Submitted by Dr T on October 19, 2012 – 1:11pm in Your heart rhythm Question: Do beta blockers lower the rate of an already normal to low heart rate. I have been prescribed propranolol 20mg twice daily for very frequent pvcs. I’m somewhat nervous to take them because I read everywheres that they lower your heart rate, so since my …
Bicuspid aortic valve and MRSA
Submitted by Dr T on October 19, 2012 – 12:53pm in Cardiac Risks Question: Is it possible for MRSA to attack a bicuspid aortic valve, damage it so much hat a AVR is required, and yet not leave vegetative growth on the NAR? Does MRSA always leave a detectable visible or microscopic growth on a damaged heart? Hi Kathy,MRSA (Methicillin …
Atrial Fibrillation and Diltiazem
Submitted by Dr T on October 18, 2012 – 10:51am Question: I am a 62 male and was recently diagnosed with atrial fibrillation by my cardiologist. He did a Holter test that showed t I go in and out of atrial fibrillation. He also did an echo and echo/stress which showed slight lvh (I am a runner). The only time …
Fainting, palpitations and mild tricuspid insufficency
Submitted by Dr T on October 18, 2012 – 10:06am Question: Hello. I am 30 years old and was admitted to the hospital after suddenly passing out and having heart palpitations with chest pain that radiated to my neck. I have strong family history for CAD and my dad had a heart attack at 49 which resulted in a bypass …
Early repolarization on my EKG
Submitted by Dr T on October 14, 2012 – 10:02am in Cardiac Risks Question: Dear doctor,i am 29 years old now, and i was diagnose last January 31, 2012.early re polarization pattern.this is normal for my age? now i had maintaining medicine trimetazidine 35mg/tab. once a day.this is good for my heart? Early repolarization is not an uncommon finding on …
Is Vitamin B12 a safe option for someone with heart stents?
Submitted by Dr T on October 14, 2012 – 9:35am Question: My 65 year old husband received two bare metal stents in 2010 after an angiogram revealed a 30% and 50% blockage. He is diabetic and was recently switched from Actos to Metformin. I’ve since learned that Metformin can sometimes cause vitamin B12 deficiency which can lead to nueropathy. So …
Paroxysmal SupraVentricular Tachycardia (PSVT)
Paroxysmal SupraVentricular Tachycardia (PSVT) Submitted by Dr T on October 11, 2012 – 8:49am in Your heart rhythm Question: I’m 46 years old. I have PSVT for more than twenty years. Most of the time, it has triggered at mid-night due to gastric congestion, usually if I have a drink or two, and late meal. Can gastritis trigger palpitations / …
Depressed breast bone and heart valve disease
Submitted by Dr T on October 9, 2012 – 4:16am Question: Dear Doctor,My 12 year-old son was diagnosed with mild pectus and a mild leaky aortic valve after a follow up with a pediatric cardiologist for an abnormal EKG. The cardiologist said that the mild pectus has caused a slight shift in his heart, which likely caused the abnormal EKG, …
Tiredness a year after a quad bypass
Submitted by Dr T on September 25, 2012 – 11:35am Question: July 25 last year, I had cardiac arrest, and emergency surgery since I’d already flatlined. A few weeks later they replaced my femoral aorta. My attitude is good now, but I’m just absolutely zero energy. In fact, minus about 10 hours, I slept from Friday night until about 10:15 …
Palpitations during menopause
Submitted by Dr T on September 21, 2012 – 6:52pm in Cardiac Risks Question: I am 50 and female. I have been having a few heart palpatations lately, and I have a history of anxiety so I am afraid that is making it worse! As long as I am busy, I feel fine. I have been walking because I am …