| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| abnormal heart rate and chest buring | 9/5/2008 |
Q: to fix it in tx. Now has chest pain and buring in the chest with a little fast heart rate when her ...
A: Watterson, She needs an echocardiogram to be sure there's nothing wrong with her heart structure, ...
|
| Echo results and some thoughts. | 9/4/2008 |
Q: I am an active 22-year-old male with PVC's and PAC's. I weight 163 lbs, and am 6 feet in height. I ...
A: Trace regurgitation is normal. A little blood slips backward through a valve when the ventricle ...
|
| coxsackie virus and palpitations | 9/4/2008 |
Q: Last year I suffered for several weeks from an awful ache in my chest and fatigue. My GP said it ...
A: Yes, Ma'am. If the palpitations are skipped beats, these are normal cardiac activity, no threat to ...
|
| heart flutters | 9/3/2008 |
Q: and you would be the perfect person to ask my heart flutter question to. I just turned 40 female, ...
A: PVC's are normal heart activity, normal in the senses that 1) at least half of us have them, (2) ...
|
| abnormal cardiolite stress test | 9/2/2008 |
Q: 47 yr. old female, 5'3", 175 lb., regularly taking 75 mcg. synthroid, 250/50 advair, 10 mg. ...
A: The only chest pain you've had was on the treadmill or with exercise, and was in the center of the ...
|
| Emotional Distress& Prolonged QT | 9/2/2008 |
Q: Our daughter was emotionally and verbally abused over a period of time in high school by her field ...
A: The long QT is not congenital, which means present at birth. Long QT is often hereditary but may ...
|
| Heart or anxiety | 9/2/2008 |
Q: Can you give any advice on how to get past the fact that the symptoms I feel are anxiety and not ...
A: A normal cardiolite stress test gives you 95% probability of no heart attack or cardiac death for 7 ...
|
| Changes in lab results | 9/2/2008 |
Q: I just got home from a doctor appointment and I don't understand the changes: 4/5/08 Triglycerides ...
A: Triglycerides, and HDL which varies inversely with TG (when TG are high, HDL is low) are quite ...
|
| Difference between PVC's & PAC's | 9/1/2008 |
Q: Richardson. You have been so helpful in the past and now another couple of questions. I would like ...
A: PAC's precede episodes of SVT. Both PAC's and PVC's are more likely to occur when the heart rate is ...
|
| teeth and heart | 9/1/2008 |
Q: I have posted before. I have major panic disorder. I have TMJ with my PD. I had an echo, holter and ...
A: Yes, antibiotics are needed before dental work only in people with severe valve disease or some ...
|
| Emotional Distress& Prolonged QT | 9/1/2008 |
Q: Our daughter was emotionally and verbally abused over a period of time in high school by her field ...
A: Her long QT must not be congenital, since previous EKG's were normal. Stress does not cause long ...
|
| skipped heart beats driving me mad! | 8/31/2008 |
Q: i wrote to you a few weeks ago and you gave me some re-assuring advice, i seem to get these skipped ...
A: Skipped beats are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health. It would have been unlikely ...
|
| heart failure?? | 8/30/2008 |
Q: Back in March I had a feeling of flutters in my chest.. I was scared out of my mind thinking I was ...
A: A normal white count is pretty good evidence against infection on the valve. The hsCreactive ...
|
| What happens when heart "skips a beat"? | 8/30/2008 |
Q: I'm 32 yrs old and I'm on verapamil 120mg(1 pill per day) for SVT. I also suffer from "skipped ...
A: During the long pause of a skipped beat, extra blood flows into the heart, so the beat after the ...
|
| irregular ECG | 8/30/2008 |
Q: I just had my yearly physical and the ECG indicated that I had a long QTc interval. my vent. rate ...
A: Debra, QTc corrects for the slow heart rate. For adult women, a QTc of 456 is borderline long. ...
|
| heart failure?? | 8/29/2008 |
Q: Back in March I had a feeling of flutters in my chest.. I was scared out of my mind thinking I was ...
A: Purple fingers and splinter hemorrhages raise the question of bacteria growing on your mitral valve. ...
|
| Abnormal EKG | 8/29/2008 |
Q: I am 41, overweight with 120/70 BP. I was given and EKG that showed conduction system disease, 1 av ...
A: I see lowish QRS voltage in all leads, and Qr in V1-V3. The latter could be old anterior myocardial ...
|
| skipped heart beats | 8/29/2008 |
Q: i wrote to you a couple of weeks ago regarding my skipped heart beats, im 28 and apart from being a ...
A: Skipped heart beats are normal cardiac activity, no threat to life or health now or in the future. ...
|
| irregular ECG | 8/29/2008 |
Q: I just had my yearly physical and the ECG indicated that I had a long QTc interval. my vent. rate ...
A: You didn't ask a question. You should consult a cardiac electrophysiologist, the experts on QT. ...
|
| heart failure?? | 8/27/2008 |
Q: Back in March I had a feeling of flutters in my chest.. I was scared out of my mind thinking I was ...
A: The first signs of heart failure are breathlessness on mild exertion like walking three blocks or ...
|
| Rapid Heart rate | 8/27/2008 |
Q: I have had a condition where I have a rapid heart rate when moving around a bit and especially a ...
A: Increased heart rate after vomiting is not unusual, especially in someone with POTS. I don't know ...
|
| Pulse Pressure | 8/27/2008 |
Q: Richardson, You were kind enough to help me back in 2005 and I look forward to hearing your opinion ...
A: Campbell, Pulse pressure of 60 is close to normal, for example 140/80. Pulse pressure nearly 80 is ...
|
| Blood Pressure | 8/26/2008 |
Q: If someone's blood pressure profile changes, does that mean the condition has changed? This is for ...
A: Chris, Try to time the medicines that may lower BP (ACE,Coreg and patch) to avoid the hours when his ...
|
| Left side pain | 8/25/2008 |
Q: Richardson, Recently, I have been feeling some pain on my upper left side, from just underneath my ...
A: The most common cause of pain like yours is cramping of muscles around the ribs and under the collar ...
|
| Persantine MIBI Stress Test | 8/18/2008 |
Q: How are the results calculated when the Arteries in the heart are smaller than normal
A: Sorry, I don't know what you mean. If the test is negative, no abnormal distribution of the MIBI in ...
|
| pacemaker | 8/18/2008 |
Q: I have been here before. 76 yr old male with congestive heart failure for 40 years. All sorts of ...
A: The third lead is to pace the other side (left ventricle if the current lead is in the right ...
|
| PVC's back to back.. | 8/10/2008 |
Q: I just wrote to you Dr. Richardson and I thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. I ...
A: 3 or 4 PVC's in a row is not a threat to life or health, so long as your heart's structure and ...
|
| Bystolic | 8/9/2008 |
Q: I am on 5 mg of Bystolic and since I have started it I have a strained sensation in my esophagus. ...
A: In the empty space in the middle where the clavicle starts below the adam's apple. Do you know how ...
|
| Bystolic | 8/9/2008 |
Q: I am on 5 mg of Bystolic and since I have started it I have a strained sensation in my esophagus. ...
A: Your symptoms don't appear in the list of adverse reactions to Bystolic, so the beta blocker is not ...
|
| Stress test results | 8/7/2008 |
Q: I had a stress test because of abnormal ecg and high blood pressure. The cardiologist sent my test ...
A: Yes other than the mild concentric LVH, the report is normal. Inducible ischemia means not enough ...
|
| tachycardia | 8/7/2008 |
Q: I am a woman of 74 years of age, height 5'3" and weight 170 lbs. Blood pressure around 140/75, pulse ...
A: Darline, it all seems normal. 107 is certainly a normal heart rate for someone going to an ER. Any ...
|
| Palpitations and Lower Blood Pressure | 8/7/2008 |
Q: Can you please tell me if low blood pressure has anything to do with skips in the heart? I know my ...
A: On Holter, about 25% of us have PVC's and 25% have PAC's, so about half of have neither on one 24 ...
|
| Aorta vascular calcification | 8/6/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richards, I just got results back from a CT scan I had done of my abdomen. In the summary it ...
A: Some aortic calcification is present in most people. It will probably never cause any trouble. ...
|
| Constant PVC's.. | 8/6/2008 |
Q: I am new here and just in need of some advice. I am a 31 year old female. I am 5'4, weigh 131 lbs. ...
A: PVC's, no matter how frequent, are normal cardiac activity and no threat to life or health. They do ...
|
| tachycardia | 8/6/2008 |
Q: I am a woman of 74 years of age, height 5'3" and weight 170 lbs. Blood pressure around 140/75, pulse ...
A: How fast does your heart race? Does it start to race gradually and subside gradually: if so it is ...
|
| PVCs- Bigeminies/trigemies/SVEs | 8/6/2008 |
Q: Richardson: I am a 77 year old man with long history of CAD. Last summer, I had sought your advice ...
A: I think you should do nothing. With your good EF and exercise ability, PVC's, no matter how ...
|
| Skipped beats | 8/5/2008 |
Q: I'm an american living abroad. I have had panic disorder for many years, with different ...
A: Your doctor is correct. Extrasystole means a very premature heart beat, so early that the heart ...
|
| Heart Catherization | 8/5/2008 |
Q: I am 46 years old. I have had Atrial Fibrillation for at least 15 years. It stays this way ...
