Submitted by Dr T on February 6, 2011 – 11:12pm Question: Hello, I come from a family where heart disease is a concern on my mom’s side of the family. Her grandmom, her dad, and his two brothers all died in their 40’s of sudden heart attacks. Since then it seems my mom who is 59 and her 4 siblings …
Statin benefits questioned in low-risk patients
People without heart disease should think twice before taking cholesterol-lowering statins. In a review of the medical literature, researchers found the drugs did appear to slash deaths ever so slightly in patients at low risk of heart disease. But many of the reports they looked at — all but one funded by drug makers — were flawed. In particular, while …
I have an abnormal Calcium score
Submitted by Dr T on February 6, 2011 – 10:47pm Question: I just had a calcium score test done and the left descending was 1.7 and the right artery was 126 both had two areas. My cholestrol is 315, with the bad being 215. My father has had four bypass surgeries and stents put in 2 different times. I have …
Pulmonary Hypertension and Morbid obesity
Submitted by Dr T on February 4, 2011 – 9:54am Question: Follow up (Pulmonary Hypertension is it dangerous?): I dont know any more specifics from this echo because he only ordered it to show the rsvp and not a full echo. The number was all he told me. I actually had been feeling better and able to exercise more. I …
Pulmonary Hypertension is it dangerous?
Submitted by Dr T on February 3, 2011 – 11:50am Question: I had written previously and had echo results as follows. 6 months after the 2nd echo my RVSP was 57. The cardiologist still believes obesity is the cause and wants to wait 6 more months to repreat the echo. He says the 57 is not a substantial increase from …
My doctor told me I have an uncoiled aorta
Submitted by Dr T on February 2, 2011 – 11:20am in Other Question: I went for a chest Xