Submitted by Dr T on January 28, 2013 – 5:24pm in Cardiac Risks Question: Hello,My husband takes lipitor, and his cholesterol numbers are great. However, sometimes he eats a very high fat meal. He says that’s okay since his numbers are so good. This seems wrong, but I can’t say why- can you? (He had quad bypass 11 years ago.) …
Routine nuclear stress tests
Submitted by Dr T on January 27, 2013 – 7:30pm in Cardiac Risks Question: How often is a stress test necessary? Should it be done as a routine test every year? Hi Rebecca,Of course not; repeat stress tests depend on your symptoms, risks for heart disease and findings of heart disease if present If you are at high risk (calculate …
Snoring and heart disease
Yesterday, the medical correspondent to NBC aired a story with the conclusion: if you snore, you are at risk for developing heart disease. Next, a few chubby smokers were shown, followed by an interview with an attractive young couple. The husband had recently undergone sinus surgery to stop his snoring and “to prevent heart disease later”. Somewhat modified, the same …
Lightheadedness after pacemaker installed
Submitted by Dr T on January 27, 2013 – 8:57am Question: Three days ago I had a pace maker installed and have since been very tired and have had daily episodes of lightheadedness. B/P monitoring shows a normal range but why am I having these spells? I have been back to the ER since the installation, and everything checked out …
Palpitations and Thyroid disease
Submitted by Dr T on January 26, 2013 – 12:31pm Question: I have recently been diagnosed with Grave’s disease after seeking help for heart palpitations. I am taking both propranolol & methimazol. Although I have only been taking the methimazol for 4 days, I started taking 20 mg of propranolol 4X/day starting 9 days ago but then had it increased …
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome risks
Submitted by Dr T on January 26, 2013 – 12:00pm in Your heart rhythm Question: Your question:Hello Dr. T, MY 20 year old san has several a fib incidents throughout his short life. They never lasted more than a couple of minutes then he would be ffine.A month ago he had an attack,this one lasted 3 hours.. Yesterday he endured …
Septal Infarction
Submitted by Dr T on January 17, 2013 – 7:32pm in Cardiac Risks Question: What is this and how serious is it? Is it safe to have general anesthesia? It means you may have had a previous heart attack that involved your septum. Don’t worry too much, the reading may have been misinterpreted. However, your anesthesiologist probably will ask for …
Cardiac Echo results – Scared
Submitted by Dr T on January 16, 2013 – 5:05pm in Cardiac Risks Question: Hi, last year I had a routine operation which resulted in the surgeon somehow tearing my spleen.I lost a lot of blood and had to have 2 blood transfusions and was in ITU for a week.After this happened I developed PTSD and was very, very stressed, …
Pectus Excavatum
Submitted by Dr T on January 15, 2013 – 1:46pm Question: I am a 44 yr old female, life long asthmatic and have always had a “pointy rib cage”, to the point that I was never comfortable in 2 piece swim suits. Other than that, my odd shaped rib cage was never an issue. I also have issues with recurrent …
Exercise after heart surgery.
Submitted by Dr T on January 15, 2013 – 9:22am Question: I recently underwent surgery to replace a bicuspid Aortic valve with a tissue valve. I’m 18 years old and was born with Aortic valve stenosis with aortic regurgitation. My surgery was on the 1st of November at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London. I have (had) a keen passion …