A: The catheter is usually inserted where your leg joins your body because there is a great big blood ...
|
| hypertension dizzy and hypotension | 8/4/2008 |
Q: I am a 61 year old male. 7X bypass 5 years ago. I have been on 50mg Metoprolol since surgery; ...
A: BP above 90 is o.k. If you think you have orthostatic hypotension, get someone to measure your ...
|
| Fear | 8/3/2008 |
Q: I have a big fear of a sudden cardiac arrest but don't know if it is a real fear? 8 years ago I had ...
A: Sudden cardiac arrest strikes people with plaques in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the ...
|
| problem with high blood pressure | 8/3/2008 |
Q: Richardson. I have a very dear friend who is in her late sixties and is under a lot of stress due ...
A: Tranquilizers are not much help in lowering BP. Talking with a counselor would help her deal with ...
|
| Enlarged Left Atrium | 8/3/2008 |
Q: An echocardiogram indicated essentially normal results except indexed left atrial volume 40 cc per ...
A: Possible left atrial enlargement, wheezing, BP 135/90 and fatigue as main symptom. The BP is ...
|
| Abnormal EKG | 8/3/2008 |
Q: David, I am 41 right now. In 2006 I had an abnormal EKG reading during a routing physical. I went ...
A: With a negative cath, the EKG is normal for you, that is, the EKG is a false positive. Get a copy ...
|
| Mitral Regurgatation | 8/2/2008 |
Q: I've been suffering from this visible pulse (bounding pulse?) in my abdomen, wrist and temple.. My ...
A: Very slight mitral regurgitation causes no problems, is probably normal. The mitral valve ...
|
| PVC | 8/2/2008 |
Q: Doctor I am a 32 year old female with normal blood pressure. I am fit and well and have played ...
A: PVC's are normal cardiac activity, no matter how frequent. Normal in the senses that about half of ...
|
| Enlarged Left Atrium | 8/2/2008 |
Q: An echocardiogram indicated essentially normal results except indexed left atrial volume 40 cc per ...
A: 2 standard deviations above the mean includes only 90% of the normals, so 10 % of those above 2 SD's ...
|
| ANXIETY OR HEART SYMPTOM | 8/1/2008 |
Q: could this be stress or anxiety related.. im 32 yr old male , over the past year i have had a high ...
A: Sounds like anxiety. Dizziness and blurred vision may be caused by breathing too fast and too deep. ...
|
| Heart palpitations | 8/1/2008 |
Q: "Hi, I am a 31 year old female, in pretty good health. For the past 2 weeks I have been feeling my ...
A: Skipped and extra heart beats are normal cardiac activity. Normal in the senses that (1) about half ...
|
| Wellbutrin XL 300mg and occasional skipped heartbeat with urge to cough | 7/31/2008 |
Q: Two weeks ago I increased my Wellbutrin (Buproprion) dosage from 150 to 300mg. I suffer from ...
A: Skipped heart beats are normal cardiac activity, no threat to life or health so long as the heart's ...
|
| aortic valce sclerosis | 7/31/2008 |
Q: When I was 29 years old (I am 32 now) I had an echo done that my cardiologist insisted was normal ...
A: Yes, it should have been discussed with you. Mild aortic sclerosis almost never causes trouble, but ...
|
| SVT | 7/31/2008 |
Q: What are the five types of SVT and how can you distinguish them? second ? Describe the management of ...
A: Wilson, I didn't know there were 5 types of SVT. Please send me the reference to where you read ...
|
| Anxiety - Heart Related? | 7/30/2008 |
Q: For a few years I've been waking up during the night with racing heart accompanied by ...
A: Yes, anxiety raises heart rate and BP, and can make a person with clogged coronary arteries a little ...
|
| PVC's after cardiac ablation | 7/30/2008 |
Q: First thank you for being here for all who inquire with you...it is a wonderful service you are ...
A: I'm very sorry, but I don't know the answer to most of your questions. Sounds to me as if the ...
|
| Niddle prick heart | 7/29/2008 |
Q: I am 17 and weigh 131. Sometimes when I forget to eat (oddly it happens often) I get a sharp almost ...
A: It's not heart. Hearts don't cause pin prick pain. It's probably cramping of muscles between ribs. ...
|
| All over Edema with loww blood pressure and a high resting heart rate | 7/29/2008 |
Q: I am going to see a cardiologist only because I asked to see one. I have had low blood pressure with ...
A: More details are needed. Heart, liver, thyroid, kidneys edema can cause edema. Do thyroid lab ...
|
| cardiology | 7/29/2008 |
Q: I was recently diagnosed with Pure Autonomic Failure following autonomic function testing/nerve ...
A: The first common ill effect listed for Florinef is nausea. Edema (swelling) and headache are ...
|
| Irregular Heartbeat Symbol on Omron Blood Pressure Monitor | 7/28/2008 |
Q: I recently on a few occasions have had the irregular heartbeat symbol show up on my blood pressure ...
A: Probably your monitor detected the skip as 25% lower than the average rhythm, since the monitor ...
|
| svt and pregnancy | 7/27/2008 |
Q: Also they can not put me on treatment then take me off to have children as it could make it worse?, ...
A: Ask about flecainide. It has no contraindication for pregnancy like beta blockers do. Another ...
|
| Oxygen dependency | 7/27/2008 |
Q: Mom had a quadruple bypass 7 years ago, now 3 our ot 4 are blocked, Type 2 diabetes with ...
A: The only way she can get off oxygen is to fix her heart. She'll need oxygen for the rest of her ...
|
| test results | 7/26/2008 |
Q: I had an echocardiogram done back in december. I was wondering if you could explain the results I ...
A: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common cause of chest pain in a young person. Skipped heart ...
|
| Cardiologist said I am OK but still a bit worried | 7/26/2008 |
Q: Dr Richardson, One afternoon I was in my kitchen, not stressed, and I felt a pain in my left ...
A: If the treadmill test was monitored by radioisotopes or echocardiogram, then infarct is ruled out. ...
|
| recurring sinus tachycardia | 7/26/2008 |
Q: I am 20 years old and have been experiencing repetitive tachycardia and palpitations in the past ...
A: Persistently elevated heart rate is called inappropriate sinus tachycardia unless it occurs only ...
|
| heartbeat in head | 7/25/2008 |
Q: my heart beating in my head sometimes all day long. I lost my husband in January 08 and my father ...
A: I doubt if anything is seriously wrong inside your head. Anxiety is a possibility, and the ...
|
| test results | 7/25/2008 |
Q: I had an echocardiogram done back in december. I was wondering if you could explain the results I ...
A: Yes, the echo results are fine. They are good for at least 10 years, probably 20. No need to worry ...
|
| Re: Afib | 7/24/2008 |
Q: I am not able to get the link in the answer to work? It is this one (I tried with the %20s taken ...
A: Maybe the link works only on a Mac computer, which is what I use. The link describes various ...
|
| Elevated Blood Pressure | 7/24/2008 |
Q: My question is sometimes my blood pressure elevates from a normal reading to extremely high numbers ...
A: Marge, I'm unclear about what heart-related means. If you mean, "Can the heart cause such ...
|
| Elevated Blood Pressure | 7/24/2008 |
Q: My question is sometimes my blood pressure elevates from a normal reading to extremely high numbers ...
A: Heart-related only in that sustained peaks of blood pressure may strain the heart, but peaks lasting ...
|
| pain behind left ear | 7/24/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I am a 58 year old female and have atrial fibrillation and recently developed ...
A: It seems insignificant to me, too. It's not coronary blockage; coronary pain is brought on by ...
|
| ectopics | 7/23/2008 |
Q: I have had occasional afib for 8 years, and 2-3 episodes of SVT in the first year but apparently not ...
A: Yes. See ...
|
| EKG results: 1st degree, septal infarct | 7/23/2008 |
Q: Dr Richardson, I found your answer to a question about 'Septal Infarct' on an EKG. ...
A: Elaine, Q in V1 and V2 is normal, 90 %, i think, because often the chest leads are placed too high ...
|
| tachy arrythmia | 7/23/2008 |
Q: i am 44 and had a sincope episode twice. was out for over 20 mins. I had a hard time getting ...
A: Totally unconscious for 20 minutes doesn't sound like heart. Did he perchance feel your pulse or ...
|
| Why are PVC's and PAC's Normal? Can potassium supplements block PVC's and PAC's | 7/22/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson: I have read a multitude of your answers about PVC's and PAC's being normal cardiac ...
A: There's no good explanation of why half of have PVC's or PAC's and the other half don't. There's no ...
|
| Abnormal EKG/T wave inversion V1,V2,V3 | 7/22/2008 |
Q: Richardson... I've had an abnormal EKG since I was 25...am now 45. I was diagnosed at 15 with MVP ...
A: Pam, it's perfectly possible that the technician always puts the leads too high. Mitral prolapse ...
|
| Afib | 7/21/2008 |
Q: Our last communication we discussed that I take flecainide before being cardioconverted. Did not ...
A: Sorry about the recurrence. Ask about propafenone, which isn't associated with arrhythmia. ...
|
| Very labile blood pressure | 7/21/2008 |
Q: I have had labile blood pressure for about 3 years, driven mainly by anxiety according to my doctor ...
A: Please consider adding hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg a day and an angiotensin receptor blocker like ...
|
| Slow Heart Rate? | 7/20/2008 |
Q: I am a 43 year old female, 5'5", 150 lbs and have noticed the last two weeks that my heart rate has ...
A: Low levels of potassium can also cause fatigue. But your fatigue is not likely to come from ...
|
| Chest Pains | 7/20/2008 |
Q: I have had pains on the left side of my chest for about 6 days. The pain is constant throughout the ...
A: The most common cause of chest pain in a young woman is cramping of muscles between and around ribs. ...
|
| Feeling of Skipped Hearteat then a double beat. | 7/19/2008 |
Q: I am a 45 year old male who is 6 foot and 225 pounds with a BMI of 24. I quit smoking in March. In ...
A: Skipped beats tend to slowly subside, usually in 10 years or so. There are medicines more effective ...
|
| Echocardiogram: biatrial dilation and normal ventricles | 7/19/2008 |
Q: I had an echo on Jun 8 the with these results and the following: "Echo cardiogram also shows ...
A: The echo shows no significant problems. Near syncope is a problem, which the Holter didn't clarify. ...
|
| Feeling of Skipped Hearteat then a double beat. | 7/19/2008 |
Q: I am a 45 year old male who is 6 foot and 225 pounds with a BMI of 24. I quit smoking in March. In ...
A: Skipped heart beats are normal cardiac activity, normal in the senses that about half of us have ...
|
| Nitro pills | 7/19/2008 |
Q: I had a heart attack April 23, 2008. I have 3 stents - main artery, left and right. I take Zocor ...
A: Heart-related pain is usually brought on by exercise or strong unpleasant emotion and relieved ...
|
| skipped beats | 7/18/2008 |
Q: First of all, thank you for this service. I've read your comments many times about how PAC's, PVC's ...
A: Sure, mention it to your cardiologist. If your LVEF is over 50%, PVC's are no threat even with a ...
|
| HEART PAIN | 7/18/2008 |
Q: I HAD A FULL CARDIO WORK UP BETWEEN SEPT 07 AND FEB 08 INCLUDING NUCLEAR STRESS TEST , 24 HOUR ...
A: Matt, If the dizziness is vertigo, that is you feel like you're spinning round and round or the room ...
|
| HEART PAIN | 7/17/2008 |
Q: I HAD A FULL CARDIO WORK UP BETWEEN SEPT 07 AND FEB 08 INCLUDING NUCLEAR STRESS TEST , 24 HOUR ...
A: The most common cause of sharp chest pains is cramping of muscles between and around ribs. You can ...
|
| curing heart blockage without angioplasty | 7/16/2008 |
Q: My mom recently had Angiography and results showed that she is having 60% and 95 % blockage in the ...
A: The only indication for angioplasty is heart pain she doesn't want to put up with. Treatment with ...
|
| heart beat | 7/16/2008 |
Q: im a 15 year old 145 pound swimmer, a few weeks ago i was laying on my couch and i had these two or ...
A: Not serious. Heavy heart beats are the beats after a skipped beat, which are no threat to life or ...
|
| Angina Symptoms in 22 year old | 7/15/2008 |
Q: I am a 22 year old male (5'11, 175 lbs) who for the past four months has been experiencing chest ...
A: Angina at rest in a 22 year old man can be spasm of a coronary artery. I hope the event monitor ...
|
| 64-slice CT scan | 7/15/2008 |
Q: My dr. wants me to have an angiogram although a regular (not 64-slice) CT scan showed zero plaque. ...
A: Neither a CT scan or an angiogram show the mitral valve condition well. Echocardiogram is best for ...
|
| missing heart beat | 7/14/2008 |
Q: i am 71yrs. undergone bypass12years back. doctors after echo told me pumping 30%blood only. diabetic ...
A: Your note indicates that you are doing well. Please continue unless your cholesterol is above 190, ...
|
| Irregular heartbeat | 7/14/2008 |
Q: I have noted that I have an irregular heartbeat. As a Firefighter/EMT, I have always been aware of ...
A: None of what you describe sounds bad. I see no reason to be concerned unless you should faint ...
|
| heart palpitations | 7/13/2008 |
Q: I'm a 22 year old female and have been having heart palpitations since i was about 16. They usually ...
A: No, it's not possible that you had a heart attack. The usual cause of QS in V1 and V2 is placement ...
|
| tachy arrythmia | 7/13/2008 |
Q: i am 44 and had a sincope episode twice. was out for over 20 mins. I had a hard time getting ...
A: Resch, Not enough info. Were you standing, sitting or lying? Did anyone observe you while you ...
|
| Abnormal EKG/T wave inversion V1,V2,V3 | 7/13/2008 |
Q: Richardson... I've had an abnormal EKG since I was 25...am now 45. I was diagnosed at 15 with MVP ...
A: Sure, your EKG is probably normal for you. Maybe it's read as abnormal because the leads were ...
|
| breathless when lying down | 7/12/2008 |
Q: My husband is breathless when lying down but only for about 30 seconds. He walks to the kitchen and ...
A: Dragt, Heart is much more likely. He should tell a doctor about this. If you can't afford a ...
|
| Chest discomfort | 7/12/2008 |
Q: I weight 165, I am 5’11 and my blood pressure is good I had it tested two weeks ago. For years now I ...
A: The most common cause of chest pain like yours is cramping of the muscles between the ribs, a normal ...
|
| chest pain | 7/11/2008 |
Q: About 4 months ago I moved to a new area, living in a basement apartment. After about a week I ...
A: The most common cause of chest pain is cramping of muscles between ribs, a big nuisance but not a ...
|
| test | 7/11/2008 |
Q: i was wondering if they can tell if you have heart valve problem with ekg and with a ultrasound of ...
A: Chris, some afib runs in families that have one or more base pairs in their genes altered, a ...
|
| test | 7/11/2008 |
Q: i was wondering if they can tell if you have heart valve problem with ekg and with a ultrasound of ...
A: Echo is best for valves. It shows the structure and function of each of the 4 valves in great ...
|
| heart question | 7/11/2008 |
Q: I'm 25 years-old, 5'5", 100 lbs., blod pressure always around 102-120/70. I have been having pain ...
A: Heart trouble at age 25 with normal echo and EKG is EXTREMELY unlikely, practically impossible. ...
|
| heart Cath | 7/10/2008 |
Q: I just turned 36 yrs old and had a nuclear stress test today due waking up at night with the feeling ...
A: Miller, Yes, false positive pictures are very common, more than 50% at your age and with no chest ...
|
| Palpitations | 7/9/2008 |
Q: You have answered a PVC question for me already and thanks for that. I have a new situation the ...
A: Yes, please don't worry when PVC's occur. Since you have normal EKG's and echoes, they are no threat ...
|
| heart palpitations | 7/9/2008 |
Q: Please help. I am 37, 5'8, 165 lb female with no blood pressure problems. I have had several EKGs ...
A: Doesn't sound dangerous, since you have normal EKG's and presumably the stress tests showed normal ...
|
| Palpitations | 7/9/2008 |
Q: You have answered a PVC question for me already and thanks for that. I have a new situation the ...
A: SVT lasts many minutes to hours and stops very abruptly, in one heart beat. If your heart rate was ...
|
| heart question | 7/8/2008 |
Q: I'm 25 years-old, 5'5", 100 lbs., blod pressure always around 102-120/70. I have been having pain ...
A: Gall stones or pancreatitis are more likely than heart to cause upper abdominal and back pain. ...
|
| Abnormal EKG/T wave inversion V1,V2,V3 | 7/8/2008 |
Q: Richardson... I've had an abnormal EKG since I was 25...am now 45. I was diagnosed at 15 with MVP ...
A: T inversion in V1-V3 is normal if there is rS, not QS, in V3. If not, the leads were probably ...
|
| conduction delay post cryo-ablation | 7/8/2008 |
Q: Re my 33 year old son, 18 mo post cryo surgery for wpw. 5'10", 170#. Excellent BP, history of & ...
A: No worries. Premature heart beats are normal heart activity, don't lead to WPW tachycardia. RSR' ...
|
| MVP and heart palpitations | 7/8/2008 |
Q: I have MVP, with now leakage. However, when I exercise, I get skipped beat and fluttery feelings ...
A: Skipped beats are normal in anybody, MVP or not. They are normal heart activity, no threat to life ...
|
| presyncope | 7/7/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson: I am a 50 years old male with hypertension under control (low dose of CCB and beta ...
A: Ask someone to observe you during one or more episodes. Do you get pale? Do you sweat? What ...
|
| BP readings | 7/6/2008 |
Q: The information booklet for my BP machine (Omron) says to wait five minutes before taking a second ...
A: The machine doesn't care. BP falls when you change from active to sitting, which is why the second ...
|
| Heart Questions | 7/6/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, Hi My name is Tyler and I am 17. I have questions regarding my heart. Lately, I've ...
A: Maybe your blood pressure gets too low when you stand up. Ask someone to measure your blood ...
|
| DD and diuretic (previous posts) | 7/6/2008 |
Q: I am on 50 mg of HCTZ already, but that is for my kidneys. So it does double duty. I couln't get the ...
A: If your potassium was low before you took HCTZ and you had high BP, ask your doctors about ...
|
| unsustained v-tach in a healthy heart | 7/5/2008 |
Q: I am a 23 year old single mother who has been having pvc's since I was 12 years old. I have ...
A: With all your concern and insomnia, you should seek a second opinion for reassurance, though I agree ...
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| heart beats | 7/5/2008 |
Q: Richardson I am an 18year old male and have been suffering from supposed post viral fatigue ...
A: Athletes who die young almost always have structural abnormalities that would show up on echo. Your ...
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| Diastolic dysfunction and moderate LVH | 7/5/2008 |
Q: AT 33, I had PPCM in 2000, I also had a stroke.At the time my EF was 20% and they thought I would ...
A: With edema and breathlessness, you probably should be on a diuretic like furosemide. Here's a ...
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| atrial fibrillation | 7/4/2008 |
Q: my name is Jessica, Im 24 (5'4" and BP 90/60)and I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation 6 months ...
A: The fast heart rate probably comes from anxiety. The pop around your heart might be a skipped heart ...
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| Diastolic dysfunction and moderate LVH | 7/4/2008 |
Q: AT 33, I had PPCM in 2000, I also had a stroke.At the time my EF was 20% and they thought I would ...
A: Why are you listing diastolic dysfunction? Do you still have easy breathlessness and fatigue, i.e. ...
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| Stress Test | 7/3/2008 |
Q: My husband's doctor is scheduling a stress test for him. It is not going to be the thallium kind, ...
A: His diet should reduce carbohydrates, because they raise triglycerides. Increase unsaturated fats ...
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| Stress Test | 7/3/2008 |
Q: My husband's doctor is scheduling a stress test for him. It is not going to be the thallium kind, ...
A: I hope it's a treadmill test monitored by radioisotopes or echocardiogram. (Tests monitored by EKG ...
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| Aortic question | 7/2/2008 |
Q: Richardson? A couple of general questions. Are valve problems more serious with the aortic valve ...
A: Generic drugs are always best, no matter what the drug, statins included. The FDA makes certain ...
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| Clonidine and beta blockers | 7/2/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I am on beta blocker (bystolic 5mg/d) and norvasc (5mg/d) for hypertension. I also ...
A: Should be o.k. Beta blockers may produce a big rise in BP when clonidine is stopped, but one dose ...
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| Skipped heartbeats and exercise | 7/1/2008 |
Q: I have asked you questions before and once again I wanna thank you for your time and advice. I have ...
A: Exercise tends to prevent skipped beats, so the more the better. Remember than skipped beats are ...
|
| A-fib | 7/1/2008 |
Q: Three months ago I had an episode of a-fib. That day I had been under stress I have gone back to ...
A: If you avoid taking motrin and a bunch of tums, your afib may not recur, tho afib tends to recur ...
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| Abnormal EKG/Dysautonomia?? | 6/30/2008 |
Q: Richardson. I am a 34 yo female, smoker for 18 years and pretty sedentary. I take 25 mg Atenolol, ...
A: It's not Brugada. EF above 50 is perfectly normal, and increase with exercise is good. Heart ...
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| RIght bundle branch block | 6/30/2008 |
Q: A few days ago I underwent a stress test which produced some abnormal findings. My doctor said he ...
A: Probably not. RBBB often causes ST depression. Can you find out which leads had ST depression? ...
|
| vasovagal | 6/30/2008 |
Q: I have vasovagal events every morning now between 8 and 10 am. I am going to an ep cardiologist and ...
A: Chud, Do your events occur only when you're standing, and does your blood pressure drop below 80 ...
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| 47 yr old woman with vasospasms | 6/29/2008 |
Q: Recently my spasms increased in number and was put on Norvasc. Spasms increased and had angiogram. ...
A: Spasm is uncommon during angiogram. The doc was lucky to catch it. Some Italian cardiologists left ...
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| Post-CABG persistent shortness of breath | 6/29/2008 |
Q: My 74 year old father underwent triple bypass surgery 6 months ago. He continues to fail stress ...
A: Food stopping at mid sternum sounds like esophageal narrowing, which would certainly cause weight ...
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| high heart rate | 6/29/2008 |
Q: im a 32 male for over a year now i have had a high heart rate at rest it is about 105-120, i have ...
A: Your high heart rate, chest pain and tremors are most likely all the result of anxiety, even every ...
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| hypertension | 6/29/2008 |
Q: I have panic disorder and suffer from anxiety often. In 05 I had an abnormal EKG in the ER during a ...
A: Karen, I don't know the percent of echo readings of PAH that are false positive, just pretty common. ...
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| hypertension | 6/28/2008 |
Q: I have panic disorder and suffer from anxiety often. In 05 I had an abnormal EKG in the ER during a ...
A: Sure, false reading of PA hypertension is common with transthoracic echo. I'd ignore this as false ...
|
| new to a-fib | 6/28/2008 |
Q: i have a question about a-fib, i was at work one day, and i experienced flutter in my chest wen tto ...
A: If your heart rhythm is regular, it's not afib. Bloating and heart burn will speed up your heart, ...
|
| Never Ending PVCs | 6/28/2008 |
Q: I have read other posters talk about runs of 2, 3, or 4 PVCs that occur in a row. Mine seem to never ...
A: Pelletier, Congratulations on your good weight, at least. Now that your PVC's are happening all ...
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| High heart rates during nights. | 6/28/2008 |
Q: I am 21 year old male from India.Height - 172 cm.Weight - 74Kg . Recently my heart rates are higher ...
A: If your heart rhythm is regular and it's rate is less than 140, that's normal. If irregular, that ...
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| Irregular Heart Beat - hyperparathyroidism? | 6/27/2008 |
Q: I am a 33 yr old male who has been experiencing irregular heartbeats for 10 years now. I have had ...
A: Skipped heart beats are so common in all of us (about 50% of us have them) that I doubt that ...
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| fluctuating heartbeat | 6/26/2008 |
Q: I had a rather peculiar question, one that probably will be far less urgent than most you recieve. ...
A: Richards, The tachycardia is a normal response to anxiety and panic, even over 160. Numbness comes ...
|
| circulation | 6/26/2008 |
Q: Richardson, I'm curious about blood rushes to the head that occur when inverted. In me, they occur ...
A: No idea, really. If the whites of your eyes stay red longer than a few minutes, then you're ...
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| NSVT and HCM | 6/25/2008 |
Q: What if you have NSVT from time to time and also have a thickened apex? That being the only ...
A: Mitchell, See if this helps: http://www.cardiosmart.org/ManageCondition/Default.aspx?id=814 If ...
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| My Heart | 6/25/2008 |
Q: i am 25 years old, female 165 cm tall and 61 kg,walk regularly, i think i have to tell you these ...
A: You're not too young to have paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, abbreviated PSVT. It's a ...
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| Heart Hiccups | 6/24/2008 |
Q: I have been to a cardiologist last year about extra hearts beats and I have a normal heart. I get ...
A: PVC's are normal cardiac activity, no threat to life if you have a heart with normal structure and ...
|
| High BP and low pulse | 6/23/2008 |
Q: I am retired Army, I retired 4 1/2 years ago and haven't had an exercise routine since then, ...
A: Exercise more and lose weight are the best steps. But with pressure in the center of the front of ...
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| PVC's | 6/23/2008 |
Q: I have read your answers and many of them have come to help me so thanks for that already! Heres my ...
A: PVC's are normal heart activity, no threat to life or health so long as your heart structure and ...
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| Ejection Fraction | 6/22/2008 |
Q: I have read on the internet that a normal ejection fraction is from 55 to 75 percent. The echo ...
A: Bill, 69 is far below 75, and the echo would of course have shown any abnormality of heart structure ...
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| Heart Rhythm and Prolonged QT | 6/21/2008 |
Q: This will require a little background, so I apologize for the length. My family history includes ...
A: Miller, Look at file:///%20Cardiology%2012:07/%20Cardiology%2011:07/QT/T%20shape%20in%20LQT and ...
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| Aortic question | 6/21/2008 |
Q: Richardson? A couple of general questions. Are valve problems more serious with the aortic valve ...
A: Aortic sclerosis is not serious at all, of course. Severe aortic stenosis is quite serious. ...
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| Enlarged heart ride side | 6/21/2008 |
Q: I was just diagnosis with an enlarged heart on my right side. Plus also I have been having severe ...
A: More information needed. How was the diagnosis made? Echocardiograph? Can you send me the report? ...
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| Chest pain | 6/20/2008 |
Q: I started having a chest pain like 2 weeks ago. The pain was so bad i thought i was going to die. i ...
A: Pain you can modify by touching your chest is in the chest wall, probably cramping of muscles ...
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| heart racing | 6/20/2008 |
Q: I went to the doctor to day to get hook up to a 24 hr holter monitor , I was pancking and shoot my ...
A: Heart rate of 170 is o.k. during panic. It will show up on the Holter as sinus tachycardia, ...
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| High pulse rate | 6/20/2008 |
Q: Richardson, I'm 52, female, and had an aortic valve replacement/aneurysm repair nine years ago. I ...
A: Systolic blood pressure is what strains the aorta and aortic valve. High diastolic values are easy ...
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| Antibiotics and Dentistry for Heart Patients | 6/19/2008 |
Q: My 85 yr old dad (has a weak heart, defibulator and stents) always is asked to take antibiotics ...
A: Deep cleaning of teeth and root canal work may push bacteria into the blood stream, and these may ...
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| skipped beats with dizziness | 6/18/2008 |
Q: I was diagnosed with SVT in 2005 when I had to go to hospital with bad palpitations that lasted more ...
A: Skipped heart beats are normal heart activity and no threat to life or health. They are unrelated ...
|
| Nuclear Stress Test Results | 6/17/2008 |
Q: Richardson. I am a 48 yo man. My BP went to 200/100 in January. High BP runs in my family. I am ...
A: Yes, it's a normal result. Stress tests monitored only by EKG without radioisotope scanning or ...
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| intra-operative MI | 6/17/2008 |
Q: I recently had what was supposed to be out-patient shoulder surgery. When I woke up in the recovery ...
A: It's possible to have spasm of a coronary severe enough to cause a myocardial infarction that ...
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| Echo Results | 6/17/2008 |
Q: Richardson: I am a 67-year-old male. Last week my primary care doctor was concerned about a heart ...
A: Bill, sclerosis means hardening, stiffening. If the valve leaflets fuse together or get stiffer and ...
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| Echo Results | 6/16/2008 |
Q: Richardson: I am a 67-year-old male. Last week my primary care doctor was concerned about a heart ...
A: Yes, Bill, your echo shows no enlargement of the heart. Left ventricle of 4.3 cm is normal and the ...
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| Echo Results | 6/16/2008 |
Q: Richardson: I am a 67-year-old male. Last week my primary care doctor was concerned about a heart ...
A: You asked no questions. The diastolic dysfunction is probably the result of your calcified aortic ...
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| Slow pulse | 6/15/2008 |
Q: Age - 54 Meds - Premarin daily Height - 5'4" Weight - 150 Blood Pressure - 108/80 My blood pessure ...
A: Slow pulse is good, predicting long life. Skipped heart beats are normal cardiac activity, no ...
|
| Baby with VSD | 6/12/2008 |
Q: My baby aged 2 months has been diagnosed with a large VSD and we were told by the paediatrc ...
A: A large VSD probably will need surgery and is unlikely to close spontaneously. Over some years, the ...
|
| cholesterol | 6/12/2008 |
Q: In Canadian terms, my latest cholesterol readings are: CHOL 5.95, HDL 1.59, LDL 3.72, CHOL/HDL ...
A: Your CHOL is high. Less than 4.66 is ideal HDL is very good. Higher than 1.30 is good for women. ...
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| cholestero | 6/12/2008 |
Q: In Canadian terms, my latest cholesterol readings are: CHOL 5.95, HDL 1.59, LDL 3.72, CHOL/HDL ...
A: James, Sorry, but my knowledge doesn't include Canadian terms. Have you some reference to how to ...
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| My Mom Heart | 6/11/2008 |
Q: Dr.Richardson the enjection rate is 30 percet. If you of any protcols that might help I would be ...
A: Depends on what kind of heart trouble you have. Did you have a heart attack? Do you have coronary ...
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| my ekg results vs my stress | 6/11/2008 |
Q: I have recently lost a 5 wk old grandchild do to my cooperation with cps about my son hurting the ...
A: The most common cause of downward spikes in V2-V3 is placement of the electrodes too high on your ...
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| Palpitations? | 6/10/2008 |
Q: I get PVC's and PAC's every day but I was a little worried last night. Does anyone ever get them ...
A: No need for worry, no matter how frequent, even every other beat, so long as your heart's structure ...
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| PSVT | 6/10/2008 |
Q: Richardson. I have another question about my PSVT attacks. I was reading an answer you gave to ...
A: PSVT won't kill you, no matter how long it lasts. If they frequently last longer than 10 minutes, ...
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| Heart Rate | 6/10/2008 |
Q: I hope you can help. I am a 37 yr old female who had an anterior cervical fusion at C5/C6 a year ...
A: Seems logical that the surgery contributes to your heart rhythm attacks. Please ask the GP or ...
|
| Skipped beats with urge to cough | 6/9/2008 |
Q: I am on verapamil since 2006 for SVT. Occasionally I have noticed I had skipped heartbeats but it ...
A: Probably the extra large beat after the skip rubs against your trachea and makes you cough. It's ...
|
| Pulmonary Hypertension | 6/9/2008 |
Q: I am 43 years old, about 6' 2" and 215 pounds. Since I was a teenager, I have been a overweight (on ...
A: Mild MR can raise your PA pressure a little, maybe 5 I forgot that your LVIDs was high in the past ...
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| Arrythmia Question | 6/8/2008 |
Q: I have been having the infamous ectopic beats since puberty. I went to a cardiologist for the first ...
A: Four or more PAC's in a row is called PSVT. It's no threat to life or health except sometimes makes ...
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| Chemical Stress Test | 6/8/2008 |
Q: I am a male, 80 years old. I have shown no signs of heart disease, except High Blood Pressure, ...
A: 80-year-old men with hypertension and diabetes have statistically higher (above 10%) risk of heart ...
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| new to a-fib | 6/8/2008 |
Q: i have a question about a-fib, i was at work one day, and i experienced flutter in my chest wen tto ...
A: Afib is totally irregular heart rhythm, varying from beat to beat. If your heart races regularly ...
|
| QTC | 6/8/2008 |
Q: My question is for my daughter, who is 8yrs old. Some history about her. She had been diagnosed with ...
A: QTC stands for QT interval, Corrected. QT is the time between the beginning of the QRS complex (the ...
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| My Mom Heart | 6/7/2008 |
Q: My mom is going to a hospice Her heart runs fast and the heart is too weak for eltro-shock and ...
A: If her heart runs too fast because of atrial fibrillation, medicines called beta blockers can slow ...
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| new to a-fib | 6/7/2008 |
Q: i have a question about a-fib, i was at work one day, and i experienced flutter in my chest wen tto ...
A: Afib is no threat to life. If you have frequent episodes, more often than once a month, or an ...
|
| heart and anxiety | 6/7/2008 |
Q: Richardson, I decided to get help for my anxiety attacks. An echocardiogram was done to rule out ...
A: You have no heart trouble, and need not be anxious. But such reassurance probably won't cure the ...
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| Heart Disease? | 6/7/2008 |
Q: Richardson, I am a 37 year old female, on no medications. I've had borderline cholesterol levels ...
A: It may have been blockage of an artery in the brain. CT or MRI of head would show decreased blood ...
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| Supplements | 6/6/2008 |
Q: Dr. David Richardson, What do you recommend, if anything, in terms of suppliemnts spefci to heart ...
A: CoQ10 is harmless, tho I doubt that it is helpful. Omega 3 is excellent. Garlic, Cal-Mag, and ...
|
| pvcs | 6/6/2008 |
Q: sleeping and whilst bowel movement,well i have been getting pvcs now for about 4 months,they just ...
A: PVC's are normal cardiac activity, no threat to life or health unless there is abnormal heart ...
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| PVC'c | 6/6/2008 |
Q: I know about the dangers(blood clots-stroke) when one goes into afib. My afib symptoms were ...
A: Atenolol is one of a class of drugs called beta blockers that includes Corgard.. It slows the heart ...
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| Blood pressure readings | 6/5/2008 |
Q: Richardson, So nice to finally put a face to the name. I don't know if you would remember me. You ...
A: Parker, I don't know any tricks to avoid rise in BP with anxiety. Most of the big studies that ...
|
| swelling and palpitations | 6/5/2008 |
Q: I an 33 and experiencing severe swelling recently of ankles, lower legs, hands and face. We have no ...
A: Yes, it's common for PVC's to be more frequent when lying on the left side. Remember that PVC's are ...
|
| Pulmonary Hypertension | 6/5/2008 |
Q: I am 43 years old, about 6' 2" and 215 pounds. Since I was a teenager, I have been a overweight (on ...
A: 1. Walking and waiting wouldn't affect PA pressure. Nervousness would raise it a little. 2. PA ...
|
| LBBB | 6/5/2008 |
Q: My 60-year-old mother was diagnosed as having LBBB...Her ECG was normal 2 years ago..she has no high ...
A: Yes, I'd suggest a treadmill stress test monitored by echocardiogram or radioisotopes. Stress tests ...
|
| when to see an electrophysiologist? | 5/18/2008 |
Q: I am a 33 year old male with hypertension and a bicuspid aorta. For years I have had a great deal ...
A: You're NOT crazy. We only have one heart, and know that arrhythmia can be fatal. Explain to your ...
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| PVC'c | 5/18/2008 |
Q: I know about the dangers(blood clots-stroke) when one goes into afib. My afib symptoms were ...
A: Yes, flecainide has good record for converting afib if taken in 48 hours. Probably you will need it ...
|
| when to see an electrophysiologist? | 5/18/2008 |
Q: I am a 33 year old male with hypertension and a bicuspid aorta. For years I have had a great deal ...
A: Yes, EKG and echo together see almost all those syndromes. EKG is thought to miss Brugada in a few ...
|
| abnormal Ekg | 5/18/2008 |
Q: I am a 21 year old female. About 3 years ago I had an Ekg done and i was told it was abnormal and ...
A: Most likely the EKG wires were placed too high on your chest, which will make anyone appear to have ...
|
| PVCS and Mitral Valve Prolapse | 5/17/2008 |
Q: I am a healthy 28 year old. I was diagnosed with mild MVP about 2 years ago. Recently I have had ...
A: No, skipped beats are normal cardiac activity, no threat to life or health now or in the future, and ...
|
| reason of pain in left side below solder and side effect of cardiopril/ramipril 2.5 mg | 5/17/2008 |
Q: pl. tel me about reason of pain in left side below solder and side effect of cardiopril/ramipril 2.5 ...
A: Pain in left side below shoulder is most likely cramp of muscles between ribs and not a side effect ...
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| extra beats, A-Fib and Ablation | 5/16/2008 |
Q: Sir; When you gave me some info. to look up the link or website did not click to any info. Do you ...
A: Try http://atrialfibrillationresourcecenter.com/ and ...
|
| heart hurts when running | 5/15/2008 |
Q: when I run my heart starts to beat really fast like 7 beats every 5 seconds. I call this heart ...
A: 7 beats every 5 seconds is 84 beats a minute, a perfectly normal heart rate when you're running. ...
|
| chest pain | 5/15/2008 |
Q: About an hour after a light dinner of soup and a piece of garlic/cheese bread, while playing ...
A: Maybe a little concerned. It was probably not heart, but to be sure you need to see a doctor and ...
|
| Blood Pressure | 5/14/2008 |
Q: I have been experiencing my heartbeat loudly pouding in my head for the past two months. A MRI/MRA ...
A: Maybe Patulous Eustachian tube. See ...
|
| How much can family history be overcome? | 5/14/2008 |
Q: How much people's medical family history can be overcome by minimizing controllable risk factors? ...
A: Yes, somewhat increased risk. I'd suggest you get your cholesterol measured and take a statin if ...
|
| Flutters and Early Heartbeats | 5/14/2008 |
Q: I get skips and flutters every single day. I am a 47 year old female with no other problems other ...
A: Skips and early heart beats are normal cardiac activity. Normal in senses that about half of us ...
|
| treatment for a-fib and i now have a extra beat | 5/13/2008 |
Q: I am being treated for A-Fib on and off for seven years. I am a healthy male age forty and I am in ...
A: Try file:///%20Cardiology%2012:07/%20Cardiology%2011:07/AFib/AFib%20Guidelines%2008 and ...
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| Ectopic heartbeats and insomnia | 5/13/2008 |
Q: I am 62 and living in the UK. I have recently developed AF and have just had a cardioversion which ...
A: Flecainide is effective in reducing ectopic beats and in preventing AF. It's safe for people with ...
|
| Afib | 5/13/2008 |
Q: Expert: David Richardson Date: 4/30/2008 Subject: In A-Fib again Question This is my first post. ...
A: There is no reaction between flecainide and Corgard. Flecainide can bring you back to normal rhythm ...
|
| Angina following Persantine/Thallium stress test | 5/13/2008 |
Q: 86YOWM,Heartattackin"88,angioplasty;angioplastyin'02,attack in ...
A: Probably coincidence, Charles. Persantine can lower blood pressure, but in the first minutes after ...
|
| treatment for a-fib and i now have a extra beat | 5/12/2008 |
Q: I am being treated for A-Fib on and off for seven years. I am a healthy male age forty and I am in ...
A: For lots of people, premature beats in the areas where the pulmonary veins join the left atrium ...
|
| Heart Arrhythmia | 5/12/2008 |
Q: I am for the most part, a healthy 24 year old. Over the past six months I have started running on a ...
A: Take it fairly seriously. See a cardiologist or internist or family practitioner, describe what ...
|
| Pulmonary Hypertension | 5/12/2008 |
Q: My 21 year old daughter was complaining of heart palpations one year ago. I sent her to a ...
A: Sure. Echo can overestimate PA pressure, and upper 30's is not high enough to worry about. If the ...
|
| painful palpitations | 5/11/2008 |
Q: I'm 23, 5', and 105#. Hx of MVP, heart palpitations with pain, migraines. Was on Toprol XL in 2004 ...
A: Among the side effects listed for Imitrex are chest pain/tightness/pressure and dizziness. Imitrex ...
|
| strong visible pulse on one side of the neck | 5/11/2008 |
Q: My mum is 63. she has no known disease like HT DM. She has a slightly loss of hear on the right ...
A: Visible pulse in right neck is almost always normal. Perhaps she can get ultrasound exam of her ...
|
| Low Heart Rate | 5/11/2008 |
Q: Richardson, I am a 57 year old woman, 5' 4", 135 lbs. Blood pressure ranges from 93-165 over 57-97. ...
A: Your story is very well detailed and very interesting. Sounds as if amlodipine caused fluid ...
|
| my shortness of breath. bare metal stent | 5/10/2008 |
Q: my recent heart attack November 2007. a bare metal stent put in successfully. 3 days after i went ...
A: IT WOULDN'T SHOW HEART FAILURE OF THE DIASTOLIC HEART FAILURE, AND THE ANGIOGRAM DID SHOW NOT QUITE ...
|
| my shortness of breath. bare metal stent | 5/10/2008 |
Q: my recent heart attack November 2007. a bare metal stent put in successfully. 3 days after i went ...
A: Eddie, maybe a sleep lab to see if you have sleep apnea, especially if a room mate reports that you ...
|
| EKG results | 5/10/2008 |
Q: I recently went in and got my cholesterol checked and had an EKG done for a cardiac screening done ...
A: RSR' stands for RSR prime. R is the first upward swing of the EKG at the time of ventricular firing, ...
|
| Pulse irregular pulsating | 5/10/2008 |
Q: I have had this for about a year now and never paid too much attention to it but it is weird. When ...
A: It's most likely paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, which is no problem unless it occurs much ...
|
| my shortness of breath. bare metal stent | 5/9/2008 |
Q: my recent heart attack November 2007. a bare metal stent put in successfully. 3 days after i went ...
A: The slight pains and the midsection soreness when you wake up are not heart related and are ...
|
| Pregnancy and PVCs | 5/9/2008 |
Q: I'm a 31-year-old female who has been diagnosed by my cardio with PVCs and NSVT. I have had a ...
A: PVC's and NSVT are harmless whether you're pregnant or not, so long as your echo and EKG were ...
|
| Ectopic question for Dr. Richardson | 5/9/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I am a 21 year old male. Towards the end of last March I began having palpitations ...
A: PVC's are normal cardiac activity; normal in the senses that about half of us have them, that they ...
|
| EKG results | 5/9/2008 |
Q: I recently went in and got my cholesterol checked and had an EKG done for a cardiac screening done ...
A: All is normal except RSV' in V1 and V2 doesn't make any sense. Could it be RSR' in V1 and V2? If ...
|
| understanding my results | 5/8/2008 |
Q: i would like to understand my results a bit holter moniter (vent) ...
A: (vent) means ventricular; beats of the lower chambers or the heart. (supr) means supraventricular; ...
|
| Raised troponin | 5/8/2008 |
Q: Could you let me know what can cause a raised Troponin, other than cardiac muscle damage? I had ...
A: Analytic interferences include fibrin clots, microparticles in sample, hetereophile and human ...
|
| Metropolol side effects | 5/8/2008 |
Q: I recently started taking metropolol to help address ejection function issue. My doctor previously ...
A: I'm glad the doctor cut the dose in half. What does 60-70% efficiency mean? A normal ejection ...
|
| Metropolol side effects | 5/7/2008 |
Q: I recently started taking metropolol to help address ejection function issue. My doctor previously ...
A: Kathy, I'm still confused. Did you originally go to the cardiologist because your heart rate was ...
|
| Metropolol side effects | 5/7/2008 |
Q: I recently started taking metropolol to help address ejection function issue. My doctor previously ...
A: Metoprolol makes some people excessively tired. What is the ejection fraction issue? If too high, ...
|
| high blood count, cholesteral and tryglisorites | 5/6/2008 |
Q: My husband has been very moody and cranky and even has black outs and goes into rages. I told him ...
A: Anxiety about health can certainly change mood drastically, and I think diabetes itself may cause a ...
|
| After catheter ablation | 5/6/2008 |
Q: I was born with a slight heart murmur and have had heart rhythm irregularities for at least twenty ...
A: Bruise lasting 3 weeks is o.k. It will heal up in another few weeks. Fleeting pains around heart ...
|
| ventricular tachycardia | 5/6/2008 |
Q: I have been having significant episodes of heart palpitations for two months. My primary card ...
A: Yes, you should see a cardiologist, preferably a cardiac electrophysiologist because they are the ...
|
| In A-Fib again | 4/30/2008 |
Q: This is my first post. At age 26 I had my first PVC. I am now 64. During these past years I have ...
A: With a normal echo, the only worry about PVC's is that the long pause after a PVC may let afib ...
|
| metropolol | 4/30/2008 |
Q: I am currently being treated with metropolol for an ejection function issue. I am 51 years of age ...
A: Duhrkoop. If your ejection fraction is too high, metoprolol is a good suggestion. If EF is too ...
|
| SVT and circuit training | 4/29/2008 |
Q: I have had SVT for years. I went to a womens gym and they said weight training (machines with weight ...
A: Weight lifting would bring on SVT only if it slows your heart by making you grunt. Otherwise ...
|
| Skipped beats | 4/29/2008 |
Q: I am 46 years old, 5 years ago I had angioplasty with stents in 2 arteries. 6 months ago i had ...
A: Your BP may be low because of damage to your heart. The skipped beats may be serious if your heart ...
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| Tachacardia | 4/29/2008 |
Q: W/F 43yr 120lb 5'7" Health/Fitness instructor with NO medical history!!! Just delivered my fourth ...
A: Your high BP is of course pregnancy related and will go away. The tachycardia may disappear, I ...
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| Change from Lopressor to Coreg | 4/28/2008 |
Q: Sorry for the lack of brevity. I am a 60YOWM, two years out from a 10 day hospitalization for ...
A: It's safe to switch from Coreg to metoprolol. Go back at once to the previous dose of metoprolol ...
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| Frequent extrasystoles | 4/28/2008 |
Q: Approx 10 years ago I started noticing heartbeat irregularities. These were on top of other recent ...
A: Extrasystoles, ventricular or supraventricular, no matter how frequent, are not a threat to life or ...
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| NSVT | 4/28/2008 |
Q: This morning I was awakened by what I think was a run of NSVT (8 beats). I was laying on my stomach ...
A: Kathy, if you don't notice episodes of NSVT, they don't matter. Frequently means often enough to ...
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| Question on Diastolic Dysfunction | 4/28/2008 |
Q: I'm a 41 yr old female, 5'3", 131 lbs. and have had high bp for the last 3 yrs. I was on ...
A: Cardiac amyloid thickens the ventricles and causes systolic dysfunction as well as diastolic. ...
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| NSVT | 4/27/2008 |
Q: This morning I was awakened by what I think was a run of NSVT (8 beats). I was laying on my stomach ...
A: NSVT seems very likely. Doesn't seem to me a big problem unless it recurs frequently or lasts a ...
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| Question on Diastolic Dysfunction | 4/27/2008 |
Q: I'm a 41 yr old female, 5'3", 131 lbs. and have had high bp for the last 3 yrs. I was on ...
A: The Number 20 probably refers to LVEDP, which is normally 14 or less. LVEDP stands for left ...
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| A-fib | 4/27/2008 |
Q: I am a 30 year old male who was diagnosed with a-fib 1 month ago in ED. I was cardioverted and ...
A: If you were drinking heavily in the days just before the afib started, then you're probably safe ...
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| Skipped heart beats and low pulse rate | 4/27/2008 |
Q: Since last week I have noticed that I keep missing a heartbeat and the next beat is stronger than ...
A: You need not be stressed out. You're feeling skipped heart beats. The big thump is the beat after ...
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| skipped heart beats | 4/24/2008 |
Q: 5 foot 7inches normal blood pressure. Since i was about 17 ive noticed an irregular heartbeat ...
A: Single skipped beats that feel like your heart stops and then restarts are normal and no threat to ...
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| slow hart rate and palpatations | 4/24/2008 |
Q: iam a 22 ear old woman and my hart has been skiping beats i also have a slow hart rate i have had a ...
A: Skipped heart beats are normal cardiac events and no threat to life or health. They are especially ...
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| can coreg cause palpitations? | 4/23/2008 |
Q: I have cardiomyopathy latest ef was 38% but my ICD put in for nonsustained VT five years ago went ...
A: Full feeling in throat and chest, and weight gain are not surprising. Palpitations are possible ...
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| Palpitations | 4/23/2008 |
Q: Can you tell me if you were to holter random poeple off the street how many PVC's and PAC's you ...
A: About half of us have PVC's or PAC's. Any amount is normal, up to a PVC every other heart beat. ...
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| Pain And Tingling | 4/22/2008 |
Q: Sir, Iam 27 years. I have been suffering from the following symptoms for last 2 months. Pain and ...
A: Kumar, Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80, tho less than 140/80 is acceptable. Pressure on ...
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| sharp pain | 4/22/2008 |
Q: again i have a question on hear pain or not. I have a sometimes a sharp pain above my left nipple ...
A: It's not heart pain. Probably cramp of muscles between ribs. Not a threat to life or health. No ...
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| echo report | 4/20/2008 |
Q: I recently had a echo and the doctor that did the echo told me that i had vascular lesions what is ...
A: Well, again I'm ignorant. An echo would show abnormalities of the aorta, the big artery that ...
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| heart | 4/20/2008 |
Q: Blood pressure79/57 heart rate 57. BP81/56 heart rate 127. Weight 89 lbs. shingles, failure to ...
A: Pruett, If you're taking a beta blocker, that would explain low heart rate and blood pressure. ...
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| ectopic beats | 4/20/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I had a 24 hour holter monitor last week that showed 1300 ectopic beats in the 24 ...
A: Ectopic beats are normal cardiac activity, no threat to life or health. Brief runs of SVT are o.k. ...
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| heart problems | 4/19/2008 |
Q: I am 45 years old, not taking medications, 220 lbs, 5'7", BP 135/85. I feel nervous, palpitations, ...
A: The crawling inside your skin suggests not heart. Chest tightness, numb jaw and left arm discomfort ...
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| damage heart by inhaling too deeply? | 4/19/2008 |
Q: I'm a 30 y/o F who is worried that I have somehow damaged my heart after a few days of deep ...
A: Probably not a PVC, but just your normal heart rubbing against your chest wall with an unusually ...
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| ECG RESULTS | 4/18/2008 |
Q: I recently went to the doctors because I was experiencing chest pain, he put me on the ecg machine ...
A: Left atrial enlargement and high QRS voltage and anterior ST elevation all suggest high blood ...
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| hard thumps and rushing feeling up neck | 4/18/2008 |
Q: I have been having alot of weird heart beats here and there. The feeling is of a thump in my chest ...
A: A premature heartbeat is an early beat, earlier than expected from the normal heart rate. No one ...
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| racing heart and premature heartbeats | 4/18/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson. I'm writing because my GP is unavailable for the next three weeks, and I have two ...
A: The episodes of fast rate that snap back to normal are probably paroxsysmal supraventricular ...
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| hard thumps and rushing feeling up neck | 4/17/2008 |
Q: I have been having alot of weird heart beats here and there. The feeling is of a thump in my chest ...
A: You don't need to be scared. You're feeling premature heart beats. The big thump is the beat after ...
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| heart question | 4/16/2008 |
Q: I am an ex crystal meth addict and i wanted to give you some symptoms about my heart so U can give ...
A: You're not having a heart attack or palpitations. Because of your father's untimely death, please ...
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| PVCs after exercise | 4/16/2008 |
Q: I'll start with some backgound information. I’m a 27 year old female, thin, a frequent exerciser, ...
A: You can safely be calm. PVC's are normal heart activity. They occur in about 1/4 of us, are easy ...
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| Skips and Flutters | 4/15/2008 |
Q: I suffer from skips beats. Some days I only get a few and other days I will get 10 a minute. I am ...
A: PAC's and PVC's are normal cardiac activity and don't need to cause panic. They occur in about half ...
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| Arrythmia? | 4/14/2008 |
Q: I had been having some small problems with high blood pressure that my chiropractor caught. He sent ...
A: No need to worry. It's either a faulty indicator or you're having skipped heart beats, which are ...
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| CENTER CHEST PAIN ONLY SOMETIMES LEFT ARM NUMB AND LEFT LEG | 4/14/2008 |
Q: HI SIRE NO EVIDENCE OF HEART DISEASE AT ALL, HAD ECHO, EKG, STRESS TEST, AND 24 HOUR HALTER ...
A: A negative stress test gives you 95% freedom from heart attack or cardiac death for 7 years if the ...
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| Pleurisy and exercise? | 4/13/2008 |
Q: : A little over a year ago I was diagnosed with pleurisy after an x-ray in the emergency room, and ...
A: Continue exercise just below the level that brings on pleurisy, I guess. Try big-dose aspirin, 3 ...
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| SVT | 4/13/2008 |
Q: I wrote to you about a week or so ago. I was the one who had the bad reaction to adenosine. Anyway, ...
A: Pam, low white blood cell counts and low blood platelet counts have been described, but must be ...
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| left arm numbness =heart attack??? | 4/12/2008 |
Q: 32 male non smoker Hi sir, new problem over the last 3 days my left arm and parts of my left leg ...
A: Left arm and leg numbness could be a ministroke. Not heart-related unless you have atrial ...
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| SVT | 4/12/2008 |
Q: I wrote to you about a week or so ago. I was the one who had the bad reaction to adenosine. Anyway, ...
A: Flecainide is not dangerous at all for someone with a normal echo. Toprol and flecainide together ...
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| holter monitort, RR interval | 4/11/2008 |
Q: Richardson, This is Michael Cook again, the 22 yr old, male with the upper ...
A: Come on, Michael. You are not in any danger of a life-threatening arrhythmia. The worst that could ...
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| palpitations | 4/11/2008 |
Q: OK I am 38 6ft. 170 lbs, I have PCOS (hormone imbalance). I exercise regularly and have a pretty ...
A: Your palpitations may be PVC's or premature atrial contractions (PAC's). Remember that both are ...
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| taurine | 4/11/2008 |
Q: ive read that taurine and l-arginine have a very high success rate in wiping out pacs and pvcs. 1 ...
A: Got to wikipedia, enter taurine in the search box, and you'll find out all about taurine. It ...
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| stress test results | 4/10/2008 |
Q: Last thur and fri I had the electrolite stress test done. Yesterday my dr's nurse called, they found ...
A: Many positive isotope stress tests are falsely positive, don't mean anything is wrong. If chest ...
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| Sudden Sharp Heart Pain | 4/10/2008 |
Q: I have a bi- cuspid aortic valve instead of a tri-cuspid, i have already been warned that I will ...
A: Chest pain that can be modified by pressing on the painful area is chest wall pain, probably cramp ...
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| PVC questions | 4/10/2008 |
Q: Doctor, I appreciate you taking the time to respond to all our questions. I am a 34yr male, ...
A: PVC's, even 3 in a row, are no threat to life or health, but normal cardiac activity. They don't ...
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| Normal amount of PVC's? | 4/9/2008 |
Q: Can you tell me what a normal number of PVC's/PAC's would be per day. I don't know if one a minute ...
A: PVC's and PAC's are normal cardiac activity. Any number, even every other beat, is normal. I would ...
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| Re: blood clot? | 4/9/2008 |
Q: Last Friday I was at the post office mailing a package. As I walked out of the post office I became ...
A: Your event could have been a migraine equivalent if your previous headaches were migraine. I think ...
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| throbbing pulse in neck | 4/8/2008 |
Q: I am a 45 year old woman in very good health. I am 5'5" tall, weigh 140 lbs. and take no ...
A: No, not dire at all, and embolism won't occur. Ccould it be turning your head away from a carotid ...
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| Multiple pvc's | 4/8/2008 |
Q: I have had PCs' for several years. Seven years ago they were really bad, every other beat for 18 ...
A: Remember that PVC's, no matter how frequent, are normal cardiac activity, not a threat to life or ...
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| Etopic beats | 4/7/2008 |
Q: I have been experienceing etopic since 4 months, my question is are they dangerous and should I be ...
A: Ectopic heart beats are not dangerous at all. They are normal cardiac activity, no threat to life ...
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| Cure of SVT | 4/7/2008 |
Q: Have had 2 episodes of SVT ( and admitted to the doctor)..Was consuming a lot of aerated drinks,into ...
A: Valsalva: Lying down, take in a breath and blow hard but don't let breath come out of chest. Hold ...
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| arterial fibrillation | 4/6/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, a good friend of mine was going to have a heart ablasion, but when she went into ...
A: Connie, I'm glad they found out too. Atrial fib is dangerous only in that clots can form in the ...
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| racing heart, | 4/6/2008 |
Q: I hope you can help me with this I am a 34 year old female who for almost 4 weeks have been ...
A: A stress echo wouldn't help since your resting echo is normal. More beta blocker should help heart ...
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| Cure of SVT | 4/6/2008 |
Q: Have had 2 episodes of SVT ( and admitted to the doctor)..Was consuming a lot of aerated drinks,into ...
A: Treatments for blood pressure are the same with or without SVT, except that beta blockers may help ...
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| ekg's | 4/3/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, I was just curious to if you have had any chance to review my ekg's ...
A: Michael, I don't remember any EKG's, and I've reviewed my AllExperts emails back thru 3/1/08 without ...
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| LVEF measurements | 4/3/2008 |
Q: Dr. Richardson, Thank so much, kind Sir, for your answer to my previous question. I do have a ...
A: It's infuriating how often MUGA and echo disagree about EF. I trust the echo more. PVC's are ...
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| Atrial Fibrillation relief | 4/2/2008 |
Q: I am a 31 year old white male who has been having episodes of atrium fibrillation (AF) since I was ...
A: There are several actions you can take to reduce, perhaps stop, the episodes of AF. A beta blocker, ...
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| palpitations | 4/2/2008 |
Q: I have had palpitations for over a year, after tests it was found that I was had one 7-9 seconds ...
A: Even if it was 9 seconds of AF, it doesn't matter a bit. Only if AF occurs frequently and lasts ...
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| fatty deposit on my face | 4/2/2008 |
Q: Richardson, I had what started out as a tiny white bump on my face and I think it is cholestrol and ...
A: If it's in you upper eyelid it's cholesterol. Any other part of your face I don't know whether it's ...
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| Palpitations | 4/1/2008 |
Q: These irregular heatbeats are making me crazy! I have had numerous holters, echo, stress test and ...
A: Connie, PVC's and PAC's, even couplets and triplets, are normal cardiac activity and not threat to ...
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| heart palpitation | 4/1/2008 |
Q: it felt like my heart was fluttering of skipping a beat on and off for a few hours, and my pulse was ...
A: Skipped beats are normal cardiac activity, no threat to life or health, just a nuisance. They don't ...
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| chemical stress test | 4/1/2008 |
Q: I am a 41 year old female who has been suffering from benign PACs and PVCs for the last eight years. ...
A: Adenosine is not supposed to increase heart rate, but to decrease it, so the increase in heart rate ...
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| reactive atheritis and pvc's/pac's | 3/31/2008 |
Q: I have always had the odd pvc's and sometimes psvt runs.I have had my heart checked many times, ...
A: PAC's and PVC's are both normal cardiac activity, no threat to life or health, no matter how ...
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| HTN LVH Palpitations | 3/31/2008 |
Q: Dr Richardson - You probably don't remember me, but I wrote you via AllExperts about a year ago ...
A: there's no slow PAT that I know of, and AF can be slow but of course is totally irregular. It's ...
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| coumadin | 3/30/2008 |
Q: can i take aspirin instead of 10mg ofcoumadin
A: Depends what you're taking the Coumadin for. If you have atrial fibrillation, an artificial heart ...
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| sinus tachy | 3/30/2008 |
Q: hi sir i have sinus tachy, my bpms at rest 95-120 i was given a full cardio workup including a ...
A: Sinus tachycardia is benign, no problem so long as you're not anemic, hyperthyroid, hypertensive or ...
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| LVH | 3/29/2008 |
Q: I am a 33 year-old female. I am obese and have been for 10 years. I smoked for 15 years, having been ...
A: The walls of your left ventricle are a little thick (mild hypertrophy), and ejection fraction of 92% ...
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| Heart palpitations and PVC's | 3/29/2008 |
Q: I am a 40 year old male in good health and exercise 3-4 times per week. Over the past month I ...
A: No need for concern. PVC's are normal cardiac activity, no threat at all to womeone with normal ...
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| EKG Innacuacy? | 3/28/2008 |
Q: I sent you a message earlier regarding my test noting that it read "right atrial enlargement" After ...
A: Right atrial enlargement is often misdiagnosed on EKG. Since you are healthy, you can ignore the ...
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| Pain that subsides in about 10 seconds | 3/28/2008 |
Q: There have been many times in my 19 years where I can remember just sitting or walking or doing ...
A: Heart pain is pressure in middle of front of chest, brought on by exercise and relieved in 5 minutes ...
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| Diagnosis Nothing | 3/27/2008 |
Q: Been to three family practitioners and a cardiologist and still no help for the discomfort in my ...
A: It's not heart causing your pain. Probably cramp in muscles. Stretching cramped muscle sometimes ...
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| apparent increasing reaction to metoprolol | 3/27/2008 |
Q: I am 44, about 370 lbs, two hard stents, SCA survivor of an event 1.5 years ago (apparently no ...
A: Metoprolol can cause edema of throat that would feel like sweling. Also bronchitis. These do not ...
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| Cholesterol test | 3/27/2008 |
Q: I am a 28 year old male in good shape and I have a question regarding to cholesterol tests that I ...
A: I don't know. The big meal the night before probably raised the triglycerides, but shouldn't affect ...
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| SVT | 3/26/2008 |
Q: First of all, thanks for giving me the opportunity to ask a question. I have read a bit about SVT ...
A: Mel, you can try a Valsalva, though it's not very likely to work when you're standing. Try brief ...
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| hernia surgery in crease area between thigh | 3/26/2008 |
Q: A friend of mine had hernia surgery in the crease area between her thigh. Since that time, she has ...
A: YES, Connie, two severe infections, staph and c-diff, could leave her short of breath for a while. ...
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| hernia surgery in crease area between thigh | 3/26/2008 |
Q: A friend of mine had hernia surgery in the crease area between her thigh. Since that time, she has ...
A: Seems impossible for surgery in the crease area between her thigh and body to damage nerves ...
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| A Fib vs. PVC | 3/25/2008 |
Q: I've got about 2 weeks left to see my cardiologist for the first time, but I'm still stressed over ...
A: Yes, very obvious. A Fib is totally irregular rhythm. Vtach runs 150-200 beats a minute. Heart ...
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| my pulse | 3/25/2008 |
Q: Hi is it normal to see a pulse moving in your right wrist sometimes during the day??? and also when ...
A: It's certainly normal to see your pulse moving in your wrist and to feel your pulse in your head. ...
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| Heart pounding all the time | 3/24/2008 |
Q: On January 21st 2008 I had a lignocaine spray in my throat which sent my heart rate up to 150. Since ...
A: So sorry, but I don't know any more than your doctors. I'd guess that you had an initial physical ...
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| thiazide diuretic | 3/23/2008 |
Q: I just read that thiazide diuretics are toxic to the beta cells of the pancreas and can cause ...
A: Thiazide diuretics raise blood sugar if they have lowered blood potassium. He should be sure his ...
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| new kind of pain | 3/22/2008 |
Q: hi i have had center chest pain off an on for weeks now, i have written before, i appreciate your ...
A: It's most likely cramp of muscle between ribs. Big nuisance but no threat to life or health. ...
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| CT Scan Results | 3/22/2008 |
Q: Richardson, I have a bicuspid valve which lead to AVR replacement/ascending aortic aneurysm repair ...
A: The average growth rate for aneurysms of the ascending aorta is from 0.07 to 0.2 cm/year. The ...
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| Heart rate/Blood Pressure | 3/22/2008 |
Q: At a doctors visit for lower back pain I was experiencing, my blood pressure reading was 145/85. I ...
A: Gonzalez, You're not about to die. It's hard to see how fast heart beat and high blood pressure ...
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| psvt & chest pressure with exercise< |
