Submitted by Dr T on March 12, 2013 – 8:50am Question: I am a 46 yr old female.have had pvcs since 1988.i have a hiatial hernia and gerd.now i have a slow heart rate of 49.i am weak and tired all the time.my blood pressure is 110 over 70.my dad died of heart attack at age 39.should i be worried.i …
Expanding Thoracic Aortic aneurysm
Submitted by Dr T on February 27, 2013 – 9:24am in Cardiac Risks Question: On 2-12-13 I found I have an aorta aneurysm located on the ascending aorta measuring 3.9cm at the level of the pulmonary arteries. The CT scan prior to this one was done on 8-4-11 showed it to be 3.6 but was not shown on the report …
Preoperative testing before major surgery
Submitted by Dr T on February 26, 2013 – 3:17pm in Cardiac Risks Question: I am 53 and will be having a total knee replacemnt. I have never had any heart problems and any EKGs that I have ever had have all been normal. Why would my orthopedic surgeon want me to have a chemcial stress test? He states that …
Asystole and Pulseless electrical activity
Asystole is a cardiac arrest rhythm in which there is no discernible electrical activity on the ECG monitor. Asystole is sometimes referred to as a “flat line.” Pulseless electrical activity (PEA) is a clinical condition characterized by unresponsiveness and no palpable pulse but with some organized cardiac electrical activity. Pulseless electrical activity has previously been referred to as electromechanical dissociation …
PVCs, PACs and SVT risks
Submitted by Dr T on February 22, 2013 – 10:22am Question: Hi Dr. T. I am a 45 year old woman with a history of PVC’s. I have had PVC’s since I was 17. Within the last month my symptoms have gotten worse-increasing palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath. During one episode of sinus tachycardia I was taken via paramedics …
Protecting the rights of concealed-weapons permit holders?
Where I live, on February 21, 2013 the issue of gun control resulted in an emergency session by the Maine Legislature, and a bipartisan resolution to enact a new law that will make identifying information of concealed-weapons permit holders private. It was the direct result of a perfectly legal request by a local newspaper last week for information on these permits. The …
Sudden cardiac death after stenting
Submitted by Dr T on February 19, 2013 – 11:22am Question: Dear Dr. T,My father recently passed away one week before his 67th birthday in January 2013. He has always been a very healthy individual throughout his entire life with a strict diet, no junk food, regular exercise, and didn’t smoke, drink alcohol, or do drugs. Very healthy person. He …
How does starvation lead to coronary heart disease
Submitted by Dr T on February 16, 2013 – 12:35pm in Cardiac Risks Question: Dear Doctor T,Please could you tell me how starvation (for example, anorexia nervosa) leads to coronary heart disease? I am a biology student, and it says in my textbook that starvation can lead to coronary heart disease, but doesn’t explain how. I asked my teacher, but …
Poor heart function and surgery
Submitted by Dr T on February 16, 2013 – 12:13pm in Cardiac Risks Question: My father(Age 58 yrs) is suffering from Heart disease and his EF is 28%. Now a days he is suffering from pneumonia with more than 20 days. He has diabetics and BP problem also. Doctors here told us that his heart is too week to operate. …
Pain comes and goes on left side of the chest; with some numbness on the left arm.
Submitted by Dr T on February 14, 2013 – 4:48pm Question: My name is Sara and I am 54 years old. I smoke a pack of cigarettes a month. Lately on my left side of my arm,I have experienced numbness and pain in my chest.I thought that I was having a heart attack. So I went to my family doctor. …