 5'7" and 190lbs. I have post-partum hypertension which looks like ...
  A: 1. Flecainide doesn't cause bradycardia at all. 2. Epocrates lists arrhythmias as a reaction to ...
Need your feedback9/27/2011
  Q: David, I have been a moderate smoker for like 25 years and gave up smoking just 10 months back. At ...
  A: 1. Yes, completely. 2/ Yes, always. 3. Yes, you can rule out heart as an underlying cause of your ...
Anxiety issues9/26/2011
  Q: I am a 33yrs old lady with a height of 5ft-7in and weighg 144lbs, BP measuring 116/75. I have quite ...
  A: Your shortness of breath and chest heaviness are probably anxiety, but you could get an ...
Chest pain for the first time9/26/2011
  Q: My age is 24, male, weighing 66 kgs and height of 5.7 feet. I don't have any habit of smoking or ...
  A: Chest pain in a young person is usually cramping of muscles in the chest wall. If pushing on the ...
Blocked arteries9/26/2011
  Q: How long does it take for an artery in the heart to become blocked - quickest - slowest - day? ...
  A: A lipid-filled plaque that doesn't limit blood flow at all may rupture, attract clot, and completely ...
What is this9/24/2011
  Q: I just started Buspar yesterday. A half a 15mg tablet twice daily. I'm getting dizziness and ...
  A: Buspar is an anti-anxiety medicine; one of its common ill effects is drowsiness. Stop the med if it ...
post AMI info9/24/2011
  Q: I have a great admiration for the kind of selflessness that motivates people to do what you are ...
  A: Mar, 1. Perhaps abnormal function of the tiny branches of the coronary arteries. 2. Damage from the ...
Hello9/24/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson. I'm sorry to bother you again but my heart worries are back. I have been doing ...
  A: The safest management is to ignore the palpitations. Medicine called beta blockers are very safe ...
Hello9/23/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson. I'm sorry to bother you again but my heart worries are back. I have been doing ...
  A: Payton, you probably had 3 premature beats in a row, and then single premature beats after you ...
heart block9/21/2011
  Q: I am trying to understand something. I have 1st degree heart block. Does this mean my heart beat ...
  A: No. It just means there is slight delay between electrical activation of the upper and lower ...
Plavix response test9/20/2011
  Q: You are my last hope. My husband had a heart attack Sunday. #5. The Dr told me an artery got clogged ...
  A: Yes, they could have. The test is so new and expensive that most of us don't do it. Your letter ...
PVCs ~ More frequent9/19/2011
  Q: I am a 32 year old female... Recently (9 months ago) I was diagnosed with PVCs. I have maybe 10 - 50 ...
  A: PVCsare normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with a normal EKG and ...
Cholesterol9/19/2011
  Q: I have heard that those taking pills to lower they levels of "bad" cholesterol, must remain taking ...
  A: Yes, they must be continued for the rest of your life. Because your cholesterol would go right back ...
MVP with PVC9/18/2011
  Q: I'm a 26 year old male with MVP with trivial MR for many years. It's asymptomatic and i am not under ...
  A: Gee, PVC's are harmless in someone with normal QT and and echo showing good left ventricular ...
heart problem9/17/2011
  Q: A few months ago i was diagnosed with an arrhythmia. My heart skips a beat and then the one that ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with a normal EKG ...
Heart Health9/17/2011
  Q: David, My name is Mathew, I have been visiting allexperts.com from time to time reviewing the past ...
  A: 1. The arteries probably don't go completely back to non-smoking levels, but get better. 2. Nothing ...
Cramps in the left Pectoral muscles9/16/2011
  Q: I have been getting severe pains in my chest for the last four years and all the doctors that I have ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Brugada Syndrome in Wwoman9/16/2011
  Q: I'm 15 and have been told by a specialist (Doctor Barrie London# that in fact I have Brugada ...
  A: I've forgotten exactly what recessive means. I think maybe 25% chance that you have Brugada. ...
Starting life style changes9/15/2011
  Q: David, I have been inactive for long time… I perform exercise or swim from time to time in an ...
  A: 1. Yes. 2. CAD is artery narrowing. I agree with your doctor. 3. Risk factors are diabetes, family ...
Heart Health9/15/2011
  Q: David, My name is Mathew, I have been visiting allexperts.com from time to time reviewing the past ...
  A: 1. Less than 140/90. 2. Yes, normal is above 45 awake, 35 asleep. 3. Yes, normal is less than 460. ...
13 yr old with chest pain and SOA9/15/2011
  Q: My 13 yr old sister is having mid sternum chest pain accompanied with soa. Also her arm veins ...
  A: Knoll, The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the ...
Heart rate and Recovery9/14/2011
  Q: I am a healthy 43 yrs old male with rest HR = 60 and BP 120/80. My one year old stress ECG and Echo ...
  A: 1. See previous answers. Stress test monitored by ECG is not very sensitive. 2. Maybe 70%, probably ...
Stress ECG (EXERCISE ECG TEST)9/14/2011
  Q: David, I had my routine stress ECG test done in Jan2011 (8 months back) in addition to heart ECHO ...
  A: 1. You may have minor narrowing of an artery that would not show up on stress test monitored by ECG. ...
please help dr9/14/2011
  Q: I'm a 26 year old male otherwise healthy. I drink on average 12 beers a day, which i know is not ...
  A: Ask if the early repol was in anterior leads, which is benign. Thanks much for the article on early ...
Need your feedback9/13/2011
  Q: 9 months back I have done ECG Treadmill Stress Test and echocardiogram as a routine procedure as I ...
  A: 1. The risk assessment score seems quite accurate. 2. Maybe 90% probability that you have no CAD. 3. ...
Stress ECG (EXERCISE ECG TEST)9/13/2011
  Q: David, I had my routine stress ECG test done in Jan2011 (8 months back) in addition to heart ECHO ...
  A: 1. No. 2. No. 3. No. 4. Stress test monitored by ECG alone is not good enough to rule out coronary ...
Heart rate and Recovery9/13/2011
  Q: I am a healthy 43 yrs old male with rest HR = 60 and BP 120/80. My one year old stress ECG and Echo ...
  A: 1. Probably not. 2. Yes. 3. Yes. Well, It wouldn't necessarily cause pain if the narrowing were ...
interesting heart rhythm9/13/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson, I am a fairly new registered nurse on a cardiac telemetry / critical care unit in ...
  A: Diltiazem of course increases the AV block and would slow the ventricular rate and perhaps produce ...
Premature Betas9/11/2011
  Q: David, I was suffering from PVCs and PACs in y2005 and after stress ECG and Echo I was told that my ...
  A: 1. Yes, tho I think ignoring is a better term than ignorance. You are not ignorant. 2. Yes, it ...
Palpitation9/11/2011
  Q: David, I am 40 yrs old healthy male who was diagnosed with harmless PVCs. Before one year I have ...
  A: 1. Echo and EKG are good for at least 10 years unless you have some damage to your heart like an ...
Chest discomfort9/11/2011
  Q: David, A chest discomfort or light pain that happens while at rest (Heart rate around 65bpm) and ...
  A: 1. No. 70% 2. 70% 3. 70% 4. One second if the 60% narrowing ruptures its cap, which will lead to ...
SVT9/11/2011
  Q: i am a 26 year old female with svt!! I have had about 3 major attacks that i had to be converted out ...
  A: Yes, palpitations every day is normal for someone with SVT. Thrre are maneuvers that can stop an ...
Extra Heartbeat after eating9/10/2011
  Q: I was so pleased to read your article talking about extra heartbeats. I am hoping you might be able ...
  A: Hell Tania Eating activates the vagus and slows the heart, leaving more time during the pause ...
Arrhythmia9/9/2011
  Q: David, My name is Simon, 42yes old. I have some questions about QTc. Please have a look at the ...
  A: 1. Yes. 2. Yes, even bigger differences from one minute to next. 3. Every beat has a different pause ...
diagnostic proccess9/9/2011
  Q: I am a 35 yr old mother of 4 that is 5'2 and approx 138lbs. Other than this heart issue I am a ...
  A: Probably no connection. Show the result of the tilt test to the EP doc, ask him or her about the QT ...
TdP and Brugada syndrome9/8/2011
  Q: I am 43 yrs healthy male. My question are related to Torsade de Pointes, Brugada syndrome 1- What ...
  A: 1. Yes, either will rule out SQTS. 2. Yes, at least make CAD unlikely. 3. Yes to both. 4. No. 5. ...
PVCs and Arrhythmia9/8/2011
  Q: I will try my best to put my story in brief and then my questions. • In Y2004 I developed a skipped ...
  A: 1. No When the heart is in normal rhythm at rate 50-60, atrial fib can start. Once in atrial fib, ...
Arrhythmia9/8/2011
  Q: David, My name is Simon, 42yes old. I have some questions about QTc. Please have a look at the ...
  A: Jack, 1. Yes, QTc below 460 is normal. Yes it's normal for QTc to change from time to time. 2. ...
VTach?9/7/2011
  Q: Richardson, I contacted you a few weeks ago about a spell I had where I would have ...
  A: Vtach is very unlikely in someone with no heart disease. If it was skips, they are of course ...
Sinus arrhythmia?9/6/2011
  Q: David, 1- What is Sinus arrhythmia? is it a cause of concern? 2- I have heard that is does it ...
  A: 1. Sinus arrhythmia is speeding up of heart when you breathe in and slowing when you breathe out. ...
TdP and Brugada syndrome9/6/2011
  Q: I am 43 yrs healthy male. My question are related to Torsade de Pointes, Brugada syndrome 1- What ...
  A: 1. Torsades is a very fast rhythm originating in the ventricles . The ECG shows twisting up and down ...
PVCs and Arrhythmia9/6/2011
  Q: I will try my best to put my story in brief and then my questions. • In Y2004 I developed a skipped ...
  A: 1. Stress test monitored by ECG is less sensitive than one monitored by radioisotopes or echo. ECG ...
PVCs and Arrhythmia9/5/2011
  Q: I will try my best to put my story in brief and then my questions. • In Y2004 I developed a skipped ...
  A: 1. Yes, above 45 awake, 35 asleep is normal. 2. Yes, above 95 is normal. 3. Yes, 95% certainty of ...
Want to be poractive9/5/2011
  Q: I am a 54 year old male and as such am curious about heart disease, I just want to be proactive and ...
  A: 1. Continue to lose weight is all. Otherwise you're fine. 2. The PVCs are of no concern now or in ...
CAD and artery disease9/4/2011
  Q: Dr. David, i have heard that every one above 40 yrs of age has somehow narrowing in his coronary ...
  A: 1. Yes, I agree. 2. Depends on the degree of narrowing. 90% narrowing will produce chest pain at ...
Questions about CAD9/4/2011
  Q: David, I referring to your answer below: ...
  A: !. Yes I agree with your doctor, with the possible exception that a stress test monitored by echo or ...
Low blood pressure and high pulse rate9/4/2011
  Q: I'm 17. female. not taking any medicines. height: 5'1". weight: 105 lb. not sure what is my blood ...
  A: The blackout may have been from low blood pressure, as would blackout when you stand up. Severe ...
PVCs --- are they realy OK/ harmless9/3/2011
  Q: David, Please have a look at these 2 studies that talk about PVCs and their Prognostic ...
  A: 1. The recent articles show about double risk for those with PVCs. No, not Posiitive. No, PVCs are ...
Heart and workout9/3/2011
  Q: I perform my daily 20 minutes workout every morning, according one of the heart health website my ...
  A: 1. I agree with your doctor. 2. Significant (over 70%) narrowing of any coronary artery. 3. About ...
CAD and artery disease9/3/2011
  Q: Dr. David, i have heard that every one above 40 yrs of age has somehow narrowing in his coronary ...
  A: 1. Not everyone but most people. 2. Less than 30% 3. 70 % narrowing for exertional pain, maybe 90% ...
Holter monitor9/2/2011
  Q: I just received my 24hr holter monitor results. I am a 20 year old male who is quite fit and have a ...
  A: Yes, you can be confident that your have a healthy heart. Heart rate of 33 asleep is normal and ...
Heart Rate9/2/2011
  Q: David, 1- what is the typical heart rate during v-tach (SVT and NSVT) and a-fib 2- How long the ...
  A: 1. Afib is not okay. It's not life threatening, but can lead to stroke if it occurs more than once ...
Heart Questios9/2/2011
  Q: David, 1- I am a healthy 42 yrs old male with my last routine stress ECG and Echo done Dec 2010 all ...
  A: 1. Yes. Exercise makes heart pain worse. A heart rate of 120-130 during exercise would trigger ...
Heart Rate9/1/2011
  Q: David, 1- what is the typical heart rate during v-tach (SVT and NSVT) and a-fib 2- How long the ...
  A: 1. Atrial fib is a little serious. Sustained vtach is serious. Risk factors are heart disease, EF ...
Heart Questios9/1/2011
  Q: David, 1- I am a healthy 42 yrs old male with my last routine stress ECG and Echo done Dec 2010 all ...
  A: 1. Hert-related pain does get worse with exercise. Your pain is not heart related. 2. Yes, 3 years ...
What is normal Qtc for male 38 years old, 77kg?8/31/2011
  Q: i am a 38 year old male, 77kg, 6ft tall. Have two questions for you... Have had three ecgs this ...
  A: 1. To reduce the risk of coronary disease as much as possible, be sure your blood pressure stays ...
Subclavian narrowing8/31/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson, Still having mid to right chest pain. Trying to exericise, but cannot get past the ...
  A: I'm no good at MRI. Call my son, Donald Richardson MD (an endocrinologist) at home in the evening: ...
Leaky valves and wenckebach8/31/2011
  Q: You have set my mind at ease before! My cardio appointment is in 3 weeks. I have had my echo and the ...
  A: Neither mildly leaky valves nor Wenckebach would prevent a flight to Australia. Be sure to walk ...
Heart Rate8/30/2011
  Q: David, 1- what is the typical heart rate during v-tach (SVT and NSVT) and a-fib 2- How long the ...
  A: 1. In v-tach, sustained or not, heart rate can be 130 to 200, but it will be constant at some rate ...
PVCs8/30/2011
  Q: I am ofcourse conernced about the recent studies on pvcs in the healthy population. I just have a ...
  A: 1. Both, I think. PVCs may act as a trigger for SCD, without recognized heart disease,tho some ...
palpitations8/29/2011
  Q: Im 16 years old and i get palpitations quite frequently. Most often when im stressed out. I also ...
  A: Skipped beats are harmless, no cause for worry. If your palpitations are extra, very early beats, ...
Recent PVC studies8/28/2011
  Q: David, I have seen some recent answers of your saying that PVCs are not anymore harmless as was ...
  A: 1. a) PACs, PVCs and risk of sudden death. b) PVCs and Risk of Incident Stroke c)VPCs & Sudden ...
PVCs --- are they realy OK/ harmless8/28/2011
  Q: David, Please have a look at these 2 studies that talk about PVCs and their Prognostic ...
  A: 1. Very low increased risk 2 Yes, all those characteristics were include I think. Check to ...
PVCs--- wher do we stand?!8/28/2011
  Q: David, Well, i have seen many posts / answers of yours and also many other experts (including my ...
  A: 1. RBBB 2. Yes. 3. Diabetes, Family History, cholesterol, smoking, High BP, HDL, PVCs. 4. Known ...
Ref: Follow up (When to worry)8/27/2011
  Q: Dr. David. Your answer for one of my question about PVCs was “recent research findings suggest that ...
  A: 1. No. Noone has shown that treatment to eliminate PVCs is beneficial. One study in which I was a ...
PVCs--- wher do we stand?!8/27/2011
  Q: David, Well, i have seen many posts / answers of yours and also many other experts (including my ...
  A: 1. RBBB is worse, is my recollection, tho I can't find the article again. Anyway, all the new ...
PVC's8/27/2011
  Q: I am 40yrs old , my height is 5'6, 135 lbs and my blood pressure is 93/61. About 2 1/2 yrs ago I ...
  A: Toney, I've had to change my mind about PVCs lately because of recent literature suggesting that ...
Ref: Follow up (When to worry)8/26/2011
  Q: Dr. David. Your answer for one of my question about PVCs was “recent research findings suggest that ...
  A: Hadi, 1. Yes, based on recent studies, which apparently suggest that PVCs add to risk of mortality. ...
PVCs --- are they realy OK/ harmless8/26/2011
  Q: David, Please have a look at these 2 studies that talk about PVCs and their Prognostic ...
  A: 1. Yes. 2. Healthy people without recognized heart disease. 3. Slightly higher. 4. No, at least not ...
PVCs--- wher do we stand?!8/26/2011
  Q: David, Well, i have seen many posts / answers of yours and also many other experts (including my ...
  A: 1. normal, healthy hearts. The third was in elderly healthy people. 2. Yes, at least the first 2. ...
what type of arrhythmia could this be?8/26/2011
  Q: I'm an 18 year old female for the past year and a half I have been getting weak, dizzy, shaking, ...
  A: Supraventricular tachycardia is a fast heart rhythm during which the heart beats 180 up to 220 beats ...
Follow up (When to worry)8/25/2011
  Q: David, this is a follow up question on NSVT.... you have answered the following questions 1- Are ...
  A: Hadi, recent research findings suggest that PVCs predict slightly higher mortality in healthy people ...
Thoughts on PVCs8/25/2011
  Q: Richardson, I noticed in response to some noes research you said in another post that thinking has ...
  A: PVCs on a resting ECG are a significant and independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular ...
brother born with heart issues8/25/2011
  Q: My brother was born with a few things wrong, but it wasnt discovered til he was a young adult. Mom ...
  A: Good morning Jenny, 1. Yes atrial septal defect is a large patent foramen ovale. 2. Yes, 3rd degree ...
NSVT and PVC8/24/2011
  Q: Please dr. david can you address my 3 questions below. 1- What is the diff between frequent PVCs ...
  A: 1. Normal QTc is less than 460. Qtc over 500 is a cause for concern. 2. There's not much difference ...
Heart concerns8/24/2011
  Q: I have a history of severe anxiety which is always making my heart do crazy things. I just have a ...
  A: 1. No concern. Anxiety makes premature beats more frequent. 2. Yes, still valid. Yes, any heart ...
RE: Prognostic Significance of PVCs8/23/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson, Here are the links to the studies, I mentioned in my question "Prognostic ...
  A: They change my thinking about PVCs. Is there any evidence that treatment of PVCs reduces mortality? ...
MVP and irregular heart beat8/23/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson, I am a 26 year old female RN in Ontario. I am 5"6 and 125 lbs. My normal BP is ...
  A: Yes, your heart ts structurally normal with MVP and RBBB. Left ventricular dysfunction with an EF ...
left hand pain8/23/2011
  Q: i am 28 years old women having 2 kids of age group 20 months and 6 month i am anemic since pregency ...
  A: Mild Mitral Valve Prolapse does not produce any trouble. I can't give you the precautions to take ...
increased BP at night8/23/2011
  Q: Richardson. I am diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and frequent (100/hr) PVC's. Using ...
  A: No you need not worry about the BP or PVCs. If the afib occurs more often then monthly, I suggest ...
NSVT and PVC8/22/2011
  Q: Please dr. david can you address my 3 questions below. 1- What is the diff between frequent PVCs ...
  A: 1. Non-sustained ventricular tachycardia doesn't predict future heart problems in some one with ...
Enlarged Heart8/21/2011
  Q: I am 33 years old and I have an enlarged heart and after a chest xray, an echocardigram, and a ...
  A: So sorry about your troubles. Any doctor can tell you how to get surgery. Go to hospital if you ...
left hand pain8/21/2011
  Q: i am 28 years old women having 2 kids of age group 20 months and 6 month i am anemic since pregency ...
  A: In a woman age 28, pain like yours is almost always cramping of muscles in chest wall, arm and hand, ...
PSVT suspect questions8/20/2011
  Q: I am 42 male from Bhutan. 4 days ago suffered from so called PSVT which the doctor suspects. For ...
  A: Tashi, 1. Some people develop a bypass track that lets the heart's electrical impulses travel back ...
Vague Blood Vessels8/19/2011
  Q: I am a 56 year old male in fairly good health ,I am 6 ft and weigh 185 lbs. I had a very good ...
  A: Pulses are harder to fee as we get older because the arteries get stiffer, less expanded by the ...
Prognostic Significance of PVCs8/19/2011
  Q: Richardson, I am a 25 year old male, without any diagnosed chronic illnesses. I developed PVCs ...
  A: My view of PVCs is as follows: VPCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in ...
Panic Blood pressure8/18/2011
  Q: the problem is im so afraid of bp machines that I cant even take my own bp at home without become ...
  A: Yes, a little dangerous. Maybe if you get one of those wrist BP measuring devices and get used to ...
When to worry8/17/2011
  Q: My questions about down the road risk involved with harmless PVCs if any. Does the risk increase if ...
  A: 1. PVCs that look like left bundle branch pattern have slightly higher risk of heart disease. If ...
Question about heart8/15/2011
  Q: I told you that I have bad anxiety which makes my heart do some crazy things. I saw a cardiologist ...
  A: If your heart beat was regular and less than 180, it's all right. If completely irregular and over ...
Low blood pressure8/13/2011
  Q: A couple days ago, I was sitting and talking and I had a near faint episode. I have lots of pvcs ...
  A: Helllo Jenny, 1. 90 is not too low, but 85 can make people faint. Get someone to measure your BP ...
Frequent PVCs with symptoms8/13/2011
  Q: my mother has been having symptomatic PVCs for at least 2 months now. She is 54, 5'6", and 135 lbs. ...
  A: a. PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal echo and ...
My QTc interval - need your feedback8/11/2011
  Q: David, I have seen many posts in this website – and the rest of the net – talking about QTc ...
  A: 1. QTc below 460 is clearly normal. Most experts think QTc above 600 is necessary for diagnosing ...
wenckebach and magnesium8/10/2011
  Q: I have recently had a holter monitor which showed a few PVC and 1500 PACs with intermittent ...
  A: Yes, you can continue to take magnesium. It's safe to wait 2 months. You're in no danger of any ...
Rapid Heartbeat and Clear Urine8/10/2011
  Q: A few months ago I woke up with a pulse of 112 and an hour later it was down to 92. That morning I ...
  A: The usual cause of fast pulse is anxiety or fear or bad dreams. I have no good explanation of the ...
PVCs APCs Past MI8/10/2011
  Q: Richardson, I am a 58 year old male with multiple PVCs and APCs for the last few days, have had 4-5 ...
  A: PVCs and PACs are more frequent when the heart is slow, as after exercise, not during exercise. ...
Heart related Questions8/9/2011
  Q: I am a healthy 42yrs old male with BMI 23. I have done a routine stress ecg and echo last dec and ...
  A: 1. Resting heart rate above 45 awake is normal. PVCs are more likely to occur at slow heart rates ...
pain8/9/2011
  Q: i am a 35 year old male fairly good overall health. diagnosed with sinus tachy 2 yrs ago. i ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
QTC - Some Questions8/8/2011
  Q: David, 1- I recently had an ECG with QTc = 442 and my doc says its normal. I have seen somewhere in ...
  A: !. QTc less than 460 is normal. 2. Yes. 3. Low blood potassium or magnesium, and many prescription ...
Shortness of breath8/8/2011
  Q: I was in the hospital for 2 months for heart issues and a PE 4 months later I am still getting ...
  A: If the heart issues have resulted in congestive heart failure, that's a good reason for ...
Heart skips/stops when breathing in and out8/7/2011
  Q: I've been doing fairly well with my palpitations but I'm here with an even that is scaring me. As ...
  A: Hrllo Ashley, The thuds are probably premature beats that occur soon after the preceding normal ...
PVCs SYMPTOMATIC WITH BIGEMINY AND TRIGEMINY8/7/2011
  Q: I am a 28 year old female dealing with constant PVCs for the past 6 weeks. History: 6.30.11 On my ...
  A: Helllo, Abbie, 1. Does your near syncope occur only when you're standing? If so, get your BP ...
Constant burping / chest tightness8/6/2011
  Q: I've been having this issue for a month or two now. It has been worrying me quite a bit and I ...
  A: It may be gastro-esophageal reflux, leak of acid from stomach up into esophagus. That can cause ...
heart block8/6/2011
  Q: I have several things going on with my heart. Thousands of pvcs with some couplets and bigeminy. ...
  A: No, magnesium pills won't make heart block any worse. The warnings are all for 2nd and 3rd degree ...
below front feet is aching/painful and front feet feeling numb always8/5/2011
  Q: I am supposed to have some artery blockages in the heart. I have one stent in one artey on left ...
  A: Singh, I think you should increase the atorvastatin to 40 mg a day, the Isosorbide to 20 mg three ...
sinus arrhythmia8/2/2011
  Q: Please can you help me in addressing the below questions: 1. What is sinus arrhythmia? 2. Is sinus ...
  A: 1. Yes 2. PVCs during recovery from exercise are associated with about twice normal death rate, but ...
Some confusion regarding PVCs8/2/2011
  Q: David, I have seen a lot of posts in different web sites talks about PVC’s (which i suffer from) ...
  A: 1. PVCs are benign no matter how frequent (even other beat) in people with otherwise normal EKG and ...
Heart worries...8/2/2011
  Q: so lately I have been having alot of heart palpitations. I have them everyday just about every 25 ...
  A: 1. Crouch down may push the diaphragm up to touch the heart and stimulate a premature beat. Bending ...
Heart worries...8/1/2011
  Q: so lately I have been having alot of heart palpitations. I have them everyday just about every 25 ...
  A: Payton, You're having premature heart beats that cause the pinpricks. The hard beats occur because ...
Discontinue amiodarone7/31/2011
  Q: My doctor told me to discontinue amiodarone that I am taking for AFib Also on coreg lisinipril and ...
  A: 1. Nothing, but other drugs are effective and much safer than amiodarone. 2. The only indication ...
Hyperthyroidism causing worse SVTs?7/31/2011
  Q: Good afternoon Dr Richardson Ive read your responses to previous questions, and have found them ...
  A: 1. Yes, certainly. 2. No, no long-term harm. 3. Not sure. You;ll have to stop and restart the ...
Frequent PVC’s7/31/2011
  Q: David, i have a question about these PVC’s. Sometimes I get them like one every while or lets say up ...
  A: 1. Yes, even even other beat or 3 in a row. 2. Best management is not be frightened. Anxiety makes ...
Heart pain.7/30/2011
  Q: How come every time i attempt or do a front walk over or a back bend it hurts my heart. Also while ...
  A: he most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
sinus arrhythmia7/29/2011
  Q: Please can you help me in addressing the below questions: 1. What is sinus arrhythmia? 2. Is sinus ...
  A: Sinus arrhythmia is variation in heart rate with breathing in and out. Heart rate increases with ...
Discontinue amiodarone7/29/2011
  Q: My doctor told me to discontinue amiodarone that I am taking for AFib Also on coreg lisinipril and ...
  A: Amiodarone has no protective effect against PE, so you're not at increased risk there. Amio can ...
what type of arrhythmia could this be?7/29/2011
  Q: I'm an 18 year old female for the past year and a half I have been getting weak, dizzy, shaking, ...
  A: Ventricular tachycardia is possible. Aslk your doctor about your QTc, Ir's a measurement on your ...
Heart Palpitations7/28/2011
  Q: David 1- Does the frequency of the PVC’s matters, or carry any clinical values, or predicts future ...
  A: 1. No, you need not be concerned.. 2. Yes, I agree. 3. No, pairs of PVCs are not worrying. 4. ...
out of breath7/28/2011
  Q: i was diagnosed with sinus tachy i naturally have a high heart rate with no known underlying cause. ...
  A: Shortness of breath has many causes. Do you smoke or cough? Sinus tachycardia and shortness of ...
Everything related to PVC’s7/27/2011
  Q: David, I have seen many Q & A regarding PVC’s/ PAC’s and what I understood that they are totally ...
  A: 1. Yes 2. I don't understand this question. 3. Yes, normal. 4. No, you need not feel scared. Even ...
PVCs after workout7/16/2011
  Q: My question is related to PVC’s (felt like pause, or skipped beats) that happen after ...
  A: I agree with your cardiologist completely. PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or ...
Catheter Ablation??7/15/2011
  Q: Richardson I am a 40 year old female. My weight is 190 lbs and I am 5 feet. My blood pressure ...
  A: Ablation is for frequently repeated episodes of SVT, at least once a month, and then only if it's ...
Pvcs/pacs and cipro7/15/2011
  Q: I've appreciated your past responses to me. I'm 65 and an avid daily runner. I've had benign ...
  A: The only black box warning for cipro is tendinitis/tendon rupture. I think it will not alter your ...
Breathing problem7/14/2011
  Q: My father had an Ischemic right Middle cerebral artery stroke in last August due to 2 month Aspirin ...
  A: Stop the digoxin at once. Also stop the aldactore. Wait 5 days and if the nausea is gone, restart ...
Shortness of breath & palpitations.7/12/2011
  Q: So I've have had a sharp pain in my chest, located on the left side, in my heart area. It has come ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
hdl7/10/2011
  Q: I am a 42 year old male. I just had a physical and my HDL was 29.0. My total chlesterol was 137, ...
  A: Recent research indicates that low HDL carries very little risk when total cholesterol is below 150. ...
Physical description of my beats7/10/2011
  Q: Physical description of my beats: Below what physically I feel and was told this due to PVC/PAC … ...
  A: 1, 2 and 4 are a premature beats. The beat after a premature beat may be extra strong because the ...
heart pain7/9/2011
  Q: ok so i took a ches x-ray and had blood test and a EKG because i been having chest pains sharp chest ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
bicuspid aortic aneurysm7/9/2011
  Q: My husband has a bicuspid aortic aneurysm. He's had some tests and they say it's 4.5cm. He's only ...
  A: Look at ...
What is this7/8/2011
  Q: , what is this, beat beat beat beat pause beat beat. It seem my heart is skipping a beat and the ...
  A: No worry. Afib is totally irregular all the time. Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no ...
heart or lungs?7/8/2011
  Q: I am 18 and since the age of 16 I have been experiencing rapid heart beats which kind of freaks me ...
  A: You may have congestive heart failure, where the heart doesn't pump blood well out of the lungs ...
CARDIOLOGY7/7/2011
  Q: sir i am having RBBB wITH lahb SINCE LAST 12YRS,MMY RECENT ECG SHOWS RBBB WITH LAHB WITH PR INTERVAL ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
Fatigue7/6/2011
  Q: When I was in the hospital I had an ejection fraction of 25- 30Two month after my release it was ...
  A: No. Congestive failure is a set of symptoms; breathlessness on exertion or lying flat, swelling of ...
Chest pain that goes away with exercise7/5/2011
  Q: I am a healthy 42 yrs old male with my last stress ECG and Echo done seven month back.. All results ...
  A: Heart pain almost always gets worse with exercise. The echo is good for at least 7 years. A stress ...
Costochondritis7/4/2011
  Q: I woke this morning with chest pain. Its every time I take a breathe or push my stomach out. It it ...
  A: Yes, it could b viral. Viral inflammation around heart, called pericarditis, is possible, tho it ...
Sinus Tachycardia on EKG7/2/2011
  Q: Last year when i went to ER w/palpitations, the summary on the EKG read "sinus tachycardia, ...
  A: Rich, you don't have enlargement of atria. Your echo proves that. EKGs are no good, usually false ...
Heart Rhythm Question7/2/2011
  Q: I am healthy 42 years old male and was diagnose with PVC’s in y2004… they – the PVC’s – went away in ...
  A: 1. Repeat the tests every 7 years. 2. There is no relation between BP an PVCs. 3. A normal stress ...
coronary artery block7/2/2011
  Q: doctor reasonly my dad had undergone angiogram procedure and found out that he is having 3 blocks in ...
  A: An alternative if he is not having much chest pain is to continue with aspirin and a statin to keep ...
strange rhytem7/1/2011
  Q: I am a healthy 21-year-old who is not overweight and works out out 3-4 times per week, running 2-3 ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
Shaking,hard to breath,some chest pain7/1/2011
  Q: I have been having this problem for like a year already,but my doctor still cannot figure out what ...
  A: Congestive heart failure is a faint possibility. One can have congestive failure with a normal ...
Exercise and Alcohol with the heart6/30/2011
  Q: I had a heart echo, ekg and stress ekg performed on me in january 2009 due to having discovered ...
  A: An echo before you started heavy drinking would not show any problems caused by the alcohol, but if ...
Not sure.6/29/2011
  Q: I am an 18 year old girl, generally very healthy, 5ft 10, 160lb, not prone to hypochondria and ...
  A: 49-55 is fine. If the irregular heartbeat is skipped beats, thats okay too. But out of breath ...
Skipped heart beats over the past week6/29/2011
  Q: I am a 37 year old male.I'm having anxiety for the past couple of years and as my blood pressure was ...
  A: Skipped beat are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with a normal EKG and ...
irregular heart6/28/2011
  Q: I am a 23 year old female, about 5" 4' weighing approximately 120 pounds. I have noticed in the last ...
  A: Guernsey, Premature beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with ...
Light headed feeling6/28/2011
  Q: Richardson, I hope you are well. Last year after experiencing neck pain, stiffness, and some light ...
  A: No, arthritis of neck would not interfere with blood flow to the brain, though it might (though ...
heart rate response / fatigue6/26/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson, Hello, this is a related follow up question to the one below (and the ones before ...
  A: Stu, you seem depressed, and that would certainly account for fatigue, weakness and trouble ...
Chest discomfort6/26/2011
  Q: I'm a 44 year old male, mildly overweight, and have hypertension. I am treated for hypertension and ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Frequent multifocal PVC´s, Bigeminy, Trigeminy6/25/2011
  Q: Richardson, I really appreciate reading all your answered questions here on allexperts.com. It is ...
  A: 1. I don't know any reason for their sudden onset. 2. Anxiety and discomfort can make PVCs more ...
Lungs6/25/2011
  Q: I have a question for you which I would be so grateful for a answer to, I spent for ever on the net ...
  A: 1. Your guess is correct. 2. Smoking doesn't change lung expansion or breathing rate. 3. Double ...
Pvcs during excercise6/25/2011
  Q: I'm 25 years old male, two months ago I was running on the threadmill, my heart was beating fast and ...
  A: 1. PVCs during exercise are benign is a heart with normal EKG and echo. 2. The frequency doesn't ...
Frequent multifocal PVC´s, Bigeminy, Trigeminy6/24/2011
  Q: Richardson, I really appreciate reading all your answered questions here on allexperts.com. It is ...
  A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and echo. ...
Chest pain & swollen thumbs during exercise6/24/2011
  Q: I am a 27 year old overweight female (I have lost 22 lbs sofar, an am working to get healthy). I am ...
  A: The thumb swelling is Not serious. You need not worry about that. It's trauma from bike handles, I ...
PVCs and antibiotic6/23/2011
  Q: I have PVCs which were determined normal by my doctor, and I have learned to deal with them. I was ...
  A: Epocrates lists azithromycin as causing QT prolongation and rates it as a serious reaction. It ...
calcium in blood6/22/2011
  Q: Someone told me that when you get blood drawn at the doctor's office if the tourniquet is kept on ...
  A: The tourniquet would have to be kept on very long, over 6 minutes, and I would expect the calcium tp ...
Heart rate, Blood Pressure and PVC’s6/19/2011
  Q: David, My heart rate goes to 55 bpm at rest (relaxing) is that normal? As soon as my heart rate goes ...
  A: PVC's can only occur when the heart is resting between beats, so they are more likely to occur when ...
posture and pvcs?6/18/2011
  Q: echo,stress and holter all negative I have however discovered something weird I'm currently on the ...
  A: The ECGs and Holters would have shown QT prolongation. It is not dangerous to feel PVCs when you're ...
cardiac neuropathy6/17/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson, I was otherwise healthy 43yr. old white male recently diagnosed with Gastroparesis. ...
  A: 1. If th R-R test shows a lot of variation in heart rate, that will show that the vagus nerves to ...
Questions about PVCs6/14/2011
  Q: I am 42 y/o male who was diagnosed with harmless PVCs in 2004 after several heart related tests ...
  A: Sakran, a negative stress test monitored by echo or radioisotopes gives 95% freedom from heart ...
Heart Palpitation6/14/2011
  Q: I wonder if can help me regarding PVC’s, below my questions: 1- I use Antiacid/ calcium supplement + ...
  A: It's thoughtful of you to organize your questions so well. 1. No, proton pump inhibitors don't ...
Irregular heartbeat6/13/2011
  Q: My friends husband has 2 chambers of the heart not pumping, irregular heart beat, he underwent 2 ...
  A: Kamagra is like Viagra, is it not? This class of drugs has no bad effects on the heart. Alcohol ...
posture and pvcs?6/12/2011
  Q: echo,stress and holter all negative I have however discovered something weird I'm currently on the ...
  A: Y, Epocrates doesn't mention PVCs or long QT as ill effects of Lexapro. The only way to tell if ...
Heart cath, D-Dimer, Ultra sound and O2 levels6/12/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson, I have one more question for you. After the catherization I have been wakened from ...
  A: Ron, pulmonary infarction from a clot floating to lungs from calf rarely gives chest pain that lasts ...
Rapid Heart Beats and Pulses6/11/2011
  Q: I am a 22 year male weighing 66 kgs. I am concerned about my heart as i use to witness rapid heart ...
  A: People with rapid heart rate are at slightly greater risk of death from heart trouble as they get ...
Questions about PVCs6/11/2011
  Q: I am 42 y/o male who was diagnosed with harmless PVCs in 2004 after several heart related tests ...
  A: 1. PVC's during or after TREADMILL exercise to maximum ability were accompanied by about twice as ...
cardiac neuropathy6/11/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson, I was otherwise healthy 43yr. old white male recently diagnosed with Gastroparesis. ...
  A: Could so much weight loss have improved diabetes enough to make your present GTT almost normal? ...
chest pains6/10/2011
  Q: height 5'11" weight 319lbs 38yrs BP: 128/82 nifedipine 20mg simvastatin 40mg lisinopril 10mg ...
  A: Contraction of an already shortened muscle is known to cause cramping. Also low blood potassium and ...
potassium and heart failure6/9/2011
  Q: A relative had sepsis and their heart stopped. Can that occur all of a sudden with a low blood ...
  A: Yes, a heart can stop after very brief duration of low blood pressure if it's low enough, say below ...
Pulmonary Hypertension6/8/2011
  Q: You may remember me from asking several questions before but basically in April of last year my ...
  A: Cathy, I doubt if sleep apnea causes your pulmonary hypertension since you have used CPAP faithfully ...
Pulmonary Hypertension6/8/2011
  Q: You may remember me from asking several questions before but basically in April of last year my ...
  A: 1. It's significant in that it means PA pressure will probably stay elevated. 2. 3 months of CPAP ...
heart rate6/7/2011
  Q: my question is for 4/5 years now i have had a high resting heart rate which will be anywere from 102 ...
  A: It's called inappropriate sinus tachycardia in doctors' jargon. Lack of exercise and decreased blood ...
PAC PVC --Sudden Cluster Attacks Dangerous?6/7/2011
  Q: I have had what must be PVC/PACs since the 1970s. I am 48 now and still have odd beats--periods of ...
  A: The very fast, regular rhythm was probably supra ventricular tachycardia, which is not harmful ...
Sudden increase in heart rate during exercise6/7/2011
  Q: I am a 33 year old white female with a history of PVC's,Pac's and mild aortic stenosis. Last Monday ...
  A: As you know, PVC's are harmless, don't mean you have heart disease or will get heart disease or any ...
expert opinion for 2nd heart surgery6/5/2011
  Q: "I am 75 years old male. MyBypass surgery was done in 2005 for triple vessel. My right hand shakes ...
  A: Saxena, Your symptoms are caused by your heart's weakness in pumping blood from your lungs to your ...
arrhythmias6/4/2011
  Q: 48, female, overweight, but active - exercise 3X a week (elliptical) Was on no meds, A-Fib attack ...
  A: Noone understands why some people without heart disease get atrial fib. Maybe genes. My father and ...
early repolarization and QT interval questions6/4/2011
  Q: David, My ECG shows early repolarization and my doc says it’s totally normal and not cause of worry ...
  A: Normal QTc is less than 440. I think the last QTc may have been an error in calculation, since it's ...
chest wall irratation6/3/2011
  Q: could costiochondritis or a chest wall inflamtion cause someone to feel their heartbeat more than ...
  A: No I think not. Costochondritis is jargon used by doctors to explain anterior chest pain, but it ...
QT Interval Question6/2/2011
  Q: , I had a question for you regarding the QT Interval. I have a history of single PVC's- diagnosed. ...
  A: QT changes during day as heart rate changes, but QTc (corrected for heart rate) doesn't change much. ...
Grossly dilated aortic root6/1/2011
  Q: My younger brother has done a TGA operation when he was 6 weeks old and he is now 17 years old. ...
  A: I'm not great on congenital heart disease, but what I read says that with arterial switch operation ...
Heavy drinking after Heart bypass6/1/2011
  Q: My father, 48, had a tripple heart bypass about 2 and half months ago. Then he got a bone infection ...
  A: HIs drinking won't affect his recovery from bypass. Alcohol can damage the heart, especially if he ...
neruocardio5/31/2011
  Q: 'my tilt test report interpretation resting ecg shows early repolarization pattern with ...
  A: Neurocardiogenic syncope means the nerves to your heart can slow it enough to make you faint. If ...
echo results5/31/2011
  Q: I am a 25 year old female who has been tachycardic for some time, i started sufferng from ...
  A: Mild pulmonary hypertension without other abnormality on echo means that the tiny blood vessels of ...
IST5/30/2011
  Q: I am 34 yr old female. 120 lbs 5'1. No health issues until recently. Have been seeing several ...
  A: Flecainide can cause heart block, where the electrical impulses from the upper chambers (atria) get ...
Recent Fainting Episode5/30/2011
  Q: I am a 52 year old black male who recently fainted at work. My doctor did a full workup and has run ...
  A: 1. Measure your BP sitting and standing quietly for 1,3 and 5 minutes. Below 85 is enough to cause ...
13 year old with bicuspid aortic valve and possible arrythmia5/29/2011
  Q: Richardson, I have concern for my 13 year old son and could use some direction. His Dad has had ...
  A: Check to be sure his echo doesn't show aortic stenosis (narrowing), which would explain his trouble ...
vaso deppresive5/23/2011
  Q: i have diognoss neruocardia synope in tilt table test 15 moinute stand 80 degreee i m synope my ...
  A: The problem is circulatory, tho of course the sympathetic nervous system has reduced activity too. ...
Types of Palpitations5/22/2011
  Q: Over the years, i've had couple types of palpitations...One is where i would just feel like a thud ...
  A: No, they will not degenerate into V-Tach. Skipped beats are harmless in people with normal EKG and ...
family history and symptoms5/22/2011
  Q: my family history of coronary heart disease is this. My father was one of fourteen children, twelve ...
  A: The pain of heart trouble is usually pressure on the breast bone brought on by exercise and relieved ...
unfit to work5/21/2011
  Q: Please give your opinion on my latest 2D done. According to the pre-employment clinicm I am not fit ...
  A: Depends on your symptoms. The echo shows moderate to severe leak at the mitral valve, but thel eft ...
chest discomfort and abdominal discomfort5/20/2011
  Q: On may 12 and 15 of this year I went to the ER I was feeling chest discomfort with palpitations no ...
  A: Can you visit a doctor for help with constipation? Or just take some milk of magnesia? Nothing you ...
Slow Heart5/19/2011
  Q: I am trying to determine at what point, or even if I should contact my doctor. Can you please give ...
  A: 35 is slow enough to make you feel weak. It may be PVCs every other beat, so early that they pump ...
blocked coronary artery and spasams5/18/2011
  Q: my partner has a blocked right coronary artery by 50% he also has spasms. he weighs 15 stone is 6 ...
  A: His outlook for life is good, tho complete relief of spasms is unlikely. He should put 1 ...
strange symptoms5/18/2011
  Q: Hey doc. Thank you for your service. Im a 39 y/o, otherwise healthy male. Im fit and at a healthy ...
  A: The pains are cramping of muscles in chest, shoulder and arms. Not heart. No threat to life or ...
Type 2DM heart disses5/17/2011
  Q: Age 57 Final diagnosis # Type 2DM # ACS- ASMI(10/4/2011) Post STK(10/4/2011) ...
  A: Yes, he will need open heart surgery. CABG requires it. Diet is same as stated above. Other care ...
Heart attack...5/17/2011
  Q: I am 24 years old, active, non smoker, occasional drinker that is feeling heart pains or pains in ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
22 with chest pain5/17/2011
  Q: I'm a 22 year old male that's 5'10" and 270 with mild hypertension. I take 10mg of lisinopril daily. ...
  A: You need not be concerned. It's chest wall pain, even if you can't modify it by pressing on it. ...
only 4 SVT.. but 900 beats.. please help me understand5/15/2011
  Q: Hey, So went back to cardio yesterday.. was talking to her and she is putting me on 2 doses of the ...
  A: At 200 beats per minute (the usual rate of SVT) that would be 4 and a half minutes. Seems like ...
Punch to heart5/14/2011
  Q: two days ago I was wrestling with my friend and got hit with a pretty hard kneee to the area just ...
  A: It's VERY unlikely that heart or aorta were damaged. The heart lies well up in the chest. Its ...
Heart Regurgitation5/13/2011
  Q: Good evening, I am very nervous as three days I recieved an echocardiogram to eliminate a possible ...
  A: Trace regurgitation IS normal and no threat to life or health. It does not lead to heart disease, ...
forceful heartbeat5/13/2011
  Q: ive had a couple echos done about 6 months ago, and everything was fine besides a slight mvp. Lately ...
  A: If a premature beat occurs early enough, you won't feel a skip, but the next beat will still be ...
unfit to work5/11/2011
  Q: please give your second opinion, I'm living in the Philippines. Age-51 height-165 weight-64 kg 2D ...
  A: I'm sorry about your troubles. If you are not too short of breath, for example you can walk 3 ...
weird sounds and discomfort5/10/2011
  Q: so I know similar questions have been asked on this topic, but my scenario is different. I have ...
  A: The gurgles are probably gas in your stomach. Lungs can gurgle, but only with each breath. The ...
what does any type of surgery have to do with chemistry?5/10/2011
  Q: I am writing a paper for my chemistry class on surgery and what it has to do with chemistry. I am ...
  A: Well, of course open-chest surgery will drastically alter body chemistry, with dramatic decrease in ...
Pectoral5/9/2011
  Q: I am a male of 47...I have been having pains- like a dull continous pain under my left pectorial and ...
  A: Parrott, The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the ...
Fatigue5/8/2011
  Q: I am on warefin,coreg and amirodirone for Afib I get really really tired I assume it is the meds ...
  A: Afib can make you tired if you've still got afib. Coreg and amio can also cause fatigue. Try ...
long interval extra systole?5/8/2011
  Q: sir ,my age 51, diabetic, and hypertension with occ. miss -skip beat sensation under habit of tea ...
  A: Praful, Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal ...
raynaud's5/7/2011
  Q: Last year I was diagnosed with some very long name (poor circulation in the digits). During the cold ...
  A: Yes, Viagra is good for Raynaud's. Go to ...
Type 2DM heart disses5/7/2011
  Q: Age 57 Final diagnosis # Type 2DM # ACS- ASMI(10/4/2011) Post STK(10/4/2011) ...
  A: Neelima, he would need a shunt only if he has chest pain coming from his heart that he does not want ...
Type 2DM heart disses5/7/2011
  Q: Age 57 Final diagnosis # Type 2DM # ACS- ASMI(10/4/2011) Post STK(10/4/2011) ...
  A: The lab reports indicate that his condition is pretty good. His diet should stress fruits, ...
Question5/6/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson, I have a question for you. Last Year I had Cardiac Ablation for SVT. Things have ...
  A: Pain from blocked arteries to the heart is usually pressure on the center of the front of the chest ...
SVT/Thyroid5/5/2011
  Q: I have Hashimoto's untreated. Recently I have been getting more fast tachycardia attacks at night ...
  A: Metoprolol cannot be stopped abruptly by anyone, but especially someone with hyperthyroidism. Be ...
Visible pulsation and irregular heart beat5/3/2011
  Q: Recently, I have noticed a small pulsating vein on my right temple. Since a few years, I had also ...
  A: Pulsating veins are normal. Premature beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health ...
Chest pains.5/2/2011
  Q: I jjust sent a question about my chest pains but I did not mention a few things. I am 5' 11 and ...
  A: Your previous question about chest pains hasn't arrived, so I'm no help. The facts you list above ...
LEFT BUNDLE BRANCH BLOCKAGE...4/30/2011
  Q: My doctor discovered an abnormal arrhythmia, Left Bundle Branch Blockage...did stress test and did ...
  A: LBBB is not a threat to you, who have Normal coronary arteries shown by that exploratory through the ...
psvt4/29/2011
  Q: Good Afternoon. I have been diagnosed w/psvt. I have had two episodes, and both have sent me to the ...
  A: No special foods need to be avoided. PSVT is not a catastrophe. Just a nuisance if it occurs ...
test result4/29/2011
  Q: 35 alert= high referance range <200 units ngml and my magneisum serum 0.9l range is 1.7-2.8 mg/dl ...
  A: i don't know what 1p-pla2 is. Please spell out the test's name. Why low magnesium? Special diet, ...
White coat hypertension / elevated pulse pressure4/29/2011
  Q: Richardson, thanks for a great, helpful website. Sorry for bothering you with another question. I ...
  A: 1. Yes, most articles say white coat hypertension leads to the usual complications of hypertension, ...
PVC4/28/2011
  Q: I am a 33 year old female. I have had pvcs for 7 years. I have had all kind of tests done and the ...
  A: No you need not be worried. Pvcs, no matter how frequent (even every other beat) are normal heart ...
chest pain and shaking4/28/2011
  Q: I am 21 years old and astmetic, I have been having chest pains along with shortness of breath, back ...
  A: Chest x-ray might miss tiny cancer of lungs and of course is no good about cancer of breast. You ...
Pericarditis4/27/2011
  Q: I'm a 32 year male. Generally healthy and used to be very fit until in Sept 2010 I developed a pain ...
  A: Jones, It's unusual but possible for the pain of pericarditis to last 7 months. I doubt that your ...
something to look at4/27/2011
  Q: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2493295/
  A: The article you sent suggests that citalopram and other SSRIs have little bad effect on the heart. ...
chest pains4/26/2011
  Q: I am a 26 year old female..about 4'10 and weigh 155..I got a ekg done last year and it was normal ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Stinging and pinching pain in chest4/25/2011
  Q: should i see a doctor again. i have been having pinching/stinging pain in my chest, sometimes in ...
  A: No, Ron, you need not see a doctor. The pain is musculo-skeletal, not t threat to life or health. ...
V-Tach, Angiograms, and ICD's4/24/2011
  Q: Richardson! I am a 40 y/o Caucasian male. 6'-4" and 200 lbs with a BMI of 24.5. Resting HR ...
  A: 1. No, your vtach is not even a problem is my opinion. 2. Yes, anxiety makes PVCs more frequent and ...
18 year old with high pulse pressure4/24/2011
  Q: My son is 18 years old and his average blood pressure is around 150/60. When he got out of the bath ...
  A: Something's wrong, maybe not serious. Ask your docs about hyperthyroidism, which causes heat ...
constant palpitations4/24/2011
  Q: Ive recently had a 30 day event monitor and echos that said my heart was a " stone cold normal ...
  A: Premature beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG ...
obstructed internal jugular vein4/23/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson, Thank you for you time and expertise. I am a 43yr. female. Yesterday I had a ...
  A: I'm sorry for all your troubles. Yes, extreme fulness in head, vision problems and prominent veins ...
hello again..4/22/2011
  Q: I have emailed you before about my heart concerns. I have anxiety and hypochondria like I said in my ...
  A: Barlow, It's all normal, even brief runs, and you need no more tests. Even when you feel your ...
Blood Flow to the heart muscle4/22/2011
  Q: I recently had a cardiac cath done and was told that one of my arteries had 40% blockage and that my ...
  A: Sorry, but I can't tell what is going on from your description. Constriction of the arteries to the ...
Diagnosed with SVT, but don't believe it4/20/2011
  Q: and thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I'm female, 29 years old, 5 ft, 180 lbs, BP ...
  A: SVT starts and stops abruptly, in one heart beat, and usually runs 180-220 beats/min. If your 160 ...
Looking for answers4/19/2011
  Q: First, thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I will try to not go on too long but I ...
  A: Jarro, you should certainly carry your EKG with you. You do not need another cath! Please tell me ...
abnormal ECG4/18/2011
  Q: I have had abnormal ECG results for a year, and the doctors told me that all these abnormal ECG ...
  A: a) No other heart problem. Mitral prolapse with mild mitral and tricuspid regurgitation is not a ...
Suspected heart or lunge issues4/16/2011
  Q: I'm 21 years old and for about a month I have been feeling an unusual ''pricking'' on my left chest ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Low HDL4/16/2011
  Q: I'm a 52 year old female with type 2 diabetes (controlled with diet & exercise, A1c 5.1). My recent ...
  A: Not yet. The good news is that with your LDL so low, your risk for heart attack and cardiac death ...
chest pain4/15/2011
  Q: In July of 2006 I had a baby and nine months later I had the first memorable episode of dizziness ...
  A: The rhythm is certainly sinus tachycardia, but that doesn't explain the breathlessness or fatigue. ...
Borderline left ventricular enlargement4/15/2011
  Q: i am 24 years old for the past 5 years i consistently exercises 5-6 times a week combined with ...
  A: Your results are all normal for a man who exercises heavily. Slight left ventricular enlargement is ...
heart palpatations, weakness4/14/2011
  Q: I am a 24 year old female with a 10 month old very active son. I have been getting really tired, ...
  A: It's not mitral valve prolapse, or any valve trouble. That would have shown up on the echo. ...
cholestoral4/14/2011
  Q: I am 31, 6' and weigh 219 lbs. I am currently taking Lisinopril (sp?) for high blood pressure which ...
  A: Every doctor would say that cholesterol is only one of many factors that cause heart disease, but ...
caratoid artery4/13/2011
  Q: When I had a case of my heart racing like crazy, it stopped by the time I got to the ER. The doctor ...
  A: A. Yes, but I'd try other maneuvers first. Maneuvers to stop SVT 1. Lie down for a few minutes. If ...
Heart issue4/13/2011
  Q: Richardson, I need your urgent help please because I cant go to a doctor for some psychological ...
  A: 1. The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest ...
palpitations in the morn4/12/2011
  Q: Ive been having these palpitations in the morning, ecspecially if im in a rush, its like a skipped ...
  A: You're feeling skipped heart beats. Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or ...
sudden jolts at night4/12/2011
  Q: richardson.... im paul 29yr old male 6ft 2in 15stone work out 3 times a week eat healthy. i suffer ...
  A: The jolt may be a ventricular premature beat. The beat after a premature beat is an extra big, ...
Looking for answers4/12/2011
  Q: First, thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I will try to not go on too long but I ...
  A: No, you need not worry about heart disease or failure. And yes the repeat echo is to be sure no ...
idioventricular or idiojunctional with abberancy?4/11/2011
  Q: I know this would be easier if I had a 12 lead but do not at the moment. Hopefully you can share ...
  A: With narrow QRS it can't be ventricular. Serum K that high can flatten P waves as well making tall ...
Beta Blockers4/10/2011
  Q: I'm a 52 year old lady who has been on one beta blocker or another for nearly 20 years, and on ...
  A: Adrenal trouble can cause hypertension. So can narrowing of the arteries to the kidneys. All are ...
Hello4/10/2011
  Q: I have spoken to you before about my heart concerns and anxiety. Lately I have been having some very ...
  A: The beat after a PVC is extra hard because the heart fills with extra blood in the pause after the ...
PVC's turning into V-Tach?4/9/2011
  Q: I recently saw a new OB (I am 24 weeks pregnant) and discussed my issue with PVC's with him. I am ...
  A: Seems you have to trust the new OB, tho the chance of VTach is small. Vtach runs at heart rates ...
Beta blocker rebound?4/8/2011
  Q: Greetings, I am 6'5", 240 lbs, 35 years old, prone to anxiety and panic (very prone), and take ...
  A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. About 1/4 of us have them, they are ...
constant worries4/7/2011
  Q: I am a 37 year old female. Normal weight. Blood pressure 110/65. Good cholesterol total 145, ldl 94, ...
  A: Heart attack before age 50 in parents or siblings counts more than 50% in risk. Maybe less in your ...
rvot4/7/2011
  Q: I have just been diagnosed with rvot i'm 50 years old. and how dangerous would it be not to take ...
  A: If RVOT is the same as arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, then it can't go away and ...
Heart palpitations4/5/2011
  Q: I am a 42 year old female weighing about 135 to 140lbs. In the past 7 months, I started waking at ...
  A: Oh. If the racing starts and stops abruptly, in one heart beat, it's paroxysmal supraventricular ...
extrasystoles,pvcs4/5/2011
  Q: Sometimes I'd have it frequent other times not I have been for a full examination by a cardiologist ...
  A: Skipped beats and PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with ...
Ecg reading4/4/2011
  Q: hey im 17 years old and i am a smoker i have been exprienceing chest pain for the last 3 months and ...
  A: Incomplete right bundle branch block is a minor abnormality that is not a threat to life or health ...
Heart palpitations4/3/2011
  Q: I am a 23 year old female, 5 feet, 108lbs, taking tri-orthocyclen lo. When I was at the doctor for ...
  A: Your palpitations are probably skipped beats. Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to ...
abnormal t wave4/2/2011
  Q: I am a 52 year old woman who suffers from anxiety disorder. I am not currently taking medication ...
  A: Rawlings, To get peace of mind about your heart, get a stress test monitored by radioisotopes (also ...
Abnormal ECG4/2/2011
  Q: I was wondering if you could help me read/interpret my newest ecg reading? Also if first ecg 2 ...
  A: The rhythm is normal. The probable cause of the reading of anteroseptal infarct is placement of the ...
septal infarct4/1/2011
  Q: I am a 41 year-old female and have recently joined an intense 3-month exercise program at my gym. ...
  A: Almost every EKG reading of septal infarct in young healthy person is the results of putting the EKG ...
sinking feeling heart stopped?4/1/2011
  Q: Sir. I have had an echo and holters and monitors galore recently, and told lots of pvc but fine. The ...
  A: Dr Guillotine's patients stopped blinking 14 seconds after their heads were chopped off, so it takes ...
EKG Diagnosis4/1/2011
  Q: I recently visited a cardiologist after complaining about occasional chest pressure/pain that I've ...
  A: The EKG shows WPW and you're correct that WPW doesn't cause chest pain. The most common cause of ...
heart rhythm strange3/31/2011
  Q: Two years ago I was diagnosed with a rapid heart rate, I went to a cardiologist who gave me a halter ...
  A: Variable heart rate is a good sign, means a healthy heart. The fast average rate is called postural ...
Pain3/31/2011
  Q: Hi I'm 35 male lately been having chest pain above and below left nipple in that area it was so bad ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
chest pain 13 years old3/30/2011
  Q: My daughter is generally tired, iron levels on the low side, is 5 ft 7, 175 pounds and when she ...
  A: Diana, you need do nothing else. The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping ...
Irregular heartbeats3/30/2011
  Q: You've responded about my palpitations before and I thank you. Have another concern. I've suffered ...
  A: It's 4 or 5 PVCs or PACs in a row. They're weak beats because they are premature and the heart is ...
My Husbands Radiology Report3/29/2011
  Q: I am writing to you because I am feeling quite scared. Husband recently hadstress test because he ...
  A: Jeanette, possible causes are multiple. Skeletal muscular dystrophies are obvious because wasting ...
LEFT ATRIUM3/29/2011
  Q: Regarding my last question, should I be concerned? Is 3.9 something to be concerned about? Is LV ...
  A: You need not be concerned. LA dimension of 3.9 won't cause any trouble. Just keep checking on it ...
Propranolol3/29/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson. I am a 22-year-old female. A couple of months ago I started experiencing an ...
  A: Propranolol won't alter blood sugar but can lower blood pressure. Get your blood pressure measured ...
palps and rapid HR3/29/2011
  Q: The service you provide is very gracious. Im an otherwise healthy 38 y/o male. 5-11,170 and in ...
  A: Warren, The cardiologist at Vanderbilt's opinion seems correct to me. The rapid rate episodes ...
Can someone have endocarditis chronically?3/28/2011
  Q: Richardson, I will try to make this short! About one year ago I went to the ER with a major panic ...
  A: Vertigo comes from inner ear trouble. Ear,nose,throat specialists can often cure it with simple ...
chest pain3/28/2011
  Q: I am a 56 year old female with high BP and a stent in my artery. (4 years ago) For the past 3 weeks ...
  A: Maggy, a normal nuclear stress test gives 90% probability of no heart attack or cardiac death for 7 ...
Chest pain, left arm pain and lightheadedness after light exertion3/28/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson, This is Ronnie again. You answered a couple of my questions a few weeks ago... ...
  A: The chest pain is probably cramping of muscles in the chest wall with radiation to the arm. A ...
Left Atrium3/27/2011
  Q: I just had an echo and everything came back good, except my Left Atrium was 3.9, My LV was great ...
  A: 3.8 is upper limit of normal, so your LA dimension is borderline. Transient elevation in BP can do ...
Heart question.3/27/2011
  Q: I have contacted you before about my heart concerns. I have an anxiety disorder accompanied with ...
  A: You're noticing sinus arrhythmia, which is another indication that your heart is healthy and ...
Palpitations3/27/2011
  Q: I am a 29 y/o male. I am of normal weight with no significant health history. My blood pressure ...
  A: PACs and PVCs are usually felt as skipped beats. Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat ...
strange chest pain - not heart related3/26/2011
  Q: i went to emergency to the hospital last night for what i was sure was a vice like feeling in my ...
  A: Your pain is from muscles around ribs. The most common cause of chest pain is cramping of the ...
heart flutters3/26/2011
  Q: when i was a teenager (I'm 26 now) i notice my heart flutter a few times. I never paid any ...
  A: You're feeling skipped beats. Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health ...
Heart Palpitations3/25/2011
  Q: I am a 60-year old man with hypertension. I have been exercising on an elliptical for the last two ...
  A: Oscar, if you're asking if Pink Magic can cause vomiting, the only way to find out is stop the Pink ...
EKG3/25/2011
  Q: in 2006 I had an EKG done for back surgery, I didn't have a chest X-ray, I had a stress test done.. ...
  A: Major, Can't be sure without knowing what the EKG abnormality is, but jaw surgery is probably safe. ...
chest pain3/24/2011
  Q: I am a 56 year old female with high BP and a stent in my artery. (4 years ago) For the past 3 weeks ...
  A: Did your stress test include radioisotopes or echo? EKG monitoring alone is not very sensitive. If ...
slow heart rate3/24/2011
  Q: I recently wrote you while I was pregnant regarding heart palps that I was experiencing. I had my ...
  A: I think heart rates slow down considerably after giving birth. Your heart doesn't now have to work ...
enlarged heart3/24/2011
  Q: Am 76 diagnosed with lbbb 5 yrs ago. No symptoms then or now. Recent death in family and lots of ...
  A: Good afternoon Pat, One can't tell about left heart enlargement from an EKG that shows LBBB. The ...
Hypertension3/23/2011
  Q: I am 30 yr old. In a medical up it was found that my blood pressure was 150/106. that day I was in ...
  A: Blood pressure of 150/108 needs attention and can be treated successfully. RBBB stands for right ...
Chest pain3/23/2011
  Q: I am 23 years old, female, non-smoker, 5'6, 210 lbs. I have had a burning/tightness/pain (it ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Heart palpitations3/23/2011
  Q: I am a 42 year old female weighing about 135 to 140lbs. In the past 7 months, I started waking at ...
  A: Sorry, but I don't know either. Shaking of chest wall is not something that would lead to death or ...
Heart/chest pain3/22/2011
  Q: I have been suffering with acute pains in my chest all day, consistantly. Its near my heart and is ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
pvc's3/22/2011
  Q: Richardson, I am having frequent PVC'S. I went to the E.R and they happened during the EKG I was ...
  A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with a normal EKG and ...
Palpitations (harmful and harmless)3/21/2011
  Q: I saw my cardiolgist last week, he was mentioning that my palpitations (ones caught on event ...
  A: Rich, I can't explain very well. Any cell in atria or ventricles is capable of initiating a ...
Heart worries...3/21/2011
  Q: I am a 19 year old male and I have terrible anxiety which is also accompanied with extreme ...
  A: 1. No, you could not have developed a heart condition in 3 or 4 years, not in at least 10 years. ...
anxiety heart health question3/21/2011
  Q: I'm 23 years old, recently put on Bystolic for high blood pressure (169/82) and am 5'10" 190 lbs. I ...
  A: Your palpitations may be skipped beats. Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life ...
Skipped beats3/20/2011
  Q: Thomas, Thank you for putting this site together. It is very informative and helpful. My question ...
  A: Your paipitations are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG ...
SVT and pregnancy BP monitoring3/20/2011
  Q: I am at my wits end and need a professional opinion. I've had mild SVT all my life my pulse averages ...
  A: Roshon, The nurses sure seem dumb. Ask the obstetrician to take your BP with a manual pump while ...
PVC's3/19/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson, I notice you sometimes say half of the general population experience PVC`s yet you ...
  A: Half of us have skipped beats, either PACs or PVCs. I'm just guessing that that half is divided ...
Heart Issue3/18/2011
  Q: About 4 weeks ago, i had an episode at about 12:30am-1:00am on a Saturday morning when i went to ...
  A: You're feeling skipped beats. Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health ...
pvc's , pac's and incomplete RBBB on 1 occaision3/18/2011
  Q: My name is Melissa, 33 yr old,5'6, 128 pds, Baseline HR-58-65,BP 100/60.Hypothyroid x 15 yrs, on ...
  A: Melissa, I don't know how to help. I think PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or ...
PVC's3/18/2011
  Q: I have been suffering with PVCs for many years. I do get several in a row, but I can reach and feel ...
  A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and echo. ...
heart rate and pain medication3/18/2011
  Q: I am a 62 year old male on disability due to a very rare form of muscular Dystrophy called OPMD. I ...
  A: Heart rate above 45 awake and 35 asleep is normal. You're safe to take Vicodin. Please write back ...
My Husbands Radiology Report3/17/2011
  Q: I am writing to you because I am feeling quite scared. Husband recently hadstress test because he ...
  A: The report is bad, indicating severe damage to his heart from clogging of coronary arteries. Could ...
When to convert afib episode3/15/2011
  Q: I have paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. My afib is of the "lone" variety as I don't have high blood ...
  A: Yes, that's a very good rule. If Afib lasts longer than 48 hours, it may still be possible to avoid ...
Gunshot to the heart.3/15/2011
  Q: I have written a novel which is being published by Simon & Schuster in July, and have a question I ...
  A: Yes, they would feel pain, and not die instantly. Even if the bullet induced ventricular ...
Possible PE?3/15/2011
  Q: I am 42 years old, 5'-9" and weigh 184. No regular medications other than me taking 2-3 baby ...
  A: I'm very sorry about all your troubles. D-dimer would be abnormal for weeks after a pulmonary ...
EKG Enough?3/14/2011
  Q: Richardson, I would like to start off saying Thank You so much from myself and those you have ...
  A: Susan, PVCs, including multifocal, are benign if you have normal heart structure and function, which ...
angina?3/14/2011
  Q: I posted to this wesite last year and had a few reasurring replies. I couldnt post any questions to ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
pvcs3/14/2011
  Q: I had a heart ultrasound about 8 months ago. I also have had a 30 event and 24 holter. I was told I ...
  A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and echo. ...
Palpatations/whooshing3/13/2011
  Q: I was sick with a flu like illness several months back. The first symptom I noticed was heart ...
  A: PACs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. Exhaustion probably needs a doctor's ...
Low blood pressure at night3/13/2011
  Q: I recently took my blood pressure when I woke up in the middle of the night, to go to the bathroom ...
  A: 73 is low enough to make you dizzy and short of breath. Palpitations are normal heart activity, not ...
my heart3/12/2011
  Q: my heart is acting up right now feels like its beating fast and i'm feeling sick every time i move. ...
  A: How fast is it beating? Anxiety makes hearts beat fast and bodies sweat and nausea too. Faintness ...
heart pause3/11/2011
  Q: My fiance is 24, and has been an athlete most of his life, non-smoker, doesn't drink much. I was ...
  A: It's a skipped beat. Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in ...
Fast Heartbeat While Exercising3/10/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson, I'm an 18 year old female, 5'2'' and approximately 110-115lbs. I am on birth ...
  A: Diabetes in family has no effect on your heart. I think your heart rate during exercise is okay. I ...
Skipped Beats3/10/2011
  Q: Sorry to ask you another question regarding skipped beats because it seems so many of us out here in ...
  A: Skipped beats are harmless in people with normal EKG (no prolonged QT) and normal echo, and in ...
worried3/9/2011
  Q: I have been having pain for a while now which I don't attribute to heart disorder but tonight when ...
  A: Eileen, the fact that your pain is worse when you lift your arm proves that the pain comes from ...
Chest tightness, increased heart rate3/8/2011
  Q: I'm a 22 year old female and I've been suffering mainly from tightness in the chest and an increased ...
  A: If the irregular pulse is skipped beats, they are normal heart activity, no threat to life or ...
Ejection Fraction3/8/2011
  Q: I recently spent 6 weeks in the hospital after being diagnosed with afib and a bilateral PE.After an ...
  A: The EF of 30 won't keep you from returning to work if breathlessness and fatigue are not limiting. ...
Plavix and Absence Seizures3/8/2011
  Q: Iam 50yrs.; 5'4 & weigh 128 lbs. I have beeen on blood pressure meds (3) for 20 yrs. I have been on ...
  A: Plavix is an unlikely cause of seizures, but Plavix is needed only a year after a heart bypass, so ...
Metformin and Coreg3/7/2011
  Q: My husband had a triple bypass on Jan 14th he is a W/M 69 yrs old. Never had high blood pressure ...
  A: Good morning Joyce, He should not take a statin. Muscle pain from statins may predict serious ...
Lightheadedness & Palpitations3/6/2011
  Q: I have been having a number of the following symptoms on a regular basis now for around 2 years, ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
palpitations3/6/2011
  Q: I am 50 years and have hypothyroidism and i take daily 1.25 micrograms of thyroxine since the past 2 ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
Chest Pains3/5/2011
  Q: I was wondering if you would be able to help me. I am a 23 year old woman who is over weight and ...
  A: Inflammation of heart is too vague a term. If your pain was worse with a deep breath, it could be ...
Heart Skipping Beats3/5/2011
  Q: I have read your responses to those inquiring about skipped heart beats. I understand that they are ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
my 13 yo son3/5/2011
  Q: Richardson, My 13 yo son has an irregular slow heart beat and a swishing sound when I listen to it. ...
  A: The first test would be ask your doc if he hears the swishing sound in your son's heart and ask him ...
Blood pressure3/3/2011
  Q: Dr, I have a question regarding my blood pressure readings. I take the readings on my own and ...
  A: Your question has puzzled experts for years, and has no simple answer. It's called "white coat" ...
palpitation3/3/2011
  Q: sir,my investigation shows RBBB with LAHB since last 12 yrs PR .16,QT/QTC 405/450 ,HR 92 BP 128/88 ...
  A: Your forceful beats are skipped beats and are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in ...
cardiomyopathy3/2/2011
  Q: I have two questions sir. A. Would someone who has cardiomyopathy die if they had frequent PVCs? ...
  A: A. Depends on how bad heart function is. If left ventricular ejection fraction is less than 35%, ...
Microvascular angina3/1/2011
  Q: I have recently had an angiogram but no blockages was found. I have been suffering with palpitations ...
  A: Yes, microvascular dysfunction can cause chest pain with exertion. Often there is EKG change during ...
chest pain3/1/2011
  Q: I Have written to you twice before and you made me feel relieved. I am a 55 year old female with ...
  A: Linda, Chest pain worse when you breathe in or burp is most likely cramping of muscles in the chest ...
Different BP in left and right arm?3/1/2011
  Q: and thank you for answering my question about a month ago. My problem is, I have, for some reason, ...
  A: Simplest answer to your question is ask someone to measure the BP in one arm and then the other a ...
Ablation and EF3/1/2011
  Q: can you tell me anything about an arrhythmia that originates in the right ventricular outflow tract? ...
  A: Good morning, Tracy, I'm sorry, but I don't know if ablation works well in RV outflow tract PVCs. ...
SVT2/28/2011
  Q: In 2006 I had a cardiac ablation for AVNRT. After ablation I was reduced from 150mg of Atenolol ...
  A: Oh. Has someone helped you with the vertigo? ENT docs often can, and there are exercises you can ...
blocked arteries2/28/2011
  Q: i just had a heart cath and was suprised to find i had one artery blocked and one partially ...
  A: Robert, chelation removes calcium, but calcium is not what causes heart attacks, and chelation ...
SVT2/27/2011
  Q: In 2006 I had a cardiac ablation for AVNRT. After ablation I was reduced from 150mg of Atenolol ...
  A: Take your blood pressure sitting and then standing quietly for 1,3 and 5 minutes. If it falls below ...
REG.CT ANGIO FOR CAD2/26/2011
  Q: I wish to know if one can undergo this instead of invasive angio when there is a positive stress ...
  A: Yes. The radiation is about the same for both tests. Invasive angio has the advantage that any ...
Prolonged QT interval2/25/2011
  Q: Would you consider A QT/QTc of 440/464 too long as this was recorded on my ECG a few months ago. I ...
  A: No, June, up to 460 is normal for women, and noone can tell the difference between 460 and 464. I ...
poor circulation2/24/2011
  Q: could laying/ sitting in a bed for 8 months cause poor circulation? I havent moved much at all in ...
  A: Yes, clotting of leg veins is common after such a long time in bed. Blockage of leg veins would ...
blocked arteries2/24/2011
  Q: i just had a heart cath and was suprised to find i had one artery blocked and one partially ...
  A: Probably takes a year to significantly reduce the blockages, which don't go completely away. But in ...
PVC-chest pressure-dizziness2/24/2011
  Q: I'm a 44 yr old male with possible PVC. I say "possible" because even though I have felt the ...
  A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and echo. ...
Splinter hemmoraghes2/23/2011
  Q: Doctor, I heard splinter hemmoraghes are caused by Bacterial endocardidtis.I seen a cardiologist in ...
  A: Get a doctor to listen to your heart, and you can measure your temperature several days around 5 pm. ...
cardiac workup2/22/2011
  Q: I am 33 year old female. I visited a cardiologist for mild tricuspid regurgitation and presyncope ...
  A: Good morning Mukti, Pressure on the stomach would make the veins in the neck stand out if there was ...
blocked arteries2/22/2011
  Q: i just had a heart cath and was suprised to find i had one artery blocked and one partially ...
  A: Good morning Robert, There are no drugs that dissolve blockages quickly, but lowering blood ...
pain in left ventrical2/22/2011
  Q: My name is Darrien and I am 16. I have just experienced a Sharp and suddent pain in my upper left ...
  A: Good evening, Darrien, The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the ...
skipped beats2/21/2011
  Q: I am 30 years old, female, normal blood pressure. I am currently 9 months pregnant so my weight is ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
Septal Infaract?2/21/2011
  Q: I had gall bladder surgery last Thursday. An ECG was part of my pre op tests. I make it a habit to ...
  A: EKGs read septal infarct if the electrodes are placed too high on the chest. Get another EKG and ...
purple hands2/20/2011
  Q: I am a 14 year old girl. I have always had cold hands and feet. In the winter my hands will be a ...
  A: You have Raynaud's phenomenon. The tiny blood vessels in your hands narrow when the weather is cold ...
Uncoiled aorta2/19/2011
  Q: I had an x-ray to rule out pnuemonia. It also said "atherosclerotic uncoiling of the aorta". The ...
  A: No heart issues are indicated by an uncoiled aorta. Life expectancy is normal. You are not at ...
Uncoiled aorta2/19/2011
  Q: I had an x-ray to rule out pnuemonia. It also said "atherosclerotic uncoiling of the aorta". The ...
  A: Atherosclerotic was misused in this report. Uncoiling occurs because age or high BP cause ...
sinus tach following steroid use2/18/2011
  Q: I was diagnosed with acute bronchitis and sinus infection 12/8/10. Given antibiotics, decongestants, ...
  A: Some of your troubles sound like hyperthyroidism (sinus tachycardia, restlessness), but you didn't ...
Palpitations2/18/2011
  Q: In last couple years, had several EKG's, echo, chest X ray, Holter and event monitors, tons of ...
  A: Yes, you can have palpitations/rapid rate of 90-110 that lasts hours without any damage to your ...
Low HDL2/17/2011
  Q: .. While my over Cholesteral level is good at 150...my HDL is 41 (low average) What foods can I eat ...
  A: Fish oil containing omega-three fatty acids is good. Nuts and vegetables of course. Diet should be ...
Mild Regurg2/17/2011
  Q: .. Is mild regurg of the mistral and trcuspid vales on an echo of any significance? In the context ...
  A: No, mild regurg of any valve is normal. A little blood flows backward through the mitral and ...
weird heartbeat2/17/2011
  Q: I am 39. Female, 5' 4" 135lbs. For the past 5 weeks or so every now and then mainly at night my ...
  A: You're feeling skipped beats. They are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone ...
Ablation and EF2/16/2011
  Q: I am a 47 year old African American woman who has had an ICD/Pacemaker for nearly a year. Right ...
  A: Tracy, I think the frequent VPCs don't decrease your heart function at all. The beat after the PVC ...
taking beta blockers for pvc's2/16/2011
  Q: I am a 45 yr. old female who has exercised regularly and intensely for years. I run on a treadmill, ...
  A: Pvcs and pacs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with an otherwise ...
Questionable abnormal Heart rhythm/Rx drug induced2/16/2011
  Q: I am 31 yrs old, I currently take 100mg Lamictal BID, 20 of Geodon in the am, 60mg of Geodon qhs, 1 ...
  A: Cogentin has tachycardia listed as an ill effect. The only way to be sure whether chloral hydrated ...
dropped heart beats2/15/2011
  Q: I'm 32 year old female with no prior cardiac history. I had some transient hypertension when I was ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with good exercise ...
bp withdrawl2/15/2011
  Q: im 18, I was on a beta blocker for months for an arrythmia thats now ablated and ive taperd off of ...
  A: Josh, it's safe for the short run to exercise. 150/100 is of course too high. Monitor your BP at ...
Ablation and EF2/14/2011
  Q: I am a 47 year old African American woman who has had an ICD/Pacemaker for nearly a year. Right ...
  A: Symptoms don't always match the EF, tho your excellent exercise ability does suggest that your EF ...
seeking advice on combination of fenofibrate and simvastatin therapy2/14/2011
  Q: I am a male age 46 years, indian race. My lipid profile is as follows TOtal: 249 mg/dl, LDL: 148 ...
  A: Anand, fenofibrate certainly adds to the risk of muscle damage. I'm not sure about kidneys. The ...
seeking advice on combination of fenofibrate and simvastatin therapy2/13/2011
  Q: I am a male age 46 years, indian race. My lipid profile is as follows TOtal: 249 mg/dl, LDL: 148 ...
  A: Both tablets can be taken at the same time. I don't know if morning and night would lessen side ...
high blood pressure medicine2/11/2011
  Q: I am 62, taking Lisinopril and Triam. I get headaches and have noticed that my scalp is sore to the ...
  A: Crawford, Sounds infected, swollen and tender. If it's red and warm, it's most likely infected. ...
Lidocaine w/epi reaction2/10/2011
  Q: I had some dental work done and received 2-3 injections of lidocaine w/epi and some dental bands or ...
  A: Epinephrine, or any injection, can cause panic, and half an hour after the injection is about the ...
ECG2/10/2011
  Q: i am 19yrs old. i went to the doctors today because ive bin feeling un well and passed out. Anyway i ...
  A: He just wants to be sure your heart is not causing the faints by being too slow. Low BP is much ...
palpitations2/9/2011
  Q: can a modified av node cause palpitations? Ive been having a lot of them lately but its been 3 ...
  A: Yes, Josh, any place in the heart can make premature beats. We know your AV node wasn't destroyed, ...
ask about 't' wave inversion in e.c.g2/9/2011
  Q: dr. richardson... me a medical student jst 20years..i got chest pain before 3 month....i have not ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Taurine to supress PVC's2/8/2011
  Q: ..I read your comments about Taurine possibly controlling PVC's in a prior post. I would like to try ...
  A: Here's the quotation. 10 to 20 grams taurine per day reduced PACs by 50 percent and prevented all ...
My Son2/8/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson: My son is 32 years old; diagnosed with cardiompathy at 23. Left EF 40-45. Had ...
  A: His heart should have calmed down right after the ablation, within a day or two. Ablations are not ...
PH2/7/2011
  Q: It would not let me reply so I had to post a new question. here is the link for the stem cell I ...
  A: Cathy. Here's one for you, ...
av block2/7/2011
  Q: Female Age 40ish 110 overt 80 I was told my 1st degree heart block was benign. I read the Framinghan ...
  A: Framingham is a good guide. Did you notice if it's talking about 1%/year as being the rate of twice ...
Pulmonary Hypertension-RSVP2/6/2011
  Q: I had written to you before when my RSVP was 48 and had had a repeat echo 3 mos later which had ...
  A: 1. Treating the sleep apnea may lower the PA pressure. Why not try? 2. Echos are accurate about PA ...
inapropriate exercise habbits and heart damage2/6/2011
  Q: What are the effects of sporadic intense exercise on the cardiovascular system? I recently took up ...
  A: You need to warm up some before intense exercise like weight lifting, and start with lighter weights ...
brugada syndrome2/5/2011
  Q: Is brugada syndrome fairly easy for most EPs to find? I have had lots of ekgs and tests but told I ...
  A: No, an EP Doc would certainly find Brugada. It's easy on a plain EKG. If you never fainted or had ...
Stress test ECG2/5/2011
  Q: Im a 39 year old male that had mild chest and arm pain, fatigue for the last month. I had a ...
  A: Sinus tachycardia is normal, just means the heart rate was over 100 but the rhythm was normal. ...
missed/skipped heart beats2/4/2011
  Q: for the last 4 months i have been having about 6 skipped/missed beats a minute, when i relax and ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
Pulmonary Hypertension-RSVP2/4/2011
  Q: I had written to you before when my RSVP was 48 and had had a repeat echo 3 mos later which had ...
  A: No bother. Write back any time. Overweight probably doesn't cause PH, tho sleep apnea may. 60 may ...
PVCs2/4/2011
  Q: I started having pvc when I was 24 after my daughter was born. I am 29 now and still have them. ...
  A: Mitral valve prolapse is so close to normal that it prevents no threat. An audible click is not ...
fast heart2/3/2011
  Q: 1. Why would my heart sometimes just race at 94 pbm out of the blue? 2. I had 20-30 pvcs a min ...
  A: 1. Anxiety, fear, overactive thyroid, and most often just normal. 2. Yes, that's okay for a healthy ...
19 year old with rapid heart beat2/1/2011
  Q: I'm a healthy nineteen year old female and over the past month I've developed a rapid heart beat of ...
  A: Yes, anxiety can do just that, fast heart rate when you're awake that slows when you're asleep. ...
VT2/1/2011
  Q: I have been told my heart is normal but I have very many pvcs and rare pacs. All my tests were ...
  A: 1. No, I wouldn't have an ablation. They are tricky and not always successful, and PVC's never hurt ...
confused about rythm2/1/2011
  Q: I want to explain this so please be patient. When my heart beats, normally I feel a beat beat beat ...
  A: Nicole, doctors are uncomfortable till they know what they're dealing with. I was wondering if it ...
how to know1/31/2011
  Q: If a person has had a million tests and healthy heart how do you know when a rythm issue is not to ...
  A: With a healthy heart, VT is EXTREMELY unlikely. A-fib is not dangerous unless it lasts hours, and ...
confused about rythm1/31/2011
  Q: I want to explain this so please be patient. When my heart beats, normally I feel a beat beat beat ...
  A: 1. No 2. Not bad. 3. If it happens every single day, a 24-hour EKG (Holter monitor) will catch it. ...
Cardiologist Needed1/31/2011
  Q: I'm a 36 year old athletic male who works out 6 days week at the gym in my apartment complex and I ...
  A: I live in Richmond, so I'm no help. Duke, UNC in Chapel Hill and EVMS should all have free ...
confused about rythm1/31/2011
  Q: I want to explain this so please be patient. When my heart beats, normally I feel a beat beat beat ...
  A: Might be arial fib, which is not dangerous at all so long as it doesn't occur more often than every ...
incomplete RBBB1/30/2011
  Q: BEEN A BIT STRSSED AND ANXIOUS FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND LAST NIGHT I FAINTED/COLLAPSED. BEFORE THAT IT ...
  A: Incomplete RBBB is no threat to life or health, a minor abnormality that accounts for the flipped T ...
vpc1/30/2011
  Q: This is more of a thank you rather than a question you have answered alot of my questions that my ...
  A: Fooey, I'm not using the same name. The one I'm talking about, which is called an event monitor in ...
high blood pressure1/28/2011
  Q: I have a blood pressure monitor and noticed over the past few weeks that my blood pressure is very ...
  A: You can try restricting salt intake, but if that doesn't lower your BP enough, you'll need to get ...
poor circulation and chest pain1/28/2011
  Q: I have experienced the following symptoms on different occasions the are occurring more frequently: ...
  A: Yes, it's possible the first doctor was right. The cardiologist was certainly wrong. You're not ...
Fast heartbeat1/27/2011
  Q: my son is seventeen and he told two days ago that when he is training basketball he suffers a fast ...
  A: Maybe. Not a serious one, but if the fast heartbeat starts and stops abruptly, in one heart beat, ...
Side effects of perindopiril1/27/2011
  Q: Can you tell me why perindopiril can have a side effect of abnormal weakness particularly in ones ...
  A: Yes, it would make you weak in legs if it lowered your BP too much. Reducing the dose may relieve ...
Dear Dr. Richardson1/27/2011
  Q: .. my name is Selma and i am 24 years old, Afro-Arab. i have been having these really strange pain ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
taurine and pvcs1/26/2011
  Q: Can Taurine help get ride of pvcs? I am 33 and have done all of the heart test known to man. I have ...
  A: Case histories of people with very frequent arrhythmias are presented showing 10 to 20 grams taurine ...
Extra Heart Beat1/26/2011
  Q: I AM 38 YRS OLD, MALE, FOR THE LAST YEAR I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A SKIPPED BEAT MAYBE ONCE EVERY ...
  A: Larden, Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal ...
Anaesthetic as a cause of ectopics?1/25/2011
  Q: They began 6 years ago after an operation to remove an ovarian cyst. It took me a while to come ...
  A: No, anesthetics or low calcium would not trigger missed beats, which are normal heart activity. Why ...
Irregular heartbeats1/25/2011
  Q: I am a 17 year old male in fairly average physical shape. Sometimes when I'm not doing anything I ...
  A: It's a regular thing that needs no action. You're having a skipped beat every 4th beat. Skipped ...
Lowering Cholesterol1/25/2011
  Q: I'm 28, I don't take medications, I weight 146 lbs, my blood pressure is 110/70, and my height is ...
  A: William, Please give the diet 6 months. That may lower your LDL some more. The only other step to ...
Ablation question1/24/2011
  Q: it was a sucsess but the doc found i had a dual av nodal pathway, he said he modified the av node. ...
  A: I'm not sure. You must ask your doctor. An AV node able to conduct both ways would account for ...
vpc1/24/2011
  Q: This is more of a thank you rather than a question you have answered alot of my questions that my ...
  A: Razia, ask for an event monitor, a little box you carry with you that records your EKG a few minutes ...
ectopics/pvcs V-Fib1/23/2011
  Q: Please could you answer my questions I'd really appreciate your input 1) Is there such a thing as ...
  A: Goood find, Razia. Thanks for the reference. There seems to be some point in recording a VPC to ...
Chest pain, Arm pain1/23/2011
  Q: I feel that I have a little bit of a strange history, but here goes... I am a healthy 27 year old ...
  A: Ryley, wait a week to see if the Prevacid cures the pains. If it doesn't, try Tylenol 600 mg. three ...
Chest pain, Arm pain1/23/2011
  Q: I feel that I have a little bit of a strange history, but here goes... I am a healthy 27 year old ...
  A: Ryley, The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the ...
ectopics/pvcs V-Fib1/22/2011
  Q: Please could you answer my questions I'd really appreciate your input 1) Is there such a thing as ...
  A: Yes, pvcs with a normal heart does not put a person at greater risk than the general population, or ...
ectopics/pvcs V-Fib1/22/2011
  Q: Please could you answer my questions I'd really appreciate your input 1) Is there such a thing as ...
  A: Razia, 1. Yes, some occur without an obvious cause. See ...
Heart problems?1/21/2011
  Q: I'm 15 and I'm just wondering what you think might be going on with my heart. So for several months ...
  A: Palpitations are okay in a normal heart, and chest pain is almost never serious in a 15 year old. ...
Low Blood Pressure in Left Arm1/20/2011
  Q: I have been monitoring my blood pressure. I am a 48 year old, 5 feet 4 inches tall and weigh 170 lb ...
  A: Tina, BP is usually about the same sitting and lying, within 15 mm. Hg. The exercise in changing ...
Low Blood Pressure in Left Arm1/19/2011
  Q: I have been monitoring my blood pressure. I am a 48 year old, 5 feet 4 inches tall and weigh 170 lb ...
  A: Good morning, Tina, Lower BP in one arm suggests something that narrows the artery to that arm, a ...
Echo results and a.temporalis1/18/2011
  Q: My PCP referred me to a cardiologist to get all my heart related questions answered. I've been ...
  A: 1.No, you're not about to develop LVH. Anxiety probably led to increase in LVEF. 2, No, a palpable ...
Stress test results1/17/2011
  Q: I went to the cardiologist last week because I was having skipped beats. He identified these skipped ...
  A: Nothing very helpful. About half of nuclear stress tests are falsely positive. Shadows from fat in ...
angina type pain1/17/2011
  Q: I am female and 64 years old. I have been getting angina type pains in my back, a heavy ...
  A: Yes, Merryl, the pain could still be caused by temporary lack of blood supply to part of your heart ...
Heart Related Issues1/17/2011
  Q: I'm 22 years old, no medication, 5'2'' and currently 148lbs (had a baby almost 2 months ago) All ...
  A: Extra beats are normal heart activity, no threat to health or life. That includes the big thumps, ...
angina type pain1/16/2011
  Q: I am female and 64 years old. I have been getting angina type pains in my back, a heavy ...
  A: Spasm of coronary arteries can cause angina and is difficult to diagnose, requiring an EKG or ...
Irregular Beats Taking Pulse1/15/2011
  Q: This has been going on for a while, like a few weeks. Beat, skip, beat, skip, beat beat skip and ...
  A: No problem because of skipped beats, which are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in ...
Irregular Heart Rhythm1/15/2011
  Q: I have an irregular heartbeat. On ECG the heart rate was 54 beats per minute. My GP prescribed beta ...
  A: Good morning, Michelle, Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in ...
PAC's and Sik Sinus Syndrome1/14/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson, I am 52 yrs old, 150 lbs. and moderately active. No other health problems and take ...
  A: Trial of a beta blocker seems a good idea to me. You could subsequently try stopping the beta ...
I have been diagnosed with PSVT1/14/2011
  Q: I'm 32yrs old weigh about 80kg and height is 5'8". I used to experience rapid heart rate problem but ...
  A: Good morning Pankaj, Yes, it's safe to avoid RFA. I think The indication for RFA is very frequent ...
Delayed interval of the heart1/14/2011
  Q: I am 79 years of age and have been treated for atrial fibrillation for many years now. I have tried ...
  A: Good morning, Lois. So far as I know, a prolonged interval with atrial fib is good so long as heart ...
abnormal ekg1/14/2011
  Q: The other day I wrote to you bout my ekg an thank u for answering me well The left atrial ...
  A: Rachael, failure of the left ventricle to pump blood well or to relax well can cause left atrial ...
ekg1/13/2011
  Q: Hey David, 46. 5'10" 150 lbs. 110-130 / 58-68 I asked you a question once before, you gave a great ...
  A: QTc less than 460 is normal. What I meant to say is that the reading printed on the EKG should be ...
reading an EKG1/13/2011
  Q: I had a bunch of testing done by my cardiologist and one test was a holter. The report said I had a ...
  A: The Holter would not report something that didn't exist, and you felt the run, so your EP doc must ...
ECG1/12/2011
  Q: Richardson, My dad is 75 year old - his ECG from sep 2010 shows the following that appear within ...
  A: The EKG is normal. It's not much help in prognosis, the important factors being blood pressure, ...
heart pause1/12/2011
  Q: I was borm with a heart mumor and as I grew my valve didnt now my valve flows both ways and heart ...
  A: Skipped beats are no threat to life or health in people whose left ventricular ejection fraction is ...
Heart Failure/Atrial Fib1/12/2011
  Q: 4 months ago I was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy after drinking heavily for 3 months, ...
  A: Adam, 1. Improvement in EF is likely if you get to normal rhythm, but return to completely normal ...
PVCS and Bata Blockers1/12/2011
  Q: I went to the cardiologist for skipped heart beats. The EKG showed PVCS. I wore a 24 hour monitor, ...
  A: Robert, No, PVCs don't indicate a blockage. PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or ...
query1/11/2011
  Q: I have come to learn to accept my pvcs, however over the past month they have increased both ...
  A: Yes, the symptoms are normal symptoms of PVCs. You need be concerned about PVCs only if your EKG ...
Sudden surges in BP and HR1/10/2011
  Q: This is long but I will try my best to be concise. Last week I had an episode of sinus tachycardia, ...
  A: Beth, I can't think of anything beside pheo that causes episodes of rise in BP and heart rate. ...
EKG1/10/2011
  Q: Can u tell me wat this means an anythng to worry?? vent rat 73....PRinterval 108.....QRS ...
  A: Crouse, Sinus rhythm is the normal rhythm. Short PR means the electrical tissue that carries the ...
query1/9/2011
  Q: I have come to learn to accept my pvcs, however over the past month they have increased both ...
  A: Don't worry about the forceful skipped beat. That's normal heart activity too. And PVCs during ...
Exercise and Skipped beats1/9/2011
  Q: Dr. Richardson: I have written to you before and your answers have been extremely helpful to me. I ...
  A: Steven, Exercise is good for heart, body, and skipped beats. Please continue. Skipped beats are ...
Abnormal EKG1/9/2011
  Q: Richardson, I have had PVCs off and on the last couple years and had a documented short run of SVT ...
  A: Jeff, Very unlikely at your age with your family history to find anything serious. A clearly ...
pvcs1/8/2011
  Q: I was looking over something you said in 2009 in response to someone having pvcs after exercise. You ...
  A: PVC's before, during or after exercise, are no threat unless your echocardiogram shows left ...
Panic or something else?1/7/2011
  Q: You have been a tremendous help to me in the past and I hope you can help me again. As I posted in ...
  A: SVT stops and starts abruptly, in one heart beat. Since your fast rate slowed down gradually, it ...
rheumatic fever with palpitation1/7/2011
  Q: height 165 cm i had rheumatic fever at age of 17 yrs treated with aspirin and inj benzathine 12 lac ...
  A: Shri, Remember that in people with normal LVEF, ventricular ectopics are normal heart activity, no ...
Angina/CAD1/7/2011
  Q: 60 yo male 5'6" 145 lbs bp 137/70 much lower at night. Hr<50. On 120 Diltiazem daily, 25 ...
  A: Heart pain should occur with exercise and be relieved within 5 minutes by rest. Best test is ...
Pfo1/6/2011
  Q: my doc recently informed me that I have a pfo, he didnt say much about it. He didnt even tell me at ...
  A: Not no risk, but very small risk. A clot from leg veins could float thru the PFO into the left ...
Pvc's?1/5/2011
  Q: What can be wrong with me? I went to my dr with chest pain and he told me I was having pvc's - ...
  A: MaryAnne, you hadn't been exercising for three weeks when you had the stress test. 48,000 PVC's ...
Pvc's?1/5/2011
  Q: What can be wrong with me? I went to my dr with chest pain and he told me I was having pvc's - ...
  A: The poor performance on the stress test is probably the result of being out of shape, not exercising ...
heart attack1/5/2011
  Q: I recently had a heart attack. They did an angiogram and found the septal artery was blocked 70%. ...
  A: Yes, you can have a heart attack without visible damage to your heart. A bit of debris floating off ...
Re: Fast Heart Rate1/4/2011
  Q: I am in my early 20's and am female. I was placed on seroquel 20mg twice a day for anxiety Summer ...
  A: Restart the seroquel, wait a week and stop the duloxetine for a week to be sure it's not a side ...
PVCS and atrial tachycardia1/4/2011
  Q: I am a 42 year old female, 5'7 and around 200 pounds. I have had pvcs for the past two months. I ...
  A: Oh, Poo. Atrial tachycardia might weaken your heart if it lasted 12 hours, tho I doubt that even 24 ...
Borderline Prolonged qt1/4/2011
  Q: .. and just recently i went to the ER because i passed out.. they did an EKG and found a Borderline ...
  A: A prolonged QT can lead to ventricular tachycardia and even ventricular fibrillation, dangerous ...
PVCS and atrial tachycardia1/3/2011
  Q: I am a 42 year old female, 5'7 and around 200 pounds. I have had pvcs for the past two months. I ...
  A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and echo. ...
cardiac MRI reliability1/3/2011
  Q: 25 yr old male, left side chest pain, left arm pain, left jaw pain on and off for like 3 years now. ...
  A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and echo. ...
Pvc's or anxiety?1/3/2011
  Q: So I used to suffer svt's for years since I was around 15 (I am now 40) , I had figured out somehow ...
  A: The flip-flops are probably PVC's and are no threat to life or health. You will not drop dead or ...
cardiolite results12/30/2010
  Q: i am a 44 year old female with history of chest pain, tachycardia, palpitations, high blood ...
  A: Tammy, There are frequent falsely positive cardiolite tests. Damage to heart by chemotherapy would ...
arrythmia12/29/2010
  Q: im 30 years old female with no co morbidity.since some time back i get bouts of arrythmic fast ...
  A: Need to know the rate at which your heart beats when the arrhythmia occurs, and whether its rhythm ...
Palpitations?12/29/2010
  Q: I've recently been having random moments where my heart would race for no apparent reason. I've gone ...
  A: 120 sounds like normal tachycardia. You can tell for sure if your heart speeds up gradually over a ...
high pulse12/29/2010
  Q: Iam a 28 year old female and currently pregnant for the 11th time. I had 9 losses and 1 live birth. ...
  A: Pregnancy does put extra load on your heart and probably accounts for the shortness of breath, but ...
Chest pain for 8weeks . .12/28/2010
  Q: I am emailing with regards to chest pain I have been experiencing for the past 8weeks. End of ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
arrythmia12/28/2010
  Q: im 30 years old female with no co morbidity.since some time back i get bouts of arrythmic fast ...
  A: Hard to be sure what your arrhythmia is. Atrial fibrillation is totally irregular all the time it's ...
Upsloaping ST Segments12/27/2010
  Q: Had a stress test and echo that I passed. The two question I have that I forgot to ask the ...
  A: Simms, ST is the segment of EKG between the QRS (the sharp spikes) and the T wave. ST normally ...
anxiety or svt12/27/2010
  Q: I am a female diagnosed with panic disorder since I was a teenager. I am now in my 40s. Due to ...
  A: SVT starts and stops abruptly, in one heart beat, and the heart rate is close to 180. Anxiety ...
Fast Heart12/27/2010
  Q: I'm a teenager and my heart starts to just randomly beat really fast. My heart beat feels regular, ...
  A: If it speeds up abruptly, in one heart beat, and is over 160 beats a minute, or 4 beats in 15 ...
Heart pounding12/26/2010
  Q: I am a 46 year old male. 5'9" 170 lbs. Recently had a health risk assesment and all numbers came ...
  A: Strong emotion makes the heart pound. Overactive thyroid too, but that should make your heart beat ...
Bp issues12/26/2010
  Q: i take my blood pressure right after moving and after 5 min of resting, alot of the time when i take ...
  A: Borderline. Resting BP ideally is below 125. You're not doing anything wrong about your ...
Pain and Pulsation12/24/2010
  Q: I am a seventeen year old guy with no history of any disease or physical defect. Over the last 6 or ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
skipped heartbeats12/23/2010
  Q: I am a 29 year old female, 5'3" approx 180 pounds and have a bp of 110/70. I have had palpitations ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
heart block or qt12/22/2010
  Q: I was looking at my newest ekg reports and confused on something. 1.P-R .17, QRS.08, QT .35 Does ...
  A: 1. Those numbers don't mean anything bad. You need to look at QTc to be sure QT is normal. Any QTc ...
EKG Related12/22/2010
  Q: Yesterday I had undegone an EKG test twice simutaneously within a minute.The first report said ...
  A: Septal infarct means death of cells in the front of the heart caused by blockage of the anterior ...
EKG Related12/21/2010
  Q: Yesterday I had undegone an EKG test twice simutaneously within a minute.The first report said ...
  A: EKG reading of septal infarction is usually caused by placing the EKG electrodes too high on the ...
Flecainide12/21/2010
  Q: Dr Richardson, From previous posts we had talked about my diastolic dysfunction and PVC's. I had a ...
  A: Curtis, There is lots of evidence that flecainide is safe in people with normal left ventricular ...
valsalva help12/20/2010
  Q: youve answered questions I would have never remember to ask my doc. One more question about the ...
  A: A Valsalva can make you dizzy by lowering your BP when you're straining. Maybe flexing your stomach ...
Chest gasps12/20/2010
  Q: Richardson: I wrote you with a question regarding skipped beats over a year ago and you were very ...
  A: The gasps are so closely associated with burping that gas in stomach must cause the gasps. To me, ...
BLACKOUTS12/18/2010
  Q: each time she is unconscious for about an hour and cannot be roused. When she does come round she ...
  A: Sounds like epilepsy, a brain-induced seizure, to last so long. I think a heart rhythm disturbance ...
PVC from beta blocker12/18/2010
  Q: I am on a beta blocker and ever since I started I have been getting pvc's or pac's. its just one ...
  A: Yes, a beta blocker might increase premature beats. Slowing the heart leaves more time in diastole, ...
Adderall and BP12/18/2010
  Q: I'm 43 and was diagnosed with ADHD only about seven years ago. Since the diagnosis, I've been able ...
  A: Isn't the best thing to lose weight, then see what your BP is? 140/90 is not a short-term threat. ...
chest tightness after argument12/17/2010
  Q: is it normal to have chest tightness on the left side for hours after having a huge argument with ...
  A: Probably normal, cramping of muscles around ribs. If you can modify the tightness, make it better ...
PE symptoms12/17/2010
  Q: i am sorry to keep bothering you but a co-woker advised i get checked for this.. over the last 3 ...
  A: It's clearly chest wall pain, since you can modify the pain by pressing on it. Chest x-ray may not ...
PAC/PVC?12/16/2010
  Q: Mr. Richardson, I am a 34yo male, about 6' and 255 pounds, currently take 50mg toporol daily for ...
  A: There are maneuvers you can do to stop SVT. 1. Lie down for a few minutes. If that fails, remain ...
red chest12/16/2010
  Q: I have a permanently red neck and chest, when i press down on the skin it goes pale and then back ...
  A: I doubt if it will go away if you stope drinking and smoking, but I sure would try, especially ...
qtc prolongation12/15/2010
  Q: 46 yrs old.5'10" 150 lbs. BP 110-130/58-68. pulse 43-53. Athletic. I recently screened for a ...
  A: Standing quickly shortens QTc in those with normal QTc and prolongs QTC a little in those with long ...
Heart rate recovery after exercise - how to determine12/14/2010
  Q: What is the best method of measuring heart rate recovery after exercise? I keep reading that I ...
  A: I'm not good enough about exercise physiology to say much. 180 sounds good, and you can exercise as ...
Yawning for the heart and energy12/14/2010
  Q: Ok my I know my question isn't exactly best fit for this category but this is the closest I could ...
  A: Yawning expands the lungs, sucks more blood in the chest and heart, and sends signals to the brain ...
results12/13/2010
  Q: i was sent for a chest x ray.. it came back negative the only thing it said is the trachea is ...
  A: Trachea midline is normal. The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the ...
Back rehab after major heart attack12/13/2010
  Q: A 70 yr old man entered the hospital last Wednesday for a laminectomy and disectomy. Saturday ...
  A: He's not at risk of another heart attack. The stents will prevent that. Ask the cardiologists if ...
flutter12/12/2010
  Q: I have been diagnosed as having very frequent pvcs. I have had a lot of testing such as heart ...
  A: Two in a row is no threat of more, and even 120 in a row is just a nuisance. Your normal ultrasound ...
chest pain, irregular heartbeat12/12/2010
  Q: my boyfriend is 24 years old, not over weight, moderate amount of exercise, and does not eat as ...
  A: Not hiatal hernia. If his heart skips a beat now and then, that rhythm is o.k. If it's totally ...
cardiology12/11/2010
  Q: d/sir back again after a long time i am having RBB withLAHB,NIDDM,H/O Rheumatic fever in child hood ...
  A: Neither RBBB with LAHB nor skipped heart beats (the latter can make you feel forceful beats in your ...
low blood pressure and pulse12/10/2010
  Q: I am 42 and female. I have been extremely inactive for the past couple years. I have been to the ...
  A: A. Yes it's normal to have BP as low as 87. In fact, low BP can add years to your life. B. Yes it's ...
Abnormal ECG12/9/2010
  Q: I'm female, aged 30 and weigh 16 stone. For about a month I've been getting very frequent skipped ...
  A: No,No, you're not at risk of sudden death. They don't need to do anything about it. PVCs are ...
sharp needle-like heart pain12/9/2010
  Q: 27 yr old white male, 70in, 200 lbs. bp 130/85 avg. Daily supplements: 8g fish oil, 1500mg arginine, ...
  A: It's not Heart. The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in ...
Concerned about heart disease symptoms12/9/2010
  Q: Richardson. I'm female, 63, I weigh 148 lbs and I'm 5'2. Blood pressure is normal except for the ...
  A: The fact that pressing on the pain modifies it means that that pain is cramping of muscles in the ...
Chest Pain12/8/2010
  Q: I am 36 years old. 170lbs, 5ft 5in. I was reading your answer regarding a question where the person ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
v-tach, ep study and possible ablation12/8/2010
  Q: I'm schedule for an EP study tomorrow in my small home town in Louisiana, my EP comes from New ...
  A: Beer won't hurt the study. Ablation of VT is probably no more dangerous than ablation of atrial fib, ...
v-tach, ep study and possible ablation12/8/2010
  Q: I'm schedule for an EP study tomorrow in my small home town in Louisiana, my EP comes from New ...
  A: 1. Perhaps a little mor likely but very rare. 2. Yea. 3. No. 4. Yes. 5. No, creating future trouble ...
high blood pressure12/6/2010
  Q: I'm a dyer56 year old male in good health-% I exercise regularly and I am maybe 8% overweight. I ...
  A: Keep visiting your primary doctor. High blood pressure can be controlled but may require several ...
fever and tachycardia12/6/2010
  Q: I wrote you earlier with questions but I have the flu--husband and I both but my heart rate is 120 ...
  A: It is safe and appropriate. You can just sleep. Sorry to be so slow. Your message didn't show up ...
One episode of sudden tachycardia12/5/2010
  Q: 56 yr old female 5'6" 133 lbs 120/80. 1 week ago I experienced sudden tachycardia 130 beats a min. ...
  A: Symptoms could be from heart attack, but EKG false readiing of septal defect is common, the result ...
tachycardia and pvcs12/4/2010
  Q: I am 41 and female. I have over 4,000 pvcs daily. I have had 2 episodes of tachycardia in 3 years. ...
  A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal QT and echo. ...
Palpitation12/4/2010
  Q: Good day sir, my age 22 years, BP, Sugar is Normal, Non smoker, Non drinker, but my heart beat is ...
  A: It's called postural tachycardia if your heart is fast only when you're standing, and inappropriate ...
radiofrequency ablation ventricular ectopy12/3/2010
  Q: Frequent ventricular ectopy with 199 beats, and no supraventricular ectopy. Pulmonary hypertension ...
  A: Menz, If medicines don't prevent your afib pretty well, then you're a good candidate for RF ...
various symptoms, do they mean anything?12/3/2010
  Q: I am a 5'8 ,150lb.54 y/o female Caucasian. I was "accidently" found to have a mitral valve prolapse ...
  A: Obstructive Sleep apnea may be responsible for a lot of your symptoms other than pain. The only plan ...
Herat Palpitations/Hyperthiroidism12/2/2010
  Q: I am 42 yrs of age. Sex: Male Medications: Taking atenolol 25mg/day, methimazole 15mg/day and ...
  A: 1. Yes, but not with normal TSH. 2. Don't know. Do they occur only when you're standing? Do you ...
Angina?11/30/2010
  Q: Here are my health stats: Height: 5'1'' Weight: 178 BP: 118/78 at last reading I am a 26 year old ...
  A: No it's not angina. Angina is brought on by exercise and relieved in 5 minutes by rest, and would ...
palpitations11/28/2010
  Q: for the last week I have had palpitations especially bad at night.Im taking Betaloc prn but now i ...
  A: I presume your palpitations are skipped beats. Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat ...
PVC's11/28/2010
  Q: just wanted to ask about PVC's. I've had them all my life, they go in cycles, weeks or months with ...
  A: No, left axis shift has nothing to do with PVCs. Many people say that PVCs are more frequent lying ...
Athletic Bradycardia11/27/2010
  Q: Richardson, I had a question on exercised induced bradycardia. When this is the case does the ...
  A: Yes, the heart does increase the amount of blood pumped out with each beat when its rate slows, to ...
Echocardiograms and other tests11/26/2010
  Q: I asked a few questions couple weeks ago, just a brief follow up.. 1. I know echocardiograms are ...
  A: 1. Yes, repeat echos are a good idea. Every 7 years or so unless new symptoms intervene. 2. Yes, ...
Elevated LVEDP and Hypertensive heart desease11/24/2010
  Q: I was diagnosed with hypertensive heart decease by Angiogram test in Sep 2007 due to suspected ...
  A: If your blood pressure has been well controlled all three years, the LVEDP may have become normal. ...
3 year old son with dilated cardiomyopathy11/24/2010
  Q: I have a 3 year old son with Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Is it appropriated for him to implant the BI V ...
  A: I'm very sorry, but I know very little about three year old hearts. Rare cases recover on ...
HELP ME UNDERSTAND MY ECHO RESULTS PLEASE11/23/2010
  Q: I went to my annual physical on Oct 5, 2010 & my Dr. found a heart murmur. She scheduled me for an ...
  A: The echo is all normal. Valves leak a little before they close completely as the ventricles ...
Chest pain for several months11/23/2010
  Q: Richardson, I am a 23 year old female, weight: 160lbs, height: 5 feet 7 inches and I'm not sure ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Getting off inderal11/22/2010
  Q: I am 49 y/o female,106 lbs., 5'2", bp usually 80/50. I have been on inderal for 26 years. Started ...
  A: Consult your doctor. In general, reduce the dose by half every week until you reach zero. If you ...
right side pain11/20/2010
  Q: im 34 yrs old , i have right side chest pain just to the right of the esphaugus, to the left of the ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Citalopram and pvcs11/19/2010
  Q: I have suffered from frequent pvcs since September and have developed severe anxiety as a result. ...
  A: There's no way to be sure except to try it, but my literature doesn't say anything about QT ...
DX-Grade I DD11/18/2010
  Q: I am a 50 year old hispanic female. I am 5'4 3/4", 173#. I have been dx'd with Asthma (1992); ...
  A: No other tests are needed. He can just go by the echo. Diastolic dysfunction has many causes, some ...
Tachy when Standing at Night11/17/2010
  Q: I wanted to run something by you. Lately during the middle of the night, I have been waking up, and ...
  A: I can't think of an investigation that would help. Well, maybe measuring your blood pressure during ...
Echocardiogram results11/14/2010
  Q: Dr Richardson, Grateful if you could help interpret the results of my echocardiogram: Ao = 30 LA ...
  A: 1. Good 2. Mild delay in relaxation of the heart after each beat. Not likely to cause any ...
Cardiac Echo11/14/2010
  Q: I am a diabetic. Recently I did a CT scan on cardiac calcium score, and the total score was more ...
  A: Sure, you have good chances of passing these tests if you've had no exertional chest discomfort. ...
Heart pain11/14/2010
  Q: discovered sinus tachy heart rate on average 125 bpm echo clear ekgs clear and thallium stress neg ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
chest Pain At Left side11/11/2010
  Q: "Hello Sir, I am 23 year old male.Do we get Heart attacks at this age. From the last 7 days, I am ...
  A: No heart attacks at age 27. Your pain is cramping of muscles in the chest wall, around the ribs and ...
Tired pale and out of breath11/11/2010
  Q: I am a 35 yo female with LQT3, fitted with a DDD/Defib I am on atenalol, mobic, aphaghan, Xalatan, ...
  A: I'm very sorry about all your trouble. The fatigue and breathlessness and cough producing clear ...
Atrial Tachycardia11/10/2010
  Q: I'm 40 year old non-smoker, 5"10 155 lbs. my last BP taken in the doctor's office was 130/80..Family ...
  A: 1. No 2. No, no ill effect on heart. Premature beats, atrial or ventricular, are normal heart ...
v-tach11/10/2010
  Q: I'm a 24 yr old male. Echo, stress test, stress echo, cardiac MRI, holter, and event monitors have ...
  A: 1. EP studies are much safer than anywhere else. The best docs and equipment are right there with ...
NSVT11/10/2010
  Q: Richardson, I have had infrequent bouts of palpitations over the years, with so much as ten years ...
  A: I'd guess you're at slightly greater risk than someone with no NSVT, tho I'm not even sure that's ...
NSVT11/9/2010
  Q: Richardson, I have had infrequent bouts of palpitations over the years, with so much as ten years ...
  A: With normal echo etc, sustained vtach or vfib are very unlikely. Ask your doc about flecainide, ...
PVCs & Abalation11/9/2010
  Q: I am 45 years old and I weigh 230 lbs. My BP fluctuates and my cardiologist has to watch it ...
  A: Sorry, I don't know about needle-through-chest-wall ablation. Ask the doctor who's proposing it ...
Reduce viscosity of blood11/9/2010
  Q: My age is 41. not taking medicine, 5'7" 135lb, 135/80 I will like to ask for my general knowledge, ...
  A: I can't think of a way to permanently change the viscosity of blood. You can of course change it ...
need information11/8/2010
  Q: my mom has been in hospital for a week they have sent her out with tablets but i would like to know ...
  A: LVH stands for left ventricular hypertrophy, which means the wall or her left ventricle are too ...
Cough After Angioplasty11/8/2010
  Q: I had a heart attack in mid- September. They said one tube was blocked 100%, one 80%. I had ...
  A: Not a lingering effect of lisinopril; too long since you stopped it. Lopressor, Crestor and Plavix ...
Pain in heart11/7/2010
  Q: David Richardson, For the last two weeks, I have had a constant dull pain in which I can suppose is ...
  A: Srivastave, The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the ...
Resting heart rate concern11/7/2010
  Q: I am a 42yo woman, who has always been active and of normal weight with no significant medical ...
  A: I'm not sure. One study of 11,000 healthy women showed 1.1-1.6 increase in likelihood of developing ...
chest pains11/6/2010
  Q: I've had these very annoying chest pains for over two weeks.they are not painful but i can feel ...
  A: TShe pains are cramping of muscle in chest wall, around ribs, or in lower back side. A big nuisance ...
vertigo?? to do with heart??11/5/2010
  Q: i have previously mailed you lots about my palps..... i get a feeling of being off balance . like ...
  A: Ashworth, Doesn't sound like heart. Anxiety-induced over breathing can lead to feeling off ...
pvcs11/4/2010
  Q: it really is compforting. I am male 29 5ft 9inch 177lbs workout and run weekly. Have had all the ...
  A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and echo. ...
ATRIAL FLUTTER11/4/2010
  Q: Atrial fibrillation in 2005 was corrected with cardioversion. Heart rate still low so he got ...
  A: 80% means that the flutter is intermittent, present 80% of the time, probably since your last ...
Concern about skipping beats.11/4/2010
  Q: Richardson, First off let me say thank you for volunteering your time to help people. I am a 26 ...
  A: Jared, your observation of your pulse was exactly correct. The image shows a long pause and then a ...
Intense Anxiety11/3/2010
  Q: I have intense anxiety and I have to trvel by air and this is causing extreme anxiety. I have mild ...
  A: Air travel does not affect MVP. Slight ST depression is not a problem about air travel or length of ...
Concern about skipping beats.11/3/2010
  Q: Richardson, First off let me say thank you for volunteering your time to help people. I am a 26 ...
  A: 1. All apparently skipped beats are really premature beats, occurring so soon after the preceding ...
Concern about skipping beats.11/2/2010
  Q: Richardson, First off let me say thank you for volunteering your time to help people. I am a 26 ...
  A: If the premature beat is soon after the preceding normal beat, the heart will be empty and you will ...
Calcium score and statins11/1/2010
  Q: I am a 58 year old male with a calcium score 3 years ago of 78. My current calcium score is 188. I ...
  A: I really don't know. Since statins are so protective against coronary events, by lowering ...
skipping hearts!!! ;)10/31/2010
  Q: I HOPE YOUR WELL!! I WROTE TO YOU EARLIER, SO PLEASE EXCUSE ME IF YOU HAVE RECIEVED ANOTHER, BUT I ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
crazy skipped heart beats10/31/2010
  Q: i hope your well. I have written to you in the past, sometime last year regarding these skipped ...
  A: Remember that Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with ...
Heart pain10/31/2010
  Q: I'm 16, female, I'm 5'9 and 105 pounds. One day, I got scared suddenly and I got a sharp pain in my ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation10/30/2010
  Q: I am a healthy 40-year old female, active, normal weight and vegetarian, diagnosed with SVT in 1992, ...
  A: Wear the event monitor more to catch another episode? Sure, it's possible to have self-correcting ...
Chest Pain then Heaviness10/29/2010
  Q: I am 21 years old, female and I am currently taking Loestrin 24 for birth control if that counts as ...
  A: Not serious. Just cramping of muscles in chest wall, around ribs, causing the heaviness. No threat ...
Heart Symptoms10/29/2010
  Q: I started burping about a year ago. Like all day. Every day. It is a constant "need" to do it ...
  A: Your pains are not caused by heart trouble, but by cramping of skeletal muscles around ribs and in ...
Worried about skipped beats10/27/2010
  Q: My pulse when I put my fingers to my wrist notices missed beats like beat beat beat, skip, beat beat ...
  A: Any of those skips are okay, no threat. Only if the rhythm becomes totally irregular for more than ...
PSVT10/27/2010
  Q: I have a general question, I have suffered from PACs (or PVCs) since puberty. However, when pregnant ...
  A: The EKG pattern of WPW may be absent in some people sometimes and present other times. So it's ...
Chest pain at night10/27/2010
  Q: I am a 45 year old male who takes lisinopril for high blood pressure. I have been having chest pains ...
  A: Heart pain usually occurs during exertion and is relieved in 5 minutes by rest. Your pain sounds ...
Abnormal EKG's & irregular heart rhythm10/26/2010
  Q: I'm a 37y.o. female, 5'3" 123lbs, with a 20 yr history (off and on) of severe episodes of ...
  A: I can't tell without seeing the EKGs, but with normal echo you don't need to worry. Echo is much ...
Worried about skipped beats10/25/2010
  Q: My pulse when I put my fingers to my wrist notices missed beats like beat beat beat, skip, beat beat ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
pvc's after running10/25/2010
  Q: I am 49 years old. I take atenolol for very occasional pat (like once a year) and daily pvc's. ...
  A: All I have seen about PVCs after exercise comes from treadmill stress tests. Since you didn't have ...
sugar/carbo into fats10/25/2010
  Q: I am 40 5'7" 130lb not taking any medication BP 140/80 I could not find the right category. Hope you ...
  A: Yes saturated fats are easy for the liver to make cholesterol out of. Yes, sugars and other ...
Vascular Crowding & Cardiomegaly10/24/2010
  Q: Richardson; What is vascular crowding? What causes it and what would the symptoms be? I've been ...
  A: Vascular means blood vessels. I can't think of a condition with vascular crowding. PVCs are normal ...
PSVT and anxiety10/22/2010
  Q: I am a 26 y/o male 5'11 185lbs. I had my first PSVT attack when I was 13 years old, though at the ...
  A: 1. Never lethal unless WPW. 2. No underlying condition except the bypass tract. 3. Maximum dose of ...
increased heart rate above 13010/22/2010
  Q: Richardson This morning I woke up and I had felt different. I took my resting heart rate and it was ...
  A: If your heart beat is regular, it isn't atrial fib, tho flutter is a possibility. Ask for an echo ...
Clogged Arteries10/21/2010
  Q: David Richardson, Is it true that "calcium deposits akin to lime" clog arteries and not cholesterol ...
  A: Calcium gets deposited in artery walls, and the amount of calcium in the walls correlates well with ...
Tachycardia and Atrial Septic Anuerysm10/21/2010
  Q: I have been to the heart doctor and was prescribed Nadolol 20mg for the tachycardia and ASA and an ...
  A: Sounds like nerves getting pinched in neck or upper chest, the numbness and arm weakness. The most ...
Heart Fluttering and pulsing10/20/2010
  Q: For the past few weeks, I have been having two strange sensations in my chest. The first is a mild ...
  A: The fast pulsing in lower right center chest was probably rapid discharge of nerves to muscles ...
Spit S1 Sound10/19/2010
  Q: I've spoken to you before and found previous answers to be helpful. Just recently I've been ...
  A: Split S1 is quite normal. S1 is the first heart sound, the lub of lub-dub. BP 155/80 needs to be ...
palpitations10/19/2010
  Q: in am female 26 on thyroid meds (all blood tests normal) since i last sent you a question i have ...
  A: Ashworth, 1. No pVCs in weeks is a good indicator that you don't have a ventricular arrhythmia. 2. ...
Heart10/19/2010
  Q: I am a 21 year old male and was diagnosed with frequent PVCs about a year and a half/2 years ago. I ...
  A: 1. Yes, the QT is on every EKG, and the EKG report would state if QT was long. 2. No, PVCs don't ...
Cholesterol10/18/2010
  Q: Richardson, I was told a few months ago that I have rather high cholesterol. I don't remember the ...
  A: Yes, it's okay to cheat occasionally. It will only slow and perhaps reduce a little the reduction ...
PVC's, PAC's and two slightly leaking valves10/17/2010
  Q: I'm a young man, age 22, from the Netherlands (I hope my English will be fine). I don't drink (only ...
  A: 1. No. normal E:A is just around 1. 2. Yes, trace regurgitation is normal. A little blood ...
Atenol and CoQ1010/17/2010
  Q: About a year ago I started taking Atenolol 25mg daily, due to elevated heart rate, anxiety and ...
  A: Some beta blockers inhibit the production of mevalonic acid, an intermediary step in CoQ10 ...
Diagnosed with Incomplete RBBB10/17/2010
  Q: About a month ago, I had a hangover where I was pretty dehydrated. As I was running errands, I had ...
  A: Incomplete RBBB, even complete RBBB, has no deleterious effect on heart function or mean you have ...
PVCs10/15/2010
  Q: Richardson, I have been having PVCs constantly for three months now. They have reduced in number ...
  A: There is a daily cardiac rhythm. When we wake, heart rate and blood pressure rise rapidly about 10 ...
heart test10/14/2010
  Q: 4 now this lab doesnt list the ranges but says its high should i worry or not . i also take atenenol ...
  A: Matt, infection anywhere can raise CRP for weeks. Please get the CRP measured again, asking for ...
heart test10/13/2010
  Q: 4 now this lab doesnt list the ranges but says its high should i worry or not . i also take atenenol ...
  A: Be sure the lab does the test called hsCRP, which stands for high sensitivity I think. Values over ...
atrial tachycardia10/12/2010
  Q: Dr. Richardson, First, thank you for you counsel and this service. I am a soon to be 40 year old ...
  A: 1. They are probably atrial premature contractions, but PACs and PVCS are both normal cardiac ...
arrhythmias10/11/2010
  Q: I am 25 years old, my blood pressure and weight are normal. Some 15 years ago I was diagnosed with ...
  A: The chances of fibrillation are vanishingly small. I wouldn't have an ablation. But if you're ...
Near fainting episodes10/11/2010
  Q: I'm 35 years old, female, 1.6m, 58kg and BP 100/60. Sinus bradycardia 50bpm. QTc mildly prolonged ...
  A: The most likely causes are cardiac arrhythmia and low blood pressure. Take your BP sitting and then ...
trace mitral & tricupid regurg10/11/2010
  Q: I am relatively thin male 6 2, 168 pounds. 39 years. old. 4 Ayers ago after some weight. loss, I ...
  A: I would stop the Vitamin D forever and keep watch on your serum Ca. Echo is very sensitive about ...
Left axis with RBBB ( Bifascicular Heart Block )10/10/2010
  Q: I am 57 years old male person. I have hypertension with DM ( Type II for about 10 years ). I am ...
  A: Something is wrong with the EKG interpretation. QRS axis of 58 is normal, not left axis. If QRS ...
blood pressure10/10/2010
  Q: I am a male aged 36 i am an non diabetic but i am taking bp tablets Ramipiril 2.5mg in the night and ...
  A: You can try reducing your salt intake, tho that is often ineffective. Weight loss might help, but ...
PVCs Bigeminy after meals10/9/2010
  Q: Dr. Richardson, I am a male 53 yrs, 6', 237 lbs, BP 137/87, on CCB and beta blocker. I have noticed ...
  A: PVCs are very common and normal cardiac activity. To the best of my knowledge, there's no reason ...
CARDIOLOGY10/9/2010
  Q: D/DR BACK AGAIN AFTER LONG TIME I AM HAVING RBBB AND LAHB SINCE LAST 10YRS HAVING NIDDM TAKING ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
Heart Racing & chest discomfort10/8/2010
  Q: I am a 31 year old female and I am not overweight. I have been experiencing rapid heart beat and ...
  A: How fast is it racing? Did it start racing abruptly, in one heart beat, or gradually over several ...
Heart palpitations and sweating all day10/7/2010
  Q: I do not believe I have a heart problem however said that, my heart has been racing for over two ...
  A: Johnson, TSH of 0.2 suggests hyperactive thyroid, which would explain the sinus tachycardia. The ...
chest pain10/7/2010
  Q: maybe you can help. I'm a 24 year old female, 5'10", 135lbs, who regularly exercises and eats right ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
unstable blood pressure10/6/2010
  Q: I am a 59 yo female, 120lbs, 5' tall. I've been on Avapro 75mg (1 daily) for about 8 mos but Bp has ...
  A: Yes, it's normal for BP to fluctuate, on of off meds. Abnormal EKG would not make BP fluctuate. ...
propafenone10/5/2010
  Q: I am 59,5'10" 163 lbs. BP in the 120/60 range. My question is about the drug propafenone which I ...
  A: Maximum blood levels of propafenone are reached in about 2 days. The maximum recommended dose is ...
Heart beat10/5/2010
  Q: Good day doctor, my heart will start beating fast with no reason. I will feel fluttery and short of ...
  A: I presume your heart gradually speeds up and slows down. That means you have sinus tachycardia, ...
Heart beat10/5/2010
  Q: Good day doctor, my heart will start beating fast with no reason. I will feel fluttery and short of ...
  A: How fast? Does the fast beat start and stop abruptly, in one heart beat, or start and stop ...
heart tightness sensation10/4/2010
  Q: I'm 17, with no major health problems.i do not take any medicine. and i am 1.63m of 50kg. i also ...
  A: Maries, Have you seen this about costochondritis? ...
chest pain10/4/2010
  Q: 5 packs a day in dec 2007 had stress test , echo and ekg all in 2007 were exceptional, normal. my ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Abnormal EKG: V1V210/3/2010
  Q: I am a 37 y/o with mildly elevated lipid panel. History of PVCs about 10/min. I'm a ICU nurse but ...
  A: Well, a little bit of diastolic dysfunction is like IRBBB, liable to go away with next echo. An ...
Abnormal EKG: V1V210/3/2010
  Q: I am a 37 y/o with mildly elevated lipid panel. History of PVCs about 10/min. I'm a ICU nurse but ...
  A: Poor progression is normal so long as there is no QS in V2. Has the LBBB gone away? PVCs don't ...
Husband with incomplete RBBB and upcoming marathon10/3/2010
  Q: My husband was recently diagnosed with an incomplete right bundle branch block. He is an avid long ...
  A: Incomplete RBBB is no threat to life, health or exercise. He's safe to run the marathon. His slow ...
left side chest pressure10/2/2010
  Q: 2 days ago I tried doing some exercise and after the exercise my chest or heart has felt ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
IRREGULAR HEART BEATS10/1/2010
  Q: Good morning - 59- taking propranolol and atarax, 5'2, 150 lbs. diabetic I am curious doctor - so ...
  A: Skipped beats are dangerous for people who have severely damaged hearts, damaged by heart attacks or ...
Dizziness9/30/2010
  Q: Dr. Richardson, Hi, I've been suffering from anxiety for 3 years now, I have an irrational fear of ...
  A: I know nothing about Dacosta syndrome. Lightheadness during exertion might be low blood pressure. ...
BP question9/30/2010
  Q: Turned 60 in June, 5'4", 120 lb, BP was 118-138 range. Lately 92/68-104 or lower. Vit D deficiency ...
  A: The low standing BP is cardiovascular, but vascular, not cardiac. Your peripheral arterial branches ...
Palpitation problem9/29/2010
  Q: From past 10 days my wife is facing palpitation problem.After consulting the doctor we found that ...
  A: Sahu, Heart rate of 115 is harmless, will not shorten her life or lead to heart disease of any ...
Post Ablation Heart Problems9/28/2010
  Q: I went to the ER in early April of this year with an extremely high heart rate (250+) that was ...
  A: I don't understand either. Say some more about the chest pain. Where in your chest? What brings ...
Palpitations9/28/2010
  Q: I was diagnosed with PAC's and PVC's 4 years ago during my second pregnancy, they never went away, ...
  A: Bending forward can allow the heart to touch the inside of the chest wall, which will trigger ...
Wondering if this is heart related9/27/2010
  Q: taking propranolol before bed for anxiety, 5'2, 145 lbs. Blood pressure usually in normal range but ...
  A: Occasional bouts of high blood pressure are not a sign of a heart problem, though many bouts of high ...
Post Ablation Heart Problems9/27/2010
  Q: I went to the ER in early April of this year with an extremely high heart rate (250+) that was ...
  A: If your heart gradually speeds up to 160 when you're exercising and then gradually slows down as you ...
Chest pain, left side (sharp and cold)9/27/2010
  Q: I'm 30 and had a pulmonary embolism two years ago following hernia surgery. I'm 6 ft and somewhere ...
  A: Chest pain at your age is most likely cramping of muscles around the ribs, and no threat to life or ...
high PVCs,low heart rate9/26/2010
  Q: I have been told by a doctor, I have high PVCs and low heart rate(35-40).What is the treatment to ...
  A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and echo. ...
Heart Pounding Feels like it Going to Explode9/25/2010
  Q: I female, 50 years old with no previous heart trouble. Weight 178, height 5'1". I know I'm ...
  A: If your pulse is regular when you feel the pounding, it's ok. Alarm and anxiety make your heart ...
Mild pain in chest9/24/2010
  Q: My heart rate is normal and my blood pressure is good but ive been tired more than normal for the ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Dropped Heart Beats9/23/2010
  Q: Sorry, I just submitted a question and had a type on my email address. To ask again. I have extra ...
  A: If a premature beat, atrial or ventricular, occurs soon after the preceding normal beat, the heart ...
Dropped Heart Beats9/23/2010
  Q: I have a quick question. I am relatively fit 35 year old. I get skipped beats throughout the day. ...
  A: If a premature beat, atrial or ventricular, occurs soon after the preceding normal beat, the heart ...
Abnormal EKG: V1V29/23/2010
  Q: I am a 37 y/o with mildly elevated lipid panel. History of PVCs about 10/min. I'm a ICU nurse but ...
  A: QS V1 and V2 is part of the ILBBB, doesn't mean septal infarct. JJugular venous pulse with PVC's is ...
Faint feeling and bubbling around heart9/23/2010
  Q: I am 24 years old, 5'4 and 130 pounds. For as long as I can remember I have been having this really ...
  A: If possible, take your blood pressure when the bubbly feeling is present. Better see a ...
Athritis pain in someone with Heart Failure9/22/2010
  Q: . I'm hoping you might be able to help. My Mother is 76 years old and has suffered with Heart ...
  A: Diana, I don't think ibuprofen and aspirin are out of the question. Either can be taken along with ...
Athritis pain in someone with Heart Failure9/22/2010
  Q: . I'm hoping you might be able to help. My Mother is 76 years old and has suffered with Heart ...
  A: Ibuprofen, aspirin and Tylenol, though I'm sure you've tried them all. Tylenol doesn't affect blood ...
Heavy thump of heart9/21/2010
  Q: For the past several days, I've noticed an odd sensation in my chest when I'm lying on the couch and ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
wpw ??9/21/2010
  Q: I am 33 yr old female..no known health problems. About a year ago I started having alot of ...
  A: Roberts, Yes, please go to another cardiologist. WPW is not present on every EKG, sometimes ...
Heart pain9/20/2010
  Q: i am 19 year old i don't take any medicine and my weight is 68 killos and i am 6'5" i just came from ...
  A: Your chest pain is almost certainly not from heart. The most common cause of chest pain in a young ...
Heart pressure9/20/2010
  Q: Im 18, normal blood pressure. Today i woke up and had a heavy feeling around my heart. My pulse ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
skipped heart beats and palpitations9/20/2010
  Q: I am going to try and make this short and too the point. About ten years ago I was driving to work ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
Sudden brief rapid heartbeats9/18/2010
  Q: I've written several times before about my pvcs/pacs. I'm 64, supposedly in excellent health, run ...
  A: Atrial fib would be fast and completely irregular. Supraventricular tachycardia would be very fast ...
weird feeling9/18/2010
  Q: Richardson, When i awoke this morning I had a strange "fluttering" feeling in my lower throat upper ...
  A: Yes, your pulse would be totally irregular and fast in afib. Why PVCs go away and then return ...
Flutters and when to be worried9/17/2010
  Q: Have read your answers to previous posters for awhile. I have been comforted by your responses and ...
  A: Yes, you can carry on. Neither racing heart nor flutters will harm your heart. It's safe to walk ...
Increase in PVC's9/16/2010
  Q: Hey, doctor. I', a 50 y/o female, 5'7 240# (I know...), bp 120/80 with metoprolol 50mg 2x daily ...
  A: PVCs are benign in someone with a normal echo. The two-minute episode might have been atrial fib. ...
Heart Palpations9/16/2010
  Q: I am a 30 year old who was diagnosed with tachycardia at age 17. I have been on toprol xl since, ...
  A: PACs & PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
LVDD9/15/2010
  Q: normal lv systolic function EF rate is 60% Abnormal LV diastolic function with mild la and ra ...
  A: Curry, The echo findings are not bad at all. The diastolic dysfunction can come from coronary ...
my father in laws report9/14/2010
  Q: sir my father in laws 2 d echo report consists following things will you kindly explain the risks in ...
  A: Sclerotic means thicker than usual. MR stands for mitral regurgitation, which means leaking of the ...
pounding heart after meals.9/12/2010
  Q: im 26 years old and slim with a slight "beer belly". however, i often experience a strong pounding ...
  A: Yes, pounding due to acid reflux and anxiety. Your chest pain is probably cramping of muscles in ...
Wolf Parkinsons White Syndrome9/12/2010
  Q: it worries me.
  A: WPW can cause rapid heart beat, but no other trouble. You're perfectly safe to wait till next week. ...
irregular heart beats9/12/2010
  Q: .I started flecainide, 100 mg twice daily, two weeks ago and it has totally changed my life. I ...
  A: Flecainide doesn't damage hearts. It's just that it may cause bad rhythms in people with hearts ...
Traveling with PVCs...9/10/2010
  Q: About 9 weeks ago I started experiencing PVCs. They were initially seen as 60/day on a holter ...
  A: It's okay to fly with that many PVCs. Stress does increase PVCs in most people. Only coping ...
Rapid heart beat and Chest Pain9/9/2010
  Q: I am 25yo Female. I am overweight. Sedentary lifestyle. Since I was 16 i would have random rapid ...
  A: Your chest pain is probably cramping of muscle in the chest wall around ribs. The most common cause ...
pvcs/extra beat9/8/2010
  Q: im 25 i weigh 78 kilos im about 1.75m no bp issues recently someone i know died suddenly and was ...
  A: Brugada is easily recognized by EKG in most people and has usually produced fainting, I think you ...
ARVD?9/7/2010
  Q: im a 24yr old male, and had echo's, stress test, stress echo, holter monitor and event monitor, and ...
  A: Cook, 25 beats of VT at rate 127 is no threat of increased risk of VFIB and SCD. It's a very ...
EKG interpretation9/7/2010
  Q: Richardson, I have just one more question (I asked you a couple of questions regarding SVT or ...
  A: Some people are born with Q waves in 2,3 and F. Probably because of the way their hearts lie in the ...
VSD and RCC Prolapse9/6/2010
  Q: Iam writing this for my 3 month old baby. At the time of birth he was having 5mm perimembranous ...
  A: I'm not very expert o congenital heart disease. As you know, VSD's often close up in the first few ...
Cooldown pvcs/pacs8/18/2010
  Q: Another skipped beat question I'm 64,a 40 mile per week runner. My cholesterol is 134, hdl 60, LDL ...
  A: Premature beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG ...
skipped beats and occasional rapid heart rate8/16/2010
  Q: Dr. Richardson I am a male 28, 5'11" and weigh 250lbs, I was a very muscular 220 2 years ago but ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
Palpitations now with ache?8/14/2010
  Q: I had thyroid cancer in 2006 dx at age 24. Now experiencing inconsistent palpitations accompanied ...
  A: earSara, The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the ...
Chest and Neck Pain8/14/2010
  Q: I am a 21 year old male in pretty good health. I make an effort to eat well and exercise regularly. ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Taurine, Arginine and suppressing arrhythmias (PVCs)8/12/2010
  Q: A while back, I noticed that someone had asked you about Taurine and Arginine and a study that ...
  A: I'm not aware of additional studies on taurine, arginine or nicorandil. The only thing wrong with ...
Sinus Arrhythmia8/11/2010
  Q: I'm not sure how knowledgeable you are in the health effects of recreational drugs, but I would ...
  A: I don't know what MDMA and GHB are. Cocaine does not cause sinus arrhythmia, but it can cause heart ...
Stinging Sensation in Esophagus8/10/2010
  Q: Happy 4th of July. I am a 53 year old male which suffers from anxiety and hypertension. Taking ...
  A: A normal nuclear stress test gives 95% freedom from heart attack or cardiac death for at least 7 ...
Potassium8/10/2010
  Q: Can a low potassium level of 3.1 (range 3.5 to 5) cause arythmias? Are there any long term dangers ...
  A: The lower the potassium, the more likely an arrhythmia. But arrhythmia with potassium of 3/1 is ...
Esophageal spasm or heart-related?8/9/2010
  Q: For the past month I have had episodes of what I will call a kick or a spasm in the upper chest ...
  A: Doesn't sound heart-related at all. Heart pain comes with exercise and is relieved in 5 minutes by ...
In Ratio PT/INR Monitering System8/9/2010
  Q: Mother was on coumadin, now they have switched her to Plavix at the nursing home, however, she still ...
  A: Yes, finger-stick INR monitoring is okay, tho Plavix doesn't need any INR monitoring at all. In ...
Premature beats, Ischemia, Angiogram necessity8/8/2010
  Q: I'm a 39 year old male, 6'4" and a bit heavy at 275 lbs., taking Tenormin and Dyazide for past 2 ...
  A: An angiogram seems a good idea. They're very safe and very effective in showing any blockages in ...
Skipped beats8/7/2010
  Q: Frequent skipped heartbeats that take my breath away for a split second. I am only 17 and I am ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
Heart arrhythmia in swimming pool8/6/2010
  Q: My heart often does flip flops when I'm in a swimming pool even if I'm not exerting myself. This ...
  A: Stevens, Since skipped beats are normal heart activity, it's not known what can make them more ...
palpitations8/5/2010
  Q: Im 36 year old female. I came back from Thailand from a holiday where I got sick. Couldnt talk ...
  A: If your heart speeds up and slows down gradually, over several minutes, it's called sinus ...
pulse - skips beat8/4/2010
  Q: I am 75 years old and in good health. I do take a thyroid pill 125mcg per day. I have a complete ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
Anxiety predictor of CAD8/4/2010
  Q: I have been getting pvc or pacs during exercise typically two flutters about 12-14 minutes into the ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
WPW8/3/2010
  Q: Am a 33 year old male. About a month ago i feel very fast heart beat, palpatations,dizziness, left ...
  A: A delta wave means you have WPW. If Inderal doesn't stop the heart wobbling, ask for an event ...
ekg showed heart enlarged8/2/2010
  Q: I am a 41 year old female, 5'4 bulbs. Blood pressure 117/72. I take I'm of zoloft and 1/2 tab ...
  A: Sure, EKG's are often wrong, and can't tell if your heart is enlarged anyway. You'll be fine. ...
Angina or not?8/2/2010
  Q: Hi ,ive wrote to you twice before,and im really sorry to write again David,but im just very ...
  A: You probably should have another treadmill test monitored by radioisotopes or echo. If the recent ...
PVC and anxiety while exercising8/1/2010
  Q: I am a fit 33 year old male. 160 lb 5'8" and have exercised my whole life. 6 months ago I ended up ...
  A: Dea Mr. Gately, PACs are never a problem for anyone. PVC's are not a threat to anyone with normal ...
Can it be my heart?7/31/2010
  Q: I'm 19, 5'8, and 150 pounds. I'm unsure about my blood pressure but everytime I get it taken it is ...
  A: Not heart. Your heart was responding normally to your dizziness and sweating. Maybe just an ...
Heart7/31/2010
  Q: I started exercising about 3 weeks ago and kept having problems with dizziness. I finally went to ...
  A: Your EKG was grossly over-read by the computer. EKG diagnosis of septal infarct requires totally ...
stress test7/29/2010
  Q: Due to my high cholesterol levels my family doctor sent me for a stress test and an echo(I am 39). ...
  A: If the stress test was monitored by echo or radioisotopes, a negative test gives 95% probability of ...
Stress Test7/28/2010
  Q: In 2007 I had a Myoview stress test. My results were as follows: 1. Stress EKG neg for inducible ...
  A: The results are normal with the exception of the mild LVH. It's not possible to accurately measure ...
PSVT7/27/2010
  Q: I know you had to have been asked this a million times so I'll try to keep it short. I have PSVT ...
  A: So long as your heart rhythm is regular when it's going super-fast, you need have no fear of passing ...
high blood pressure and ekg's7/27/2010
  Q: My blood pressure spikes every time i see my doctor or get any medical tests. I am on blood pressure ...
  A: No, Steven, you're not off base. Anxiety can affect the EKG, tho there's probably more to ...
PVC7/26/2010
  Q: I am 61, 5'2", 168lbs, bp is 130/70, and I am currently taking Klonopin (.50mg), chlorthalidone ...
  A: You should see a cardiologist because of your family history. PVC's are dangerous only in people ...
PVCs and antibiotics7/26/2010
  Q: I have PVCs that were determined harmless by my cardiologist last year (echo, EKG, holter all showed ...
  A: PVC's are harmless in people with normal heart contraction AND normal QT interval on EKG. ...
heart problems7/26/2010
  Q: I am a 25 yo/male in good physical shape. If anything i could put on some weight. Over the last year ...
  A: Yes, it's a worry, tho not at all life threatening. It's called supraventricular tachycardia, ...
Heart Skips a Beat Then Beats Hard7/25/2010
  Q: I have slightly elevated blood pressure and my doctor prescribed Metoprolol 50MG about a year ago. ...
  A: Stopping metoprolol abruptly is a problem only if you have narrowing of coronary arteries with ...
2nd ablation unsuccessful, now what?7/23/2010
  Q: I just underwent my 2nd ablation for SVT, my EP found MANY extra pathways and said she could not get ...
  A: Atrial flutter is not more dangerous in the short run, a month or so, but has a small chance of ...
electric shock feeling in heart7/22/2010
  Q: I am 22,female,125pounds,5'9 ft. No meds, BP normal, high when I have palpitations (not often) and ...
  A: Probably a premature heart beat let your heart touch nerves that led to your spinal cord and ...
Cardiac Ablasion7/21/2010
  Q: I was taken by ambulance and had to be revived after my heart rate was 248 beats a minute, I passed ...
  A: Yes, it's an uncommon but not surprising complication of ablation. The electrical conduction ...
Tachycardia and Exercise7/21/2010
  Q: I am a 25-year-old female, about 5’7” and 110 pounds. I am taking Vyvanse 60 mg daily and I am ...
  A: Supraventricular tachycardia can be ablated with a cardiac catheter (a thin tube inserted where your ...
Is there chance of brain dead during operation heart operation?7/20/2010
  Q: David, I am Thennarasu from India. I need your help clearing one doubt. My nephew(18 Years student) ...
  A: Thennerasu, If the heart-lung bypass machine used during this kind of surgery fails to provide ...
Abnormal EKG7/20/2010
  Q: I have abnormal EKGs and today was another one. I went in for pre-op and I had to have my ...
  A: A normal stress echo makes you a low risk for non-cardiac surgery. Though you didn't say what was ...
arrhythmia symptoms7/19/2010
  Q: I am a 39 yr old male and have mitral valve prolapse but am very healthy and fit in general. I do ...
  A: It's okay to wait. Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone ...
Rule Out?7/19/2010
  Q: My wife is 43 and her history of cholesterol is as follows: 2008- total 121 HDL 54 LDL 52 ...
  A: A normal stress echo gives her 95% probability of no heart attack or cardiac death for at least 7 ...
Heart7/18/2010
  Q: my heart has been bothering me lately so i got on my laptop to search and try to find out whats ...
  A: The thump is probably a skipped heart beat. Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to ...
weird pain7/17/2010
  Q: I am a 31 y.o. female...I recently got a weird, sharp pain in the left side of my chest about two ...
  A: Der Courtni, The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in ...
Mitral Valve Prolapse7/17/2010
  Q: I recently had a Echo. done which I first was told showed a moderate leakage. Second Dr. then read ...
  A: Echo can overread MVP, but is unlikely to do so nowadays, and it won't overread leakage. Echo is ...
coumadin blood testing7/16/2010
  Q: Mother is almost 87 and in a nursing home. Last year she had a blood clot in her leg and was started ...
  A: Ask her doctor if it's time to stop the Coumadin (3 to 6 months is usual), or if she can take ...
heart fluttering7/16/2010
  Q: I am a 31 yr. old male. I'am 5'8 and I weigh 218lbs. I do have an irregular heart beat and an slight ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
Chest Pain7/16/2010
  Q: Richardson. I am a 25-year old female non-smoker about 180 lbs. For the past 6 months I have ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Pulmonary Hypertension7/15/2010
  Q: I wrote earlier about having a high RVSP and whether I should have a heart cath. I had the 2nd echo ...
  A: Goguen, Not in my opinion. I'd get an echo every 6 months to be sure your PA pressure doesn't get ...
Heart Rate7/15/2010
  Q: I often have a resting heart rate in the 40s and was wondering if this is ok? I am 25 and healthy ...
  A: 45 awake and 35 asleep are the usual lower limits of normal for heart rate, but down to 40 is okay, ...
PVC's and soy7/14/2010
  Q: I am a 50 year old male, and I developed PVC's about five years ago. I would average about 25 or 30 ...
  A: Soy milk is not known to cause PVCs. but maybe no one reported it before. Would you return to ...
High Pulmonary Pressure7/14/2010
  Q: I had an echo and the cardiologist said all was great except there was high pressure on right side ...
  A: Goguen, Please get the second echo to see what your pulmonary artery pressure is now. I can't see ...
PTCA7/13/2010
  Q: Richardson, Sir, I am a 61 years old male. Slim, non smoker, non drinker , pure vegetarian and ...
  A: Yes, spasm of a coronary artery is fairly common, and can cause heart attack and angina. Get some ...
Loratadine, anxiety, arrhythmia7/13/2010
  Q: Two weeks ago an ENT Doctor prescribed me loratadine 10mg for one month. I was to take one everyday. ...
  A: It's reasonable that loratadine caused your anxiety since stopping it led to less anxiety. And ...
Abnormal pulmonary pressures7/13/2010
  Q: I am a 57 year old female and had an echo stress done for pvc's and shortness of breath. Below is ...
  A: Your PA pressure will probably not get higher, and may get lower, but there's no way to predict ...
head rushes and fatigue7/12/2010
  Q: i am 5'5" and the last time i was weighed i was 174 pounds which was about 7 months ago. i am a 26 ...
  A: No, not serious. Sounds normal to me. Get your BP measured when you're seated and when you're ...
Supraventricular tachycardia?7/11/2010
  Q: Richardson, I'm diagnosed with "possible SVT" by a general physician, it's not captured on EKG. It ...
  A: 1) SVT starts and stops abruptly, in one heart beat. Sinus tach speeds up and slows down gradually ...
blue lips,numness in legs7/11/2010
  Q: My wife has blue lips and has pain in her legs,low blood pressure,sometimes faints and has headaches ...
  A: None of these sound like precursors of heart attack. Blue lips can be caused by congenital heart ...
Ventricular Ectopic Heart Beats7/11/2010
  Q: Good morning Dr Richardson, Can I first just quickly say how much your previous postings have ...
  A: Every cell in the heart is capable of discharging spontaneously, and that discharge is passed to all ...
Abnormal pulmonary pressures7/11/2010
  Q: I am a 57 year old female and had an echo stress done for pvc's and shortness of breath. Below is ...
  A: PUlmonary artery pressure of 38 is no problem so long as it gets no higher, which is unlikely. ...
Pacemaker7/10/2010
  Q: Should an elderly person fitted with a pacemaker use an electrical hedge trimmer
  A: It's probably okay. He should turn on the hedge clipper while someone counts his pulse to be sure ...
Ventricular Ectopic Heart Beats7/10/2010
  Q: Good morning Dr Richardson, Can I first just quickly say how much your previous postings have ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
chest and back pains7/8/2010
  Q: I have been experiencing sharp and sometimes dull pain in my chest mostly middle and left side, and ...
  A: Doesn't sound like heart, especially the weight loss. You've probably checked for diabetes and ...
Angina7/8/2010
  Q: Does angina cause pain to move within minutes for example running for 1 mile you start running and ...
  A: Angina should not occur at rest, but anginal pain can move to a shoulder, tho movement to below rib ...
chest pain, fatigue7/7/2010
  Q: Richardson: I am a 29 year-old male. Within the last year, I started exercising about 3 times per ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
v-tach with alot of symptoms7/7/2010
  Q: if i send you a copy of the event monitor strip with the 26 beat run at a rate of 127bpm of v-tach ...
  A: A definite diagnosis of ARVC/D is warranted in the presence of two major criteria, one major plus ...
v-tach with alot of symptoms7/6/2010
  Q: if i send you a copy of the event monitor strip with the 26 beat run at a rate of 127bpm of v-tach ...
  A: It's not polymorphic. I can't tell site of origin since there are only two unlabelled leads. The ...
VSD for baby7/6/2010
  Q: My 22 day old baby was diagnosed with 5mm perimembranous VSD,5mm ASD and PDA on his 2nd day. Now VSD ...
  A: Rupesh, I think he will have no ill effects. Since the shunt is left to right, he will have no ...
Why did my blood pressure get low?7/6/2010
  Q: I'm a 28 year old female who is about 5 to 10 pounds overweight. A few years ago it was not unusual ...
  A: BP that low can cause faintness and blurred vision and nausea. It can be caused by antidepressant ...
VSD for baby7/5/2010
  Q: My 22 day old baby was diagnosed with 5mm perimembranous VSD,5mm ASD and PDA on his 2nd day. Now VSD ...
  A: L-R shunt is normal and so is pulmonary artery pressure of 30. Manu VSD's close completely by ...
Stinging Sensation in Esophagus7/4/2010
  Q: Happy 4th of July. I am a 53 year old male which suffers from anxiety and hypertension. Taking ...
  A: Skipped beats can cause stinging because the skip may let the heart brush on the esophagus. Skipped ...
Rapid heart rate7/4/2010
  Q: I am 25 years old. I weigh 117 pounds. I am 4'10.5" tall. I am having a rapid heart rate for the ...
  A: If your heart rate is over 170 and regular, lie down 5 minutes, then take a deep breath and blow it ...
Problems with PVC's7/2/2010
  Q: Im 20 years old and had an ablation 2 months ago for having too many PVC's a minute and i also had ...
  A: Flecainide and Sotalol are more effective in reducing PVCs than is Nadolol. Ask your doctor about ...
heart rate7/2/2010
  Q: i have sinus tachy my resting rate is 115 bpm and i do take atenenol 50 mg a day to keep my heart ...
  A: No need to be afraid. Heart rate of 125, even 150 is okay for anesthesia. Ask the anesthesiologist ...
Mild Apical Hypertrophy echo results7/1/2010
  Q: PVCs since I was 19 after RTA. Minor chest trauma. PVCs changed to runs, bigemeny, trigemeny, PACs ...
  A: I agree that mild apical hypertrophy is not likely to ever be a threat to life or health. Could be ...
cardiomyopathy7/1/2010
  Q: Last echo 6 months ago, the new current one refers to moderate global hypokinesis lt ventricle ...
  A: Echo decline if 5% in EF is not significant. RSR and nonspecific T changes are probably not ...
pressure6/30/2010
  Q: I HAVE BEEN HAVING A HARD TIME WITH PRESSURE IN MY NECK ''I ALSO HAVE THESES BUBBLES IN MY VEINS IN ...
  A: I think it's probably not heart related, especially if you're less than 40 years old. But I don't ...
Asthma and my heart6/30/2010
  Q: Crikey I have a long history! I have 20 years of poorly treated asthma which has taken a toll on ...
  A: You probably have atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure. Ask the cardiologist to listen ...
chest tenderness and pain6/28/2010
  Q: It all started about 4 or 5 months ago. I felt a very noticable pain in my rib area just left of ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
coronary disease and atrium fibrillation6/28/2010
  Q: He went to the octor and they said he needed to get to hospital right away. He has been in hospital ...
  A: Cara, TTE is transthoracic echo, made with jelly on chest but no tube down throat. Tube down throat ...
Pounding heart6/27/2010
  Q: My husband (54) has woken up twice in two weeks with a pounding heartbeat which is also very ...
  A: Fast, irregular heart beat is probably atrial fibrillation. This is not a big problem so long as it ...
Holter-PVC´s6/26/2010
  Q: I´m 23 year old man good health except mild GERD.Last half year I have been suffered ...
  A: The difference between your two Holters is not impossible. It is an actual fact, not unusual at ...
Holter-PVC´s6/25/2010
  Q: I´m 23 year old man good health except mild GERD.Last half year I have been suffered ...
  A: Yes. PVCs, no matter how frequent, are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in ...
CHEST / HEART PAIN6/23/2010
  Q: WHAT IT REALLY IS? I ALSO READ IT BECAUSE OF LESS MAGNESIUM AND POTASSIUM IN BODY TOO? OR THAT PAIN ...
  A: It's probably cramp of muscles in the chest wall, around the ribs. It certainly isn't a threat to ...
Anterior myocardial infarction6/23/2010
  Q: I am a 58 year old male. I am 5'9" and weigh 190 lbs. I have been treated for the past 25 years ...
  A: Anterior means front of heart and myocardial infarction means a damaged area. Anteroseptal just ...
Premature heart complexes6/22/2010
  Q: I went to a hospital after my heart would beat so hard I could feel it especially at the neck. ...
  A: Lots of caffeine makes premature beats more frequent, but premature beats are normal heart activity, ...
Overweight and LOW blood pressure?6/22/2010
  Q: I'm a 28 year old female who is overweight. Strangely I have lowish blood pressure. Today it ...
  A: BP can get low enough to make you faint. 85 is too low. Increased propranolol dose doesn't usually ...
diastolic dysfunction6/21/2010
  Q: I recently had an exam and received my records reflecting a bicuspid aortic valve with trace ...
  A: If you have no limitation of exercise, can climb 2 flights of steps or walk half a mile briskly ...
question about heart health6/21/2010
  Q: Richardson, Glad to see you back form vacation, i missed reading your respnses! Hope it was a ...
  A: The only things that you have mentioned that may prevent heart trouble are coffee, tea, a little ...
chest pain6/20/2010
  Q: i'm a 21 years old female, recently i've been experiencing crushing chest pain (mid to right of my ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Rapid heartbeat with pain more than 12 hours6/20/2010
  Q: I'm 18 and i'm 30 weeks pregnant I have low blood pressure I am about 5 feet 3 inches and 130 ...
  A: No good idea. Seeing your heart beat by looking at your necklace is normal. The most common cause ...
ARVD6/8/2010
  Q: I've posted to you many times in the past week or so about PVC's, V-Tach, angina, and other ...
  A: Michael, the diagnosis of ARVD is based on 1) Echo or MRI showing lack of motion of the right ...
Chest Pain6/8/2010
  Q: I'm a 21 year old male around 270lbs that has been having chest pain for about the past month. I ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Waking Up Suddenly With Strange Sensation In Chest6/8/2010
  Q: Good evening, For the past couple of years I have had periods of time where just as I am drifting ...
  A: Could it be brief episodes of atrial fib? Other possibilities include congestive heart failure, ...
v-tach6/8/2010
  Q: I'm a 24 yr old male. Echo, stress test, stress echo, holter, and event monitors have all been ...
  A: ARVD shows up on EKG and echo. ARVD doesn't cause chest pain, tho it can cause VT. Any arrhythmia ...
Random episodes-SVT?6/7/2010
  Q: Good day Dr.; I appreciate your help previously, I have been better able to handle my palpitations ...
  A: 1. Sure. Quite common, in fact. 2. Yes, an EKG would have shown long QT. 3. His prognosis is very ...
RBBB6/7/2010
  Q: I experience heart flutters/missed beats on occasion, approximately 1/week and have been for the ...
  A: RBBB does widen the QRS complexes but does no harm, doesn't affect the heart's pumping ability or ...
Tired of Irregular Heart Beats6/6/2010
  Q: I am a 25 year old female experiencing issues with my heart since highschool. At 18, I suddenly ...
  A: Sure sounds like a fib. Should it recur, ask for an event monitor, which records your EKG over a ...
Coronary vessel problem6/6/2010
  Q: My father, a 46 year old, had here heart angiography and it showed that one of the main vessels is ...
  A: 60% is not severe enough to cause trouble. His current medicines may open the narrow place a ...
short of breath ,fast heart rate6/6/2010
  Q: i am currently taking 10 mg every 6 weeks of infliximab i am pre medicated with Tylenol and benadryl ...
  A: Shortness of breath is listed as an ill effect of Remicade, but not fast heart rate. Lopressor will ...
Palpitations6/5/2010
  Q: I have been having panic attacks lately and during the day have experienced palpitations. Is this ...
  A: Zoloft can lower BP, especially standing BP. If you're dizzy standing, it's probably the Zoloft. ...
Isolated supraventricular beats6/5/2010
  Q: Richardson, My 25 year old daughter who is 5'8, 117 lbs and has a bp of 110/70 has contracted Lyme ...
  A: Koftinoff, Doesn't seem urgent to me either. Lyme sometimes affects the heart, but ...
Do I need a stress test6/4/2010
  Q: Recently I had 2 EKG tests (1 in Primary and 1 in Cardiologist office)showing good results except ...
  A: Yes, I think you need one. A doctor need not be present. One is nearby in case there's any ...
Echo Results6/3/2010
  Q: my echo from 2 years ago shows: AV Cusp: 1.9 cm Ao Diam: 3.3 cm EDV: 159 ml ESV: 66 ml EF: 58% My ...
  A: It's probably okay for your aorta to increase its diameter that much. Please get another echo in 6 ...
SBE Prophylaxis6/3/2010
  Q: My father is a heart patient. I want to know some information regarding his health. In 2007, he ...
  A: Chatterjee, Wait one week after he's finished the Glavo and is off all antibiotics. If he then has ...
heart palpatations6/2/2010
  Q: I'm 28 female, for the past 1 and a half I have been having heart palpitations. PAC's and PVCs. It ...
  A: PACs & PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
Heart Rates6/2/2010
  Q: I am 26yrs old and I have been trying to research why I have a normal resting heart rate at 110 BPM ...
  A: If your blood pressure is always normal, the only known cause of rapid resting heart rate is ...
v-tach6/2/2010
  Q: I'm a 24 yr old male. Echo, stress test, stress echo, holter, and event monitors have all been ...
  A: 1. I guess rarely it's not benign. 2. No, 25 beats is not sustained vtach. It stopped ...
PVC's6/1/2010
  Q: I am 59 years old, 6 ft., 165 lbs. i have had pvc's for at least 30 years, but at times I still ...
  A: PVCs beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
Chest pain5/31/2010
  Q: I have been having some moving chest pain. It moves to either side of the sternum, but its like ...
  A: John, mild to moderate is the key phrase. That and at the first diagonal branch, which means the ...
v-tach5/31/2010
  Q: I'm a 24 yr old male. Echo, stress test, stress echo, holter, and event monitors have all been ...
  A: An EP study means he will put a cardiac catheter in your ventricle and electrically make PVCs to see ...
Sinus arrythmia and missed beats5/31/2010
  Q: Since this is your special interest, I have questions about it. First though, I'd like to ask about ...
  A: Sinus arrhythmia is very good, means a well functioning heart that responds normally to signals from ...
momentary heart problem?5/30/2010
  Q: Sometimes i feel a strong and painful muscle cramp/spasm which lasts less than one second, but it is ...
  A: Doesn't sound like heart. The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the ...
Chest pain5/30/2010
  Q: I have been having some moving chest pain. It moves to either side of the sternum, but its like ...
  A: Your pain isn't at all likely to be coming from your heart. It's most likely cramping of skeletal ...
Palpitations5/29/2010
  Q: I have been having panic attacks lately and during the day have experienced palpitations. Is this ...
  A: You're feeling skipped heart beats. Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or ...
Sending My Info5/29/2010
  Q: My reports can only come to you via fax. Is that possible? I am a nervous wreck. If I bend over ...
  A: Fax is 804 200 1098. Say again what your angina is like. Anterior chest pressure or tightness when ...
Heart Attack Warnings5/28/2010
  Q: I have been feeling extremely exhausted for the past few weeks. In my on line readings I have come ...
  A: The heart functions properly until the heart attack actually occurs, so impending heart attack is ...
Me Again5/28/2010
  Q: I wanted to ask one more question. I am the 43 year old female that has had pericardial effusion ...
  A: Yes, send to dwr1@wcrichmond.org Small pericardial effusions are normal. Make it easy for the ...
Me Again5/28/2010
  Q: I wanted to ask one more question. I am the 43 year old female that has had pericardial effusion ...
  A: Do you think your soul had MVP since the big bang? Yes, the normal stress echo and 6 normal EKGs ...
premature atriaal complex5/26/2010
  Q: am joy 30 years old and i,am living in almere ( holland) the last 2 years i have premature atriaal ...
  A: Premaure beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
PAC & PVC5/25/2010
  Q: I am a 32yr old white female. I have had pvc and pac for years. My last 24hr Holiter stated I only ...
  A: PACs are never dangerous, no matter how many per minute, and neither are PVCs in someone with normal ...
PET Test5/25/2010
  Q: I am a male 60yrs old 6' 400lbs (Have lost 30 lbs since January and going to gym 3 times a wk with ...
  A: The indication for intervention on the heart with balloon angioplasty and stents is chest pain you ...
Heart pounding wakes me up.5/25/2010
  Q: I wake up at night with my heart pounding really fast. I feel like a sort off shiver inside my ...
  A: If your heart pounding starts and stops abruptly, in one heart beat, and its rate is over 170, you ...
Pacemaker5/24/2010
  Q: My mother passed away (at age 95, I know, very advanced age) in a nursing home where she resided for ...
  A: Jill, here's a quote from the 1984 Health Care Financing Administration document suggests the ...
irregular heartrate5/24/2010
  Q: I am 26, female and with no major health issues. Since the last two days I’ve been experiencing ...
  A: Only if your heart rate jumps abruptly, in one heart beat, to 180 or more, is there any problem. As ...
PVC's5/23/2010
  Q: Dr Richardson, I wrote to you about 2 years back regarding PVCs I was experiencing. Back then I ...
  A: You had an EKG-monitored stress test. With echo there would have been an echo probe and jelly on ...
Pacemaker5/23/2010
  Q: My mother passed away (at age 95, I know, very advanced age) in a nursing home where she resided for ...
  A: The pacemaker should have been checked a few weeks (1 to 3) after implantation to be sure it was ...
PVC's5/23/2010
  Q: Dr Richardson, I wrote to you about 2 years back regarding PVCs I was experiencing. Back then I ...
  A: A normal stress test, if monitored by echo or radioisotopes, gives you 95% probability of no heart ...
Music changing your heart rhythm.5/21/2010
  Q: > music for hours and a website about Noise Induce Hearing > loss said..........Noise not only ...
  A: Very loud or very alarming music would raise BP and heart rate in some people. Count your heart ...
newly found V-Tach5/21/2010
  Q: Dr. Richardson, I've written to you many times before and this time I have a new ...
  A: 1. NO danger of vfib with normal echo. 2. Couldn't be long Qt with all those normal EKGs. 3. Brief ...
Burning-Stinging and Aching = Heart Related?5/20/2010
  Q: Burning muscle feeling and tightness in right side of mid and upper back and shoulder along with ...
  A: Marge, if your blood pressure exceeds 170 when your arm is hurting, report it to your doctor at ...
DVT - 2 clots at age 23 - causes for concern?5/20/2010
  Q: I was diagnosed with DVT on the 4th of May when I went in to the orthopedist for knee pain (which ...
  A: Clots in arm veins are very rare, almost unheard of, so your arm pain is unrelated unless you bled ...
Burning-Stinging and Aching = Heart Related?5/20/2010
  Q: Burning muscle feeling and tightness in right side of mid and upper back and shoulder along with ...
  A: Angina is pressure on middle of front of chest brought on by exercise and relieved in 5 minutes by ...
Abnormal EKG5/19/2010
  Q: Would you please send me your opinion about this patient,Female 74 ,with Pulmonary Obstructive ...
  A: The ST elevation in V1 & V2 may be due to left ventricular strain; it's not possible to be sure ...
crazy heart beat5/19/2010
  Q: I've been dealing with alot of issues with my heartbeat. I've been back and fourth to the doctor and ...
  A: Extra beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
Blood Pressure, Heart rate and dizziness5/18/2010
  Q: I am a twenty four year old female. I am 5'3 weight 148 pounds. I have lost 30 pounds in the last ...
  A: Your BP and heart rate are fine. Dizziness during anxiety may come from over breathing. Pay ...
pain in right arm and shoulder after angioplasty5/18/2010
  Q: I am posting this question regarding a situation my father is facing. He is 55 years He experienced ...
  A: Amjad, I don't know why his right arm should hurt after angioplasty. Strain on right shoulder ...
Exersice Heart rate..strange5/17/2010
  Q: When I'm running and feeling like I'm working pretty hard my BPM is low, around 78..then when I walk ...
  A: Yes, heart rate is usually higher during exercise than at rest. I don't know why yours behaves ...
strange episode5/16/2010
  Q: Good evening again doctor, I wrote You a few days ago asking about my palps and EKG after a.car ...
  A: Your heart couldn't stop for 30 seconds without causing you to pass out. Dr. Guillotine found that ...
deviated septum surgery5/16/2010
  Q: i was told i have to have a septoplasty as my left nostril is completely blocked so i have a few ...
  A: MVP and PVCs aren't any threat to life or health or anesthesia, now or in the future. Nothing ...
Palpitations5/15/2010
  Q: Dr. Richardson, I am a 44 year old male and for about the past 20 years I have had experienced ...
  A: If your palpitations are skipped beats, they are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health ...
Condition Of Heart5/15/2010
  Q: I am 43 years old have MVP and also diagnosed with Pericardial Effusion unkown etiology that has ...
  A: Your palpitations are probably skipped heart beats. Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no ...
POTS and Prinzmetal's Angina5/13/2010
  Q: I am a 39 y/o female that has been suffering with POTS for 6 years. I have just been released from ...
  A: Try nitroglycerine 0.3 and lie down for the next 10 minutes? Pyridostigmine can improve orthostatic ...
Hypertension and abdominal distension5/13/2010
  Q: David Is there any relationship between hypertension and the size of your abdomen? I don't mean in ...
  A: There's no known relationship between blood pressure and abdominal size. Your abdomen will not ...
abnormal echo stress test5/13/2010
  Q: ihave had an ekg, vascular screening, resting echogram,coronary dye test and all have came back ...
  A: DSThe flipflops are probably skipped heart beats. Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no ...
What constitutes heart disease risk?5/12/2010
  Q: I am 25 yr old female. I am wondering what my heart disease risk would be given the following: ...
  A: Only parents or siblings with coronary disease below age 55 increase your risk of heart disease. ...
EF of 35%5/12/2010
  Q: 46 yr old male in the military, ekg in nov09 showed left bundle branch block, echo showed 35% in dec ...
  A: You have what in doctors' jargon is called dilated cardiomyopathy, meaning the heart muscle is not ...
Pericarditis5/12/2010
  Q: I am 30 years old, 5 foot, 5 inches and 160lbs. I take no medications and my blood pressure is ...
  A: I looked at http://emedicine.medscape.com/ and didn't see anything about the heart. I know very ...
newly found V-Tach5/12/2010
  Q: Dr. Richardson, I've written to you many times before and this time I have a new ...
  A: Sorry to be so slow. I thought I answered this yesterday, but obviously didn't. V-tach at 127 is ...
REALIGNMENT THERAPY5/11/2010
  Q: My name is Rajesh. My father who is aged 55 is suffering from Hypertension since 5 years. Recently ...
  A: I know nothing about realignment therapy. Please send me anything you've read about it. For renal ...
Worrying about my heart5/11/2010
  Q: don't know my cholosterol presure is 125 85 , granpa had a stroke at 72 and uncle 55 , eating usualy ...
  A: Only parents or siblings who die under age 55 of heart trouble count as a risk for heart attack or ...
Ecg5/11/2010
  Q: this morning I got an ECG done while on placement as i am a nursing student and we was practicing ...
  A: I'm not sure what intra-atrial delay means. Send me the P wave duration and the PR interval. ...
PACs and tachycardia + cardiac neurosis5/10/2010
  Q: First I'll have to apologize for a long question and somewhat poor English knowledge. To my ...
  A: The Holter showed PACs and sinus tachycardia. Both are normal heart activity. PACs are normal ...
ecg5/8/2010
  Q: sir my ECG findigs are QRS 126mm,QT/QTC 356/442ms, pr 168MS,P 124ms,RR/PP 640/645.p/qrs/t 49/-60/47 ...
  A: This answer is probably the same I sent you before. Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no ...
jump sensation in chest5/8/2010
  Q: I am 33 years old and occasionally get a jump sensation in my chest,I'm currently on inderal la 80 ...
  A: It's probably a skipped heart beat you feel. Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to ...
Heart related problems5/7/2010
  Q: I, 73, having almost active office working life, got Angioraphy 5 months back an it showed blockade ...
  A: I'm not sure. It's probably worth getting an event monitor, a box you carry with you that records ...
Reason for concern?5/7/2010
  Q: I am a 19 year old male, who sometimes experiences slight chest pain mainly on the left hand side. ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Heart related problems5/6/2010
  Q: I, 73, having almost active office working life, got Angioraphy 5 months back an it showed blockade ...
  A: Gupta, Your high BP is not the result of the coronary narrowings, but is probably hypertension of ...
EKG and Palpitations5/6/2010
  Q: I am 24 years old, female, 220 lbs (unfortunately. Trying to lose weight). I currently take zoloft ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
ARVD5/5/2010
  Q: Dr. Richardson. I have a question about arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. I've had PVC's ...
  A: A definite diagnosis of ARVC/D is warranted in the presence of two major criteria, one major plus ...
jumpy heart beat5/4/2010
  Q: 24 yr old male. cholesterol 245, ive been having this left side chest pain for about a yr now. ive ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Chest pain and high BP5/3/2010
  Q: My mother, age 63 recently had an episode of sudden left side chest pain, sweating, dizziness and ...
  A: High BP would not have caused chest pain or her other symptoms. Pulmonary embolus could cause chest ...
ecg results5/3/2010
  Q: Heart rate 52bpm P duration 110ms PR interval 188 ms QRS duration 72ms QT interval 406 ms QTc ...
  A: EKG's ofter misread anteroseptal infarction because the leads are placed too high on the chest. You ...
heart5/2/2010
  Q: I am 43 years old have MVP and was discovered I have a small pericardial effusion 18 years ago that ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
rls in chest5/2/2010
  Q: I have this REALLY annoying like fluttering in my chest..the best way I can describe it is like ...
  A: Skiver, 24-hour EKG'a are recorded by a box you take home. If the fluttering has gone away, ask ...
Heart Condition/Enlarged Left Atrial Pulmonary Valve5/1/2010
  Q: -Does having an enlarged left atrial pulmonary valve affect me or put me at risk while being ...
  A: The left atrium is connected with the mitral valve. The pulmonary valve connects the right ...
increased heart rate after taking Amoxicillan4/30/2010
  Q: My mom was diagnosed with pericardial effusion early last week. They say it is likely viral. She ...
  A: Amox shouldn't cause trouble breathing or make a pericardial effusion worse. But tell her doctor ...
Cardiomyopathy4/30/2010
  Q: My aunt was recently diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Her EF is 20. Just prior to this ...
  A: Green Sputum might be a bacterium named pyocyaneous. Ask about that. Ask about the pressure drop ...
heart4/28/2010
  Q: in 2003 in developed acute pancretites...short of end of the story was on life support for 2 weeks ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
strange sensation/vibration at heart area4/28/2010
  Q: I will be 50 years old this year. Recently, during the last 2 occasions when I went for a morning ...
  A: I'm not sure, but think it is probably vibration of the muscles in the chest wall, around the ribs. ...
unexplained condition4/27/2010
  Q: I am asking for my husband. We have seen 5 cardiologist and 3 neurologist and nobody knows what is ...
  A: Ask about pheochromocytoma, a rare, benign tumor of an adrenal gland, that can cause episodes of ...
heart rumbling?4/27/2010
  Q: I'd first like to thank you for volunteering, very kind of you. I am a 22yr old female and have a ...
  A: If the rumble occurs with the pulse in your neck, it's probably nothing important. If it occurs ...
should i be concerned?4/26/2010
  Q: 50 yr old female, 194 lbs 5' 3". No medications. BP normally runs 126/80. past 4 yrs seeing ...
  A: The cardiolite test and the fact that you had similar pain 10 or 15 years ago make heart very ...
Lung?4/26/2010
  Q: over three years ago I had a sudden onset of breathlessness and to this day still have this issue ...
  A: No, one clot would probably not get worse, tho it might have extended backward and blocked more of ...
heart risk4/26/2010
  Q: let me start by saying reading your answers to many questions has given me much more peace about my ...
  A: You need never have another EKG, stress test or echo so far as PVCs are concerned. You're doing ...
irregular heart beat4/25/2010
  Q: I am 41 yrs old professional , weight about 75 kg, height 5'11" a married male. I don't smoke ...
  A: There is no abnormality in your heart's electrical system. Some calcium channels blockers do cause ...
PVC's and NSVT4/25/2010
  Q: Dr. Richardson. I'm a frequent PVCer and have been for close to 20 years. I'm 41 years old. I had an ...
  A: If your heart is normal in function by MRI, PVCs are not a threat to life or health. Ablation is ...
Blood pressure fluctuations4/25/2010
  Q: I've written before about my pvcs/pacs but this is about my blood pressure. Although my drs. Think ...
  A: I think you should get your BP below 140/90 all the time. Chlorthalidone is a long-acting diuretic ...
irregular heart beat4/25/2010
  Q: I am 41 yrs old professional , weight about 75 kg, height 5'11" a married male. I don't smoke ...
  A: You need do nothing. Supraventricular ecctopic beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life ...
pvcs and ablation4/24/2010
  Q: I am 50 years old and have been a long term sufferer of pvcs. My last holter indicates that I had ...
  A: Ablation of PVCs is very tricky. Please try flecainide and sotalol first. They are more effective ...
PAC's VPB's4/23/2010
  Q: I've been reading your comments on "Skipped Beat", could you refer me to some literature about the ...
  A: Try http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/761148-overview If that doesn't work, go to ...
change in pulse4/23/2010
  Q: I am a 39 year old male, 5'11" and 175 lbs. Just recently had a physical and everything came back ...
  A: I've never worked with a BP monitor with irregular heartbeat feature, so don't know how often they ...
change in pulse4/22/2010
  Q: I am a 39 year old male, 5'11" and 175 lbs. Just recently had a physical and everything came back ...
  A: 1. Yes. Pressing on the pulse in your neck slows your heart, and so does taking a deep breath if ...
PVCs4/22/2010
  Q: I am a 50 year-old male. I run about 10 miles a week and play racquetball vigorously three times a ...
  A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and echo. ...
Left Chest Pain4/22/2010
  Q: Two days ago, i experienced a lot of pain in the left side of my chest (above the nipple) and it ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
blood pressure drops after exercise4/21/2010
  Q: I'm a 31 year old female, non-smoker, and overweight by about 10 pounds. Anyway, a few days ago I ...
  A: BP drop after exercise is okay. All the vessels in your muscles are dilated, allowing the drop in ...
my boyfriend's heart4/21/2010
  Q: Richardson, I'm looking for some information related to non-functioning of the left ventricle. My ...
  A: Steigerwald, Pectus excavatum wouldn't weaken his heart, tho perhaps by spreading his heart out, ...
Takotsubo Syndrome4/21/2010
  Q: I had Takotsubo syndrome on 9/15/09. From all of my research I expected to make 100% recovery ...
  A: J, Here's extracts of a Mayo Clinic document: Broken heart syndrome By Mayo Clinic staff Original ...
Post ASD closure, excessive premature beats4/20/2010
  Q: In December I suffered a cryptogenic stroke and during the standard tests they found the PFO was not ...
  A: Maybe the closure device increases the frequency of premature beats. Remember that premature beats ...
Feeling faint after exercising4/20/2010
  Q: Im 19 years old and I have been lifting weights for about 3 years. I run 3 times a week, about 4 ...
  A: Ask someone to measure your blood pressure sitting and standing quietly for 1,3 and 5 minutes, ...
EKG Results - Left Anterior Fasc. Block4/19/2010
  Q: I have recently gotten an EKG prior to beginning medication for ADD. The Interpretation indicated a ...
  A: The left anterior fascicle is a tiny branch. Its block is no threat to life or health. You can ...
Palpitations4/19/2010
  Q: Richardson, I'm a 54 year old male in good general health. I'm 5'7" and weight approximately 180 ...
  A: Sullivan, Tightening may be cramping of muscles in the chest wall, which is no threat to life or ...
Heaviness left side of chest right over heart4/18/2010
  Q: I have been experiencing a slight "heaviness" feeling over my heart for 2 days now... I am 24 years ...
  A: 1. Stretch your body away from the heavy-feeling area. 2. Pretty much. We have to have at least 60 ...
Heaviness left side of chest right over heart4/18/2010
  Q: I have been experiencing a slight "heaviness" feeling over my heart for 2 days now... I am 24 years ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
chest pain, and trouble breathing (after stretching, and other times, like late at night, and in the morning).4/17/2010
  Q: I have been having chest pains (usually late at night, after I stretch out my chest the wrong way). ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
severe pain head, neck and down right arm4/17/2010
  Q: i have had a severe headache for last couple of weeks i have high bloodpressure which i am on ...
  A: Can't help with cause or treatment of the headache, but the chest and arm pain is cramping of ...
hello............again!!!4/17/2010
  Q: i am struggleing to beleive that my skipping, flutter fellings are nothing to be concerned about as ...
  A: A normal 24-hour EKG is good. If you want to go further, ask for an event monitor, which records ...
cardiology4/16/2010
  Q: sir back again with the problem of dizziness after standing i am 49 yrs known diabetics on oral ...
  A: Depressed? Loss of interest in life certainly suggests depression. Your heart findings are not at ...
lvef and ejection fraction4/16/2010
  Q: ... i already stent at december 2009. i check my heart after operation at dec 23 2009. my ejection ...
  A: Both ventricles have ejection fractions. LVEF stands for left ventricular ejection fraction. Echo ...
ekg results4/15/2010
  Q: i had a health screening and my EKG came back abnormal. vent rate 40bpm pr interval 140ms ors ...
  A: No need for concern unless you're dizzy standing or get blurred vision. 40 is slower than usual, ...
Blood donation4/15/2010
  Q: I've been giving blood for years. The first time I gave I experienced this. I was about finished ...
  A: Probably a vagal reaction to anxiety lowered your blood pressure and slowed your heart. Did anyone ...
Irregular heartbeats4/14/2010
  Q: I am a 37 year old female, a couple of stone overweight which I am currently in the process of ...
  A: Ectopic beats, no matter how frequent, are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in ...
Heart Related Problems4/13/2010
  Q: I am extremly thankful for your earlier answers.Little more trouble to you, sir.Inspite of Blockade ...
  A: Gupta, Aspirin 75 mg a day is fine. The usual dose of simvastatin is 40 mg. There are lots of ...
pain in the right arms4/13/2010
  Q: I'm having pain up and down my right arm for the past couple of days, but the pain is more so in my ...
  A: I have no good ideas. Any rash on face or arm? If any rash develops, it's shingles, a very bad ...
negative t wave and heart palpitations4/12/2010
  Q: I`m 36 year old male. Four years ago, while resting I felt my heart had a skipped beat (pause and a ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
cardiology4/12/2010
  Q: I recently had a echo done. I am amale at 43 and am having hypertension for the last 5 months. my ...
  A: Congestive heart failure is characterized by shortness of breath with little exertion, trouble ...
cholestral4/11/2010
  Q: Can u tell me if my cholestral reading are ok?? sumthing i hafta worry about?? total...197 HDL...41 ...
  A: Your readings are at the upper limits of normal, except HDL is near it's lower limit of 40. With ...
Heart Related Problems4/10/2010
  Q: I am extremly thankful for your earlier answers.Little more trouble to you, sir.Inspite of Blockade ...
  A: Gupta, You could increase the Losartan to 100 mg a day. Next step would be amlodipine. Ranolazine ...
Orthostatic Hypotension(?) and PVCs4/10/2010
  Q: Richardson! 24Female, 5'8" 170lbs (athletic build), no meds. I don't consume caffeine, alcohol, or ...
  A: Your dizziness is almost certainly orthostatic hypotension. I don't know whether marathon runners ...
Heart Related Problems4/9/2010
  Q: I am extremly thankful for your earlier answers.Little more trouble to you, sir.Inspite of Blockade ...
  A: Gupta, The blockages in your coronary arteries have nothing to do with your blood pressure, which ...
heart issue4/8/2010
  Q: when i had concerns with pvc's. something happened to me that scared me a lot and i need yr ...
  A: Nothing you've written indicates any risk of dying of heart trouble. Just be sure to avoid ...
heart issue4/7/2010
  Q: when i had concerns with pvc's. something happened to me that scared me a lot and i need yr ...
  A: Mild anemia wouldn't cause back pain or high heart rate, tho chipped nails and hair falling may be ...
Irregular Heart Beat4/7/2010
  Q: David, Recently I have been experiencing several skipped heart beats per day. I had a normal ekg ...
  A: No premature beats are harmless, even 5 in a row. All skipped beats are really premature beats that ...
sinus tac and atrial flutter4/6/2010
  Q: I am 30, female, 5'4" and 200lbs. I began noticing a flipflop sensation during a time of prolonged ...
  A: Your flip-flops are skipped beats and are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in ...
pac's4/4/2010
  Q: 41 yr old male 5-11 145lbs bp 134/68 yes been seeing a cardiologist for 10 yrs now just switched 6 ...
  A: Remember that PACs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. They don't lead to heart ...
Heart related problems4/3/2010
  Q: I, 73, having almost active working life, got latest Angiography Nov,09. It shows blockades of Left ...
  A: The 90% narrowing is no more likely to block completely than the lesser narrowings in the major ...
CHOLESTEROL4/2/2010
  Q: I am 33 yr old male . Well 34 tomorrow. anyway i just had my 6 month blood test redone with the ...
  A: Exercise regularly, at least walk half an hour every day. The more exercise the better. Eat ...
heart flutters4/1/2010
  Q: I am 40 years old with a history of anxiety disorders. I use to take Paxil to control my anxiety, ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
Ischemia3/31/2010
  Q: Richardson, I have asked you a number of questions over the past year. I am asking this on behalf of ...
  A: She will need to have cardiac catheterization to see exactly where the blockages in her coronary ...
Mild Mitral Stenosis3/30/2010
  Q: Im 38years Old and diagnosed recently diagnosed with Mild Mitral Stenosi from my 2D ECHO. Is there a ...
  A: There's nothing you can do to change your mitral stenosis of keep it from getting more narrow. ...
Not sure3/30/2010
  Q: I am 43, 5'2", 214lbs. I have taken homeopathic medicines for years. Calms Forte for stress, but ...
  A: Jagelski, Heart murmurs and splinter hemorrhages suggest bacterial infection of a heart valve, but ...
exercise & skip heart beats3/29/2010
  Q: I have noticed when I exercise and my heart rate reaches about 140-145 my heart skips then goes back ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity. it's surprising that you notice them at fast heart rates. ...
ultrasound results3/28/2010
  Q: i got a ultra sound done cuz i have a cyst in the back of my knee.....This is wat my report ...
  A: No worry except the Baker's cyst, and I don't know what should be done about a Baker's cyst. Wall ...
fatigue3/28/2010
  Q: for the last 6 months i have had very bad fatigue. i sleep 8 hours a night, fairly active, 27 yr ...
  A: If you're overweight, it may be obstructive sleep apnea, especially if you snore or a bedmate has ...
Exercise and a thickened mytral valve. . .3/26/2010
  Q: I first found out I had a thickened mytral valve when I was 18 when I got my heart checked out b/c ...
  A: You won't hurt your mitral valve unless you try to lift 100 pounds. Do exercise that doesn't ...
palpitations3/24/2010
  Q: i am hoping you can put my mind at rest!!! about 5 years ago i was getting palpitations, i ended up ...
  A: , Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG ...
ecg3/24/2010
  Q: TMT NEGATIVE,ECHO TRIVAL MR WITH ?MVP,ECHO 21 SUPRA VENTRICULAR ECTOPICS,NO VENTRICULAR ECTOPICS. ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
Cardiac symptoms?3/23/2010
  Q: For the past three weeks I have had the following symptoms: fatigue, loss of appetite, pulsatile ...
  A: Unless pulsatile tinnitus means a swishing noise, none of your symptoms suggest heart trouble. ...
17year old pregnant with first degree heart block3/23/2010
  Q: My 17 yr old daughter is 16 weeks pregnant and has first degree heart block. She has started to ...
  A: You can tell about worse heart block by counting her pulse. Below 45 beats a minute is abnormal. ...
LBBB with cardiac history but no CVD3/23/2010
  Q: Richardson, I would really appreciate your advice on my recently dianosed LBBB with some history. ...
  A: Coull, LBBB is very unlikely to cause problems. Quinolone 10 years ago would not cause LBBB now. ...
PVCs after eating and laying down3/23/2010
  Q: Dr. Richardson, I am a 52 years old male 6' 234 lbs, controlled hypertension with norvasc and ...
  A: Pathophysiologically, perhaps eating and lying down moves your diaphragm up toward your neck and ...
PVCs and Heart Rate3/22/2010
  Q: I am a healthy 48 y.o. male with slightly elevated BP. To address the BP, I was placed on 2.5mg of ...
  A: Yes, a lower heart rate makes PBCs more frequent, but remember that PVCs are normal heart activity, ...
my heart is freakin out3/22/2010
  Q: hey.. ive been having some wierd feeling in my heart. like it feels like its dropping or skipping a ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with a normal EKG. ...
postpartum heart failure3/21/2010
  Q: What causes this to happen? how long does it take to recover? can too much IV fluid be a cause? can ...
  A: Chief cause is high blood pressure, as in pre-eclampsia. Pre-existing valve trouble can of course ...
PVC. Dizzy3/21/2010
  Q: I am a 47 year old female. For the past month I have been having dizzyness, heart palpitations/PVC, ...
  A: Sounds like over breathing. Pay careful attention to your breathing and breathe slowly and ...
hole in heart3/20/2010
  Q: I am 59 years old and two years ago learned I have a hole in my heart allowing more blood in to my ...
  A: Closing an atrial septal defect with open chest is very simple, safe surgery. ASDs can also be ...
dizziness3/20/2010
  Q: About two years ago my wife(36 years old) and I were eating dinner at a restaurant when she became ...
  A: Maybe her blood pressure gets too low when she stands. Measure her blood pressure seated and while ...
Echo report concerns3/19/2010
  Q: I am a 53 yr old female with a history of Sjogren's Sydrome, MCS, chronic iron deficiency anemia, ...
  A: Yes, the echo findings are all consistent with your age. None is a threat to life or health. ...
valvular lesion3/19/2010
  Q: i have been diagnosed after a stress test and Echocardiography, with a mildly dialated left ...
  A: Look at ...
AF & HTN medications3/18/2010
  Q: Richardson, My mother, age 71, live in Singapore, a small island country, where obtaining a ...
  A: 1. Hard choice. Aspirin alone at 325 mg a day is somewhat effective in lessening the likelihood of ...
Mitral Regurgitation and High Pulse Rate3/18/2010
  Q: Good day, Doctor Richardson. I am female, 24, and as a result of a routine echocardiogram have been ...
  A: The murmur probably just wasn't heard five years ago. If you have a murmur now, that is, the mitral ...
Adderall's effect on BP3/18/2010
  Q: I am 21 yrs. old, 5'5'', 145lbs., BP is typically 110/80. I am currently taking: Dicyclomine ...
  A: Yes, it's safe to mix the two, tho I wouldn't take Adderal after 3 pm, since it may keep your awake. ...
Heart Pain3/17/2010
  Q: I had asked you a question about heart palpitations about a month ago, and I was hoping to follow up ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
angina in 24 yr old?3/17/2010
  Q: im a 24 yr old male. cholesterol 245, ive been having this left side chest pain for about a yr now. ...
  A: Michael, haven't I answered all these questions many times before now? Coronary blockages and ...
Heart pains and side3/17/2010
  Q: Recently i have been having a lot of heart pains and this has been constant for about 6 months now. ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
high pulse and bp3/16/2010
  Q: I am a 26 year old female who recently been put on lisinopril for high blood pressure.I do have ...
  A: Your pulse rate is okay. Asthma can raise pulse rate, so can inhalers. Lisinopril does not raise ...
Heart flutters3/16/2010
  Q: Good morning, I am a 30 year old woman. Since I was a small child I have had episodes of SVT, some ...
  A: Nothing is wrong with your heart. Ectopic beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or ...
Irregular heart beat, shaking of the hAnds, and 23 years old3/16/2010
  Q: I am very much concerned for my boyfriend who is 23 years old. I have known that my boyfriend has ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
Heart strain/pulmonary embolism3/15/2010
  Q: I am a 33 year female recovering from massive pulmonary embolisms that caused lung infarctions in ...
  A: Heart attack is very rare in a 33-year-old woman. Heart attack is often accompanied by nausea and ...
acid reflx3/15/2010
  Q: i had a heart attact fealing a couple of weaks ago and it whent away a second later i think it was ...
  A: Can't give a definite answer without knowing your age, blood pressure, smoking, family history and ...
BP Spikes3/15/2010
  Q: 59 year old male, athletic, non-smoker/drinker, no drug. 6ft 190 pounds. No history of heart,liver, ...
  A: Mathews, To test for pheochromocytoma, urine needs to be collected in strong acid, usually ...
BP Spikes3/14/2010
  Q: 59 year old male, athletic, non-smoker/drinker, no drug. 6ft 190 pounds. No history of heart,liver, ...
  A: Mathews, Either approach is satisfactory. Taking the catapres during spikes seems more ...
Concerned about echo findings3/13/2010
  Q: I am a 33-year-old Caucasian female, 5'7"and typically 130-135 lbs. (I am currently 17 weeks ...
  A: Mild mitral annular calcification is common, no threat to life or health, unrelated to coronary ...
heart pain3/13/2010
  Q: sometimes i have like a sharp small pain on the left side of my chest. the pain if any is really ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
ASD; enlarged right heart3/12/2010
  Q: I'm a female, 18 years old, 5'4", 110 lbs. I have an ASD (24 mm)(and a PFO) that is probably going ...
  A: Normal Echo Values Location Value IV Septal Thickness ...
Continued chest pain3/12/2010
  Q: Earlier this week I checked into a hospital suffering from sever chest pains, as a result of my ...
  A: It could be non-cardiac chest wall pain or reflux of acid from stomach to esophagus. The relief ...
Contiued Heart Palpitations3/11/2010
  Q: I'm 28 years old and have recently been experiencing heart flutters or skipped beats that continue ...
  A: The Jump start is probably a skipped beat. The beat after a skip is extra strong because the heart ...
controlled atrial fibrillation & stress testing3/10/2010
  Q: I am an 80 years old male and weigh 226 lbs and 6'4" in height. I am active and exercise 6 times a ...
  A: A stress test, at least a treadmill test, isn't likely to induce atrial fib. But why do a stress ...
atherosclerosis3/10/2010
  Q: I am a 45 year old woman with type 2 diabetes. I recently had a scan of my carotid artery which ...
  A: You should take an adult aspirin tablet daily. If may improve your carotid function a little and it ...
SVT with low BP3/10/2010
  Q: I am a 49 year old female with history of a MVP, murmur and low PB. Other than a dental condition ...
  A: You are in no danger now or in the future. SVT doesn't get any worse than you have experienced. ...
Palpitations3/9/2010
  Q: I am a 49 year old female, and have a 25 yr. history of PVC's, to include episodes of bigeminy , ...
  A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and echo. ...
Coronay Artery Disease3/9/2010
  Q: I, 73, got Cathetral Angiography recently in Nov.,09. My left Artery blockage is 50% and Right ...
  A: Gupta, 70% narrowing is required to limit blood flow to the heart, so your 30 and 50 are not ...
chest pressure3/9/2010
  Q: About a month or so ago I woke up with a feeling of a lot of pressure on my chest. Fortunately it ...
  A: There's no way to be sure. Heart pain is usually pressure on center of front of chest that often ...
heart flutters3/8/2010
  Q: Richardson, I have written to you a couple of times before. Thank you for your responsed. On ...
  A: 1. Yes, that many beers can trigger atrial fib. 2. Yes, continue to exercise. 3. Yes, it could have ...
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy3/8/2010
  Q: My husband and I were scanned 5 yrs ago and they found nothing. We are now being echoed again and I ...
  A: Neither of you has to have HCM, and you probably don't, since your echos were normal. Just get ...
cardiology3/8/2010
  Q: d/doctor i am 49yrs history of rheumatic fever in childhood ,diabetis since last 11yrs feeling of ...
  A: LAHB AND RBBB have no prognostic or functional significance. The pair of minor branch blocks do not ...
cardiology3/7/2010
  Q: d/doctor i am 49yrs history of rheumatic fever in childhood ,diabetis since last 11yrs feeling of ...
  A: The forceful beats are the beat after a skip. During the long pause of the skip the heart fills ...
Vasovagal Syncope3/7/2010
  Q: I was diagnosed with VVS about 15 years ago following a sleep-deprivation EEG, an EKG, an MRI on my ...
  A: Eat LOTS of salt, 2 teaspoonsfull a day or more,, and drink lots of water. Effective medicines are ...
pvc during exercise3/6/2010
  Q: I have had pvc's for 5 years every since my daugherty was born. I am taking 50mg of Toprol Xl once a ...
  A: It's okay to have PVCs during exercise. The racing heart is probably caused by anxiety. Racing at ...
high cholesterol medications3/6/2010
  Q: I've been taking 40 mg., simvastatin but LDL and triglycerides are still high. My doctor thinks I ...
  A: Simvastatin is as good as Lipitor in my opinion. First step is take 80 mg a day of simvastatin. ...
cardiology & heart spasm3/6/2010
  Q: I'm 35 years old female, reasonably healthy,don't take drugs, and suffered twice now in 4 weeks of ...
  A: If your heart takes a minute or two to get to its highest racing rate, your symptoms suggest ...
dizzy3/5/2010
  Q: I've been suffering from anxiety for 3 years now. When it first started I had anxiety/panic attacks ...
  A: No, you don't need more heart tests. The dizziness may be caused by over breathing. Pay close ...
Chest Pain3/5/2010
  Q: I am a 33 year old male, appx 20lbs overweight. I try to exercise on a regular basis. I have been ...
  A: The chest pain doesn't sound like heart at all. The blue fingernails are probably caused by ...
statin long term side effects3/4/2010
  Q: I am 45 years, male. i was detected for very high cholesterol and triglyceride in 2005(Total ...
  A: Statins that have not caused muscle pain or liver dysfunction for a year are very unlikely ever to ...
irregular heart beats3/4/2010
  Q: Three days back my father had an uneasiness and started to shake and his arms freezed and the left ...
  A: Distortion of one side of face sounds like a little stroke. CT of brain that same day might miss ...
chest pain3/4/2010
  Q: Richardson, I have written you before regarding my SVT, PAC's and PVC's. I have another question ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
PVC and BAV3/3/2010
  Q: , Thank you for this service. I had my first skipped beat when running 10 months ago. I had ...
  A: 1. No need to worry about the PVCs, even with the BAV. 2. No, PVCs are normal heart activity, no ...
use of alpha and beta blockers3/3/2010
  Q: because of my atrial fibrillation, i use pindolol, a beta-blocker. because of an enlarged prostate, ...
  A: Neither of those meds lowers BP very much. There's very little risk in taking both. Start the ...
Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation?3/2/2010
  Q: 25yr male,215lbs.left side chest pain & left arm pain for about 2 yrs now.localized to one spot on ...
  A: Michael, I guess idiopathic VF can occur in anybody, but it's EXTREMELY rare. PVCs don't turn into ...
aorta3/2/2010
  Q: about a week ago i wrote you to ask about my aortic root on my echo that was measured at 4.3 cm .. ...
  A: Yes, if the tech doesn't have the ultrasound beam exactly perpendicular to the aorta, it will show ...
Cholesterol medium risk reg3/1/2010
  Q: My father(age 68) and mother(age 64) both of them are in medium risk as for as Cholesterol level is ...
  A: You can try stopping the blood pressure pill, but I think she will probably need to restart and take ...
aortic orifice obstruction2/27/2010
  Q: hya with aortic orifice obstruction would you definatly still have a carotoid pulse as there is ...
  A: Yes, you would still have a carotid pulse. Cure sounds possible, easy if the aortic valve causes ...
Pin hole2/27/2010
  Q: I am a 56 year old female that was just diagnosed with a Pin Hole in my heart. I was told that I was ...
  A: A pinhole in the septum, that wall of the heart between its left and right sides, will never hurt ...
Heart2/26/2010
  Q: Have aortic valve reguratation and coronary artery spasm.Does increase the workload of my heart and ...
  A: Aortic regurgitation, if more than moderate, can cause fatigue and weakness. Coronary spasm would ...
arrythmia2/25/2010
  Q: i am 53 years old, 163cm, 62kilos, no medication and have normal to low blood pressure. I wore a ...
  A: Michelle, report the dizziness, fatigue, difficulty breathing and chest pains to the EP doc. ...
20,000 skipped beats in 12 hours2/25/2010
  Q: I have written to you before and received such good advice. And I am hoping you can be as helpful ...
  A: Skipped beats, no matter how many, are no threat to life or health in someone with normal echo. ...
ECHO RESULTS2/25/2010
  Q: A FEW DAYS AGO I ASKED YOU ABOUT A DIALTED AORTA. I JUST GOT MY ECHO RESULTS AND WAS WONDERING IF ...
  A: Everything is normal except the aortic root and ascending aorta and mild to moderate aortic ...
heart2/24/2010
  Q: I am a37yr old female.For the last year,or maybe longer,i cant really recall when it started to ...
  A: Your chest discomfort sure sounds like heart trouble. Clogging of the coronary arteries that supply ...
Heart2/23/2010
  Q: I wanted to ask a follow up question and respond to what you ask. To answer your question they did ...
  A: Ziac can cause Raynaud's phenomenon, with purple fingers, and also can cause severe skin rashes, but ...
aortic root2/23/2010
  Q: im 33 male quit smoking in 12-2007 i smoked for 15 yrs , i had echo in 12/2007 my aortic root was ...
  A: It's one kind of aneurysm. elective repair of ascending aneurysms at 5.5 cm. Rapid expansion is ...
Heart2/23/2010
  Q: I wanted to ask a follow up question and respond to what you ask. To answer your question they did ...
  A: Nausea is not normal from heart trouble. Medicines maybe. Are you taking digoxin? That makes ...
aortic root2/23/2010
  Q: im 33 male quit smoking in 12-2007 i smoked for 15 yrs , i had echo in 12/2007 my aortic root was ...
  A: Dilation of 0.6 cm in 2 years is not life threatening. You should not exercise strenuously. ...
irregular heartbeat/strong beating2/15/2010
  Q: I am 47 yr old female, history of very noticeable skipped beats/pauses in beats (100's of times a ...
  A: Doering, Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. About half of us ...
pvc2/15/2010
  Q: I am a 40 year old woman who has lots of heart disease in family, my dad died at 55yrs old,and most ...
  A: Please see a cardio doc. PVCs are not threat to life or health in someone with a normal ...
Hard? heartbeat2/15/2010
  Q: I am a 42 year old female, 125 pounds, good cholesterol, have panic disorder and generalized anxiety ...
  A: There's nothing to concerned about constant awareness of heart beat. Remember that PVCs, even a run ...
Very rapid heart beat2/14/2010
  Q: Usually 4-5 times I year I am struck by very rapid heart beat in all type of different circumstances ...
  A: Gabpr, Single skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health, quite harmless. ...
PVCs2/13/2010
  Q: I'm a 41 year old woman. My PVCs started during my first trimester of my first pregnancy (I was 36). ...
  A: Premature Ventricular Contractions are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone ...
Palpitations2/12/2010
  Q: sometimes when I'm lying in bed, I feel strange heart sensations. It feels a bit irregular and make ...
  A: Probably you are feeling PACs, which are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health, no ...
Problems after two cardiac ablations2/11/2010
  Q: Dr. Richardson, I am writing as the mother of an 18-year-old (5'10", don't know blood pressure but ...
  A: Probably an unsuccessful ablation. See a cardiac electrophysiologist, doctors' jargon for a ...
Ectopics and pregnancy2/10/2010
  Q: I am a 40 yr old woman who is pregnant with my first child. I have a past medical history that ...
  A: Ectopics are no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and echo. They're really ...
Heart palptations2/10/2010
  Q: I am 31 years old, i am 5'0 tall and 142 lbs. I am in good health and never had any health problems ...
  A: PVCs are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and echo. ...
pvc2/10/2010
  Q: i'm a 40 year old woman who normally has 90's/60 blood pressure but yesterday it was 138/90 which is ...
  A: Sudden death is EXTREMELY unlikely. The worst it could be is atrial fibrillation, which is ...
ST2/9/2010
  Q: I am a 45 year old female. A week ago I went to my GP to complain about head pressure and ...
  A: The hard thump is a premature heart beat, no threat. This is normal heart function. Probably just ...
24 yr old with CAD and angina?????2/9/2010
  Q: im a 24 yr old male,drink quite a bit of beer, 6ft, 212lbs, and cholesterol of 245, high ...
  A: About 55 years. No Doesn't sound like cardiac pain at all. Stress tests monitored by echo or ...
24 yr old with CAD and angina?????2/9/2010
  Q: im a 24 yr old male,drink quite a bit of beer, 6ft, 212lbs, and cholesterol of 245, high ...
  A: 1. No 2. Event monitors are not ver sensitive about chest pain. 3 The most common cause of chest ...
34 year old with severe hypertension2/8/2010
  Q: Two years ago I had my 5th child and 6 days later i went into heart failure. all of my valves were ...
  A: There's this rare endocrine disorder called pheochromocytoma, tumor of an adrenal gland that leads ...
SVT on Holter test2/8/2010
  Q: I am a 38 yr old woman who has had problems with palpitations on and off for over 6 years. Sometimes ...
  A: SVT is not a danger to life, just a nuisance. The only worsening possible is that an episode would ...
Aortic dissection2/8/2010
  Q: Richardson, I'm a 53 year-old female with a history of two previous heart surgeries. The last was ...
  A: It's hard to see the arch of the aorta and the first part of the descending aorta on transthoracic ...
recurring chest pain2/7/2010
  Q: I am a 25 year old female. For nearly 5 years I have been having deep left side chest pain. The pain ...
  A: Doesn't sound at all like Prinzmetal's angina, which is pressure in the middle of the front of the ...
Pectoral Pain2/6/2010
  Q: I have experienced pain in my upper left pectoral just short of my collar bone. I have a heart ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Left side chest pains2/6/2010
  Q: Sorry to bother as I know you get many questions but I'm having a problem. I'm having sudden pain ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Shingles and heart disease2/6/2010
  Q: I had heard that sometimes when someone has the shingles that it can leave a hidden virus in the ...
  A: I know of no connection between shingles and heart disease. Poke around at ...
wpw2/5/2010
  Q: Richardson: I am a woman, had my 69th birthday last month.I am 5'8",147lbs, BP about 125/75. In 1968 ...
  A: If you've never had atrial fibrillation, the chances of sudden death are minute, less than 1% in a ...
Heart2/5/2010
  Q: I was diagnosed with MVP when I was 17. Ten years ago I developed Dysautonomia after a routine ...
  A: Congestive heart failure seems likely. You need another echo, and ask if they'll look for patent ...
Irregular Heartbeat Episode2/4/2010
  Q: Last night I woke up in the middle of the night to something strange. My heart was pounding very ...
  A: Probably it was atrial fibrillation. You need do nothing now if your heart rhythm is regular. ...
possible angina in 24 yr old male???2/4/2010
  Q: I'm a 24 yr old male, 5ft 11inches, 215lbs, and the past year or so I've been very inactive. I've ...
  A: 1. No, cold hands are the result of anxiety. The sympathetic nervous system constricts the tiny ...
possible heart issues???2/3/2010
  Q: Im a 30 year old male currently working in a remote part of the Middle East with limited medical ...
  A: Loveless, Your heart is okay. All that heart and circulation behavior is normal. For vertigo, sit ...
Channelopathy-CPVT2/3/2010
  Q: Well, I have mild hypercalcemia and I got a question about relation between hypercalcemia and ...
  A: That link gives a page that says, "This page is not available." I've sent an email to PubMed hoping ...
chest pain2/2/2010
  Q: Good Day Dr.Richardson I have been having a pain on the left side of my chest just between the ...
  A: Strain in neck vertebrae and GERD are possibilities, tho your pain doesn't sound like GERD. Do you ...
possible angina in 24 yr old male???2/2/2010
  Q: I'm a 24 yr old male, 5ft 11inches, 215lbs, and the past year or so I've been very inactive. I've ...
  A: 1. No 2. Doesn't sound like angina or heart-related pain. Angina is pressure on the middle of the ...
chest pain2/2/2010
  Q: Good Day Dr.Richardson I have been having a pain on the left side of my chest just between the ...
  A: Crestor causes muscle pains in about 5% of people who take it. If your chest pain came after you ...
chest pain2/1/2010
  Q: Good Day Dr.Richardson I have been having a pain on the left side of my chest just between the ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
high p waves2/1/2010
  Q: I asked a question on Jan 29th about my abnormal ECG's and recieved a helpful and prompt reply. ...
  A: The P waves are high because at your fast rate the P waves are superimposed on the preceding T and ...
Panic after all this time...again?1/31/2010
  Q: Last year I had a normal right and left heart cath and angiogram It was on 3/4/09. Before that I had ...
  A: SVT is caused by little bundles of heart cells that can carry electrical impulses from the lower ...
SVT or something else?1/31/2010
  Q: I have been suffering from a variety of confusing heart problems since contracting a virus in Mexico ...
  A: You're correct about atrial tach. "Automatic atrial tachycardia is observed both in patients with ...
Panic after all this time...again?1/31/2010
  Q: Last year I had a normal right and left heart cath and angiogram It was on 3/4/09. Before that I had ...
  A: They're probably not PVCs but PACs, and you probably had supraventricular tachycardia, not panic. ...
continual skipped beats1/30/2010
  Q: I am a 40 yr old female. I am currently taking Bystolic for an irregular heartbeat and high blood ...
  A: Ullyott, Bystolic and all beta blockers are very safe but not very effective in reducing skipped ...
SVT or something else?1/30/2010
  Q: I have been suffering from a variety of confusing heart problems since contracting a virus in Mexico ...
  A: SVT and atrial ectopic tach start abruptly in one heart beat. Sinus tach is the only fast heart ...
Combined EKG and Nuclear Cardiac Stress test1/30/2010
  Q: Richrdson: I received the results of Stress test but it is not clear what to do next. I am 59 old. ...
  A: Please send me your email address and I'll send instructions on how to get the stress test result to ...
allergy shots and beta blockers1/30/2010
  Q: I have recently had chest pain recurring over the last month and half. I am 48 and in pretty good ...
  A: Phillips, Neither the allergy shots nor the blood pressure medicine would account for the pain. ...
exercise1/29/2010
  Q: i recently went to the gym with my sister and after being on this elliptical machine for like a ...
  A: Yes, I think your heart is okay and your breathlessness was from being out of shape. I'd keep up ...
high p wave and abnormal ECG's1/29/2010
  Q: I am a 33 year old female of very petite build (5 feet, 85 lbs.) No current regular medication For ...
  A: Yes, I'd like to look at your EKGs, all of which are overread and normal, I bet. Send me you email ...
Dull chest pain1/29/2010
  Q: i push on the area but there is no increase in pain. There is a tender spot down the center of my ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Angina related to large PFO1/28/2010
  Q: My husband has recently been diagnosed with a large PFO and will be undergoing a PFO closure next ...
  A: Low oxygen in his arterial blood might cause angina. Was he exercising at the time? If so, he ...
flucating heart rate1/28/2010
  Q: I am a 44 year old female normal weight at 130. I workout 4-5 times a week. I have noticed as ...
  A: Variation between 57and 165 is okay. 215 does seem a little high. Does your heart ever change its ...
Sotalol1/27/2010
  Q: I am a 45yr old female. I have Afib of the heart and high blood pressure. My doctor prescribed ...
  A: The only other effective medicine for afib is flecainide, which is safe if you have a normal ...
Chest Pains1/26/2010
  Q: I am a 43 year old female. I do smoke about a half a pack a day. My mother has has heart trouble ...
  A: It's possible for a heart to cause pain without having permanent narrowing in the coronary arteries. ...
I'm scared to exercise.1/26/2010
  Q: Richardson, Probably would not remember me. I take Atenolol when I had heart skips a long time ago. ...
  A: If skipped beats are the only heart trouble you've had, then exercise is a very good idea. Exercise ...
on-going heart problem1/26/2010
  Q: Dr. Richardson, i am 47 years old. last year i started having dizzy spells and i would get very ...
  A: Probably your body senses your heart stopping and causes your dizziness and sweats. The pacemaker ...
chronic fatigue and florinef1/25/2010
  Q: I do hope you can help me; I'm sorry this isn't a direct cardiology question but I thought you might ...
  A: Florinef is hard to take. Midodrine is easier. The dose of Florinef can be increase daily up to ...
IST1/25/2010
  Q: can inappropriate sinus tachycardia be harmful
  A: Not in young age, tho there is some evidence that faster heart rates are more likely to lead to ...
POTS1/24/2010
  Q: I am a 29 year old female who recently developed tachycardia. This happened shortly after I tried ...
  A: Look at ...
chest pain1/24/2010
  Q: I am a 28 year old female with a persistent pain tonight between my breast. I have been feeling ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
A Fib1/24/2010
  Q: I had sudden onset of A Fib after having breast cancer surgery last year. I had no history of heart ...
  A: AFib is not listed as a complication of propofol, so I guess it's safe. Be sure to tell the ...
Stress test1/23/2010
  Q: I have asked you a few questions over the last few months, which was very helpful. I have had quite ...
  A: BP should rise during a stress test, but 210 seems a little too much for 4.5 minutes. That much ...
heart issue1/22/2010
  Q: Iam 24 years old, and i have been diagnosed with severe anemia, and i weight about 50kg, i dont have ...
  A: Could it be sickle cell anemia? That's a known cause of stabbing pain with deep breaths. The other ...
pulse pressure a concern?1/21/2010
  Q: I know you have said that pulse pressure can be a sign of a leaky aortic valve. I check my bp on a ...
  A: 1) No, a mild leak wouldn't widen pulse pressure. 2) Yes anxiety and adrenalin certainly widen pulse ...
pulse pressure a concern?1/21/2010
  Q: I know you have said that pulse pressure can be a sign of a leaky aortic valve. I check my bp on a ...
  A: No, one couldn't hear mild aortic leak. Your echo in July is good for at least a year. Stiffening ...
A-Fibb, PVC's PAC's around my period1/20/2010
  Q: For the last year or so I have been suffering from PVC's PAC's and a run of SVT about 6 months ago. ...
  A: See an endocrinologist about the beard. Growing a beard is not normal in a 31 year old woman, and I ...
arrhythmia1/20/2010
  Q: My problems began two weeks ago and came out of the blue. I was in school and all of a sudden my ...
  A: Go back to the cardiologist, tell him all your symptoms and that you need meds or ablation. The ...
unk pain1/19/2010
  Q: "hi 33 male long island ny recently i feel numbness down my left arm and down my left side near ...
  A: Not heart related with a normal echo and thallium test. A little stroke? Is the numbness there all ...
Regarding LV Diastolic Dysfunction1/18/2010
  Q: I am Pruthvi Shankar 38 Years Old Male From India. I had Went For a Master Health Checkup as i was ...
  A: If you're overweight, lose weight. Maintain your blood pressure around 120. Consult a doctor about ...
What's best medicine for PFO, Aggrenox or Plavix ?1/17/2010
  Q: I have a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO), which caused Tia's, purpura and swelling in any fingers, and ...
  A: Plavix has as much antiplatelet action as dipyridamole, the active ingredient in Aggrenox. How ...
chest pain/left arm pain/nausea1/16/2010
  Q: Dr. Richardson, twice in the last few weeks i have experienced sudden onset of chest pain in the ...
  A: Carson, The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the ...
boyfriend going to ns1/14/2010
  Q: My boyfriend recently went for his National Service medical checkup. They gave him pes D as a result ...
  A: A 2D echo is ultrasound of the heart. They push a flashlight-sized instrument on the outside of his ...
Nuclear Stress Test1/14/2010
  Q: Dr. Richardson, I'm a 66 year old man who recently went through a nuclear stress test using ...
  A: Hypoperfusion means those areas are not getting enough blood supply during exercise. Reversibility ...
Pulse pressure1/13/2010
  Q: I'm a 19yr old male (188cm, 81kg# with diagnosed isolated systolic hypertension. I'm a non-smoker, ...
  A: Arterial stiffness and big leak of aortic valve are the only two causes of wide pulse pressure that ...
heart skip1/13/2010
  Q: Everyday most often just once my heart will skip a beat and it feels like my breath is taken away ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
EKG's1/12/2010
  Q: Richardson I am questioning results on an EKG received a few years ago stating I had possible left ...
  A: The EKGs are read by a computer, which does what it's told by the program. Your EKGs don't prove ...
afib - feeling gurgling sensation chest1/11/2010
  Q: Can a-fib (which I do have) produce sensation of gurgling in chest? Thank you.
  A: Maybe. If you are breathless on mild exercise like walking in the house or up one flight of stairs, ...
Chest paid during exercise1/11/2010
  Q: I am 41 years old, 184 pounds, 5.9 tall and male; I do on or off exercising; sometimes when my ...
  A: Chest pain brought on by exercise and relieved in five minutes by rest raises the question of ...
septal infarct ekg1/10/2010
  Q: I AM 25 YEARS OLD AND WENT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MY HEART BECAUSE IT WAS RACING AT AN UNBELIEVABLE ...
  A: You may have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and leaking of the mitral valve. An echocardiogram will ...
Heart Pains1/10/2010
  Q: Good morning, I am 18 years old and have had chronic Addisons disease since I was 12 years old. I am ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
marked sinus arrythmia1/9/2010
  Q: gerd, anxiety, panic attacks, pcos. They other day I was freighted on the way to work and all the ...
  A: Sinus arrhythmia is good. It shows a normal heart responding to input from nerves from lungs and ...
Chest and Jaw Pain1/9/2010
  Q: I have been getting chest and jaw pain for about two weeks now. I also have been sharp pain on the ...
  A: How old are you? Do you smoke tobacco? Have your parents or siblings had heart attack or ...
Chest and Jaw Pain1/9/2010
  Q: I have been getting chest and jaw pain for about two weeks now. I also have been sharp pain on the ...
  A: Normal EKG probably means normal heart, though the EKG would have to be taken during the pain to be ...
chest pain1/8/2010
  Q: I am a 33 yo female who has been dx w/ pvc's . Those are undercontrol w/ exercise and cutting out ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
SVT and Anxiety1/8/2010
  Q: I was diagnosed with SVT quite some time ago and tried several meds to treat it with bad side ...
  A: An anti-anxiety medicine is sure worth a try. Flecainide is a medicine that is effective for SVT ...
Heart Complications1/7/2010
  Q: It was really enlightenment reading the queries and your fruitful replies. In Sep 2009 , I had ...
  A: The names for your medicines are not available in USA, so I can't tell what medicine you are taking. ...
chest pain1/7/2010
  Q: im about 4'10 and weigh about 145. ive been getting chest pains on my left side for the past year or ...
  A: Not heart. The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the ...
weak heart1/6/2010
  Q: 1) is the E.F. an only factor in determining a weak heart? OR if EF is 65% then does it mean that ...
  A: 1. No, one can have congestive heart failure with a good EF. In fact, about half of people with ...
Ablation1/6/2010
  Q: Dr. Richardson, You answered a question a while ago regarding my 11 daughter and her junctional ...
  A: Campany, Yes. the area may have been edematous or stunned and able to recover. Options are ...
Enlarged Left Atrium1/6/2010
  Q: I recently had a chest x-ray after a nasty bout with either bronchial pneumonia or flu, and the ...
  A: Debauchery is good for you. So is wine, and red meat is not too bad. Correcting LA enlargement ...
event monitor1/5/2010
  Q: im a 24 yr old male,drink quite a bit of beer, 6ft, 212lbs, and cholesterol of 245, high ...
  A: 1. Your pains are not heart related. 2. No heart trouble would be missed by all those tests. 3. The ...
chest pain/PACs1/4/2010
  Q: I am a 36 year old male and have been having chest pain for a number of years. I am normal height ...
  A: PACs don't cause pain. Nor do they cause fatigue. I don't know what causes your sensation that ...
angina or anxiety1/3/2010
  Q: For the past two weeks i have been feeling strange pain in my chest. It's mostly on the left side of ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
event monitor1/3/2010
  Q: im a 24 yr old male,drink quite a bit of beer, 6ft, 212lbs, and cholesterol of 245, high ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall ...
missing heart beats1/3/2010
  Q: .i'm 47,167cm and weigh 77kilos..suffer with mild hypertension and take medication for the same..19 ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
heart pain in child1/2/2010
  Q: I have a soon to be 12 year old daughter that will suddenly have heart pains. She says her heart is ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
high resting heart rate1/1/2010
  Q: I am a 57 year old caucasian female, 5' 6", and weigh 149. My blood pressure is typically very ...
  A: Pulito, Mirapex doesn't list tachycardia as a side effect, but it lists dry mouth, which is often ...
Healthy 24 yr old with hypertension12/31/2009
  Q: I was wondering if I can get some advice on my BP. I'm a healthy 24 yr old, never given birth, don't ...
  A: 136/82 is classed as high normal. How about stopping both of your meds, one at a time, for a week, ...
PVCs12/31/2009
  Q: I am a 40 year old female, in relatively good health, average weight, though I don't exercise ...
  A: I have a reference to an article entitled "Recovery PVC Prognotic" but I can't open it any longer. ...
RVOT PVC12/30/2009
  Q: My wife was just diagnosed with RVOT PVC. We have no idea what that is aside from the acronym. ...
  A: RVOT PVC stands for right ventricular outflow tract premature ventricular contraction. In most ...
Heart pains/nose bleeds12/29/2009
  Q: Please help me! My boyfriend has been having what he swears are "heart attacks" since he was around ...
  A: Has anyone taken his blood pressure during these episodes? If not borrow a blood pressure cuff and ...
Extra beats- again... scared.12/29/2009
  Q: Richardson, You've seen my EKGs from the last few months and told me that they were normal. I've ...
  A: Extra beats four in row are still not dangerous if you have normal EKG and echo. Since you're so ...
Rapid Heartrate, Low BP12/28/2009
  Q: I have had a rapid heart rate as long as I can remember. It can and has gotten as high as 140 that I ...
  A: Cortef is a steroid that retains salt and water and raises BP that way. Lots of trouble is ...
Rapid Heartrate, Low BP12/28/2009
  Q: I have had a rapid heart rate as long as I can remember. It can and has gotten as high as 140 that I ...
  A: If your blood pressure is low only when you're standing, it's called orthostatic hypotension, which ...
ecg12/27/2009
  Q: 49 yrs h/o niddm,rheumati fever ,niddm since last 15 yrs ,holter wnl,tmt negative,echo trivial ar/mr ...
  A: RBBB + LAHB has no clinical significance and is not a threat to life or health. The right bundle ...
Tachycardia and Fluttering Sensation12/26/2009
  Q: I am a 33 year old woman who has experienced palpitations for the past 10 years or more. I have ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
chest pain12/22/2009
  Q: I am Surendra 26 years old.Two months back in the night I had a severe left hand finger and left leg ...
  A: The reports don't show any problem. The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is ...
Heart pains12/22/2009
  Q: . I am a 21 year old male, born with hypothyroidism and I've been having pains in my heart for ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Enlarged Lymphnodes Affect on HeartRate12/20/2009
  Q: 41 yr female: My CTscan showed enlarged mediastinal/hilar lymph nodes throughout my chest area, ...
  A: Yes, large lymph nodes could press on the nerves to your heart and make it beat fast. Sarcoid can ...
heart problem?12/20/2009
  Q: I am 30 and I have struggled with what seems to be a problem with my heart off and on for years now, ...
  A: More info needed. When it's racing, how fast does it beat, that is what is your pulse rate? And ...
Heart Palpitations12/20/2009
  Q: Richardson My name is Ryan from Camarillo California and I'm 26 years old. I've heard alot about ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
lightheadedness12/19/2009
  Q: I've been suffering from anxiety for 2 years now. When it first started I had anxiety/panic attacks ...
  A: The most likely cause is overbreathing. Pay attention to your breathing and breathe shallowly and ...
Chest Pain 1912/18/2009
  Q: I'm 19 years old and just had a baby about 5 1/2 months ago.. everything was normal with the ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
Palpitations?12/17/2009
  Q: I have I would say between 10 - 100 missed or dropped beats or just irregular beats a day. I will ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
Fainting12/17/2009
  Q: I am writing because I have a question about my husband. He is 50 years old (in a few months). ...
  A: Sorry to be slow. I was already asleep at 11:54 last night. If he was standing when he fainted, it ...
left side chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations12/17/2009
  Q: I'm a 24 yr old male, otherwise healthy. I have been having left side chest pain for about 3 years ...
  A: Normal QT is defined in different references as <460 or <470. I doubt if you have long QT syndrome, ...
left side chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations12/16/2009
  Q: I'm a 24 yr old male, otherwise healthy. I have been having left side chest pain for about 3 years ...
  A: Michael, Here's a quote. "patients with the highest risk of clinical events, defined as a QTc ...
Worried12/16/2009
  Q: I have what I feel like is tight chest and back muscles.The back muscles sometimes ache in my upper ...
  A: Your tightness doesn't sound heart related. Heart pain is induced by exercise and relieved in five ...
left side chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations12/15/2009
  Q: I'm a 24 yr old male, otherwise healthy. I have been having left side chest pain for about 3 years ...
  A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. ...
GERD and PVC's12/15/2009
  Q: I have a combination of three major issues: 1. Coronary artery disease with a history of a triple ...
  A: Gray, Premature beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal ...
Heart Skips a Beat12/14/2009
  Q: Richardson: I am 39 years old, I take pulmicort for my asthma, but I rarely need albuterol, and I ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
FAST HEART BEAT12/14/2009
  Q: I am a 64 yr old male who suffers from CAD and have had various procedures, including CABG, TMLR ...
  A: How fast? Is the beat regular or irregular? It could be angina from a clogged coronary artery if ...
Sharp lasting heart pains12/14/2009
  Q: Dr Richardson, I read a question about random heart pains a boy around my age gets which are ...
  A: Since you can modify the pain by pressing on it, it's chest wall pain. You can't modify heart or ...
high triglicerites12/13/2009
  Q: Dr. Richardson, My husband is 71 and recently had blood tests. His triglicerites are 435. Is there ...
  A: He needs to get his BP in the doctors' offices below 140. White coat hypertension can cause ...
high triglicerites12/13/2009
  Q: Dr. Richardson, My husband is 71 and recently had blood tests. His triglicerites are 435. Is there ...
  A: HCTZ can raise blood sugar The other meds will not. It's worth stopping the HCTZ to see if his ...
Sharp lasting heart pains12/13/2009
  Q: Dr Richardson, I read a question about random heart pains a boy around my age gets which are ...
  A: The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
heart therapy12/12/2009
  Q: My husband has to have a therpay of sorts, where they put blood pressure cuffs on his arms and legs ...
  A: Hall, It's called external counterpulsation. Abbreviated EECP for Enhanced External ...
cardiology12/12/2009
  Q: sir i am 49 yrs old i had rheumatic fever at age of 16 yrs treated with aspirin, inj benzathine ...
  A: As I said before, Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone ...
heart beat at night12/12/2009
  Q: i have a question. i have been having my heart race in the middle of the night. it seems as though ...
  A: No, it's normal sinus tachycardia, speeding up appropriately in response to bodily activity. SVT ...
skipping beats12/11/2009
  Q: adding to the previous question pain on my chest i have skipping beats too. especially when i drink ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
dull pain on my chest12/11/2009
  Q: i have unconformable feeling on my chest especially when i breath in heavily i feel it more vividly. ...
  A: The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
Racing heart beat and heart skipping beats12/11/2009
  Q: I WENT TO THE ER THREE MONTHS AGO BECAUSE I WOKE UP TO A FAST AND POUNDING HEART BEAT THAT WOULD NOT ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
'Extra beats'12/10/2009
  Q: Richardson Thanks for all of your previous help and expertise on my EKGs. I have another question ...
  A: 1. probably a long series of extra beats that is called Supraventricular Tachycardia. Not a threat ...
ampified heart beat12/10/2009
  Q: Hey Dr. Richardson. My question to you is for the last couple of weeks i have been feeling my heart ...
  A: You're probably feeling skipped heart beats, which make a big thump because the heart gets extra ...
Long QT Syndrome12/10/2009
  Q: I was told when I was thirteen that it was a possibility that I had Long QT Syndrome. I had a long ...
  A: See if ...
Heart Condition12/10/2009
  Q: I am 22 years old, 190cm tall and good build, not overweight. Around two months ago i went to ...
  A: ECG is no good at reading atrial enlargement. Your ECG probably means a normal heart. The ...
my heart12/9/2009
  Q: I have a question. I am 28 I dont smoke and I used to drink in my early twentys but no longer do.. ...
  A: D-dimer. A negative CAT scan means no blood clots. The most common cause of pain in a young person ...
Atrial Ectopics & Atrial Fibrillation12/9/2009
  Q: I would greatly appreciate your advice. I have been having atrial ectopics for at least 8 years or ...
  A: Ask for an event monitor, which records your EKG a few minutes before and after you push a button on ...
skipped beats12/9/2009
  Q: What do I do? My main fear is having them during a panic attack if I do have one I've cut caffeine ...
  A: Nothing causes skipped beats. They are normal heart activity. They are more frequent during panic ...
pvcs12/8/2009
  Q: My 72 y.0. husband has had open heart 8weeks ago and was doing very well. He was going to cardiac ...
  A: Chest pain that goes away with rest suggests that one of the bypasses has clogged. PVC's are ...
Irregular Heart Beats12/8/2009
  Q: I am a 21 yr old male who exercises minimally (5'11, 170 lbs). About 8 months ago I had a high fever ...
  A: The beat after a premature beat is extra strong because the heart fills with extra blood during the ...
PVC's in an athletic heart12/8/2009
  Q: I have had minor bouts with PVCs since I was 18 years old, but have had almost constant daily and ...
  A: No, PVCs and the big beat that follows them pump just as much blood to the brain and body as does ...
hear valve replacement12/8/2009
  Q: My brother of 31 yo. had a mechanical heart valve replacement in may 2009. He went to have an echo ...
  A: He'll get short of breath before the valve needs replacing. And repeated echoes will show if his ...
is it my heart12/7/2009
  Q: For months now I have had a painful upper back and chest, it feels so painful when I move and bed ...
  A: The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
PVC's in an athletic heart12/7/2009
  Q: I have had minor bouts with PVCs since I was 18 years old, but have had almost constant daily and ...
  A: PVCs beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG and ...
PCV Help12/6/2009
  Q: Dr: About 6 months ago I felt a weird rumbling in my chest that last long enough for me to check my ...
  A: Premature beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG ...
ecg12/6/2009
  Q: sir my ECG findings are as below and diagonsed RBBB with LAHB NSR,LEFT AXIS DEVIATION,RBBB,QRS ...
  A: I've answered your question before. RBBB + LAHB has no clinical significance and is not a threat to ...
cardiology complications12/5/2009
  Q: and thanks for taking my question. Earlier this year, about every two to three months, i would get ...
  A: Adams=Stokes is complete heart block. Impulses from the atria never reach the ventricles, which ...
interview12/5/2009
  Q: i need to do a quick interview with a cardiologist for a school project. i was wondering if you ...
  A: 1. Better methods to prevent coronary disease and congenital heart disease. I favor paying doctors ...
interview12/5/2009
  Q: i need to do a quick interview with a cardiologist for a school project. i was wondering if you ...
  A: 1. A professor at the medical school where I was a trainee offered to get me an NIH scholarship. 2. ...
heart pain12/5/2009
  Q: Richardson, Hi my name is Mel i am 20 years old and I am not sure what my blood ...
  A: The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
uneven carotid pulse12/4/2009
  Q: I am a 27 year old female, I take celexa 10mg, and have had episodes since I was 13 years old of ...
  A: You're not paranoid, but appropriately observant. LIsten with a stethoscope to the right carotid. ...
Chest Pain and twitching12/4/2009
  Q: I have been experiencing short but sharp episodes of pain in the left side of my chest. This is ...
  A: The most common cause of pain in a young person is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If ...
skipped beats and anxiety12/4/2009
  Q: When I get anxious or nervous, my heart starts skipping beats really bad and it really scares me. ...
  A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health in someone with normal EKG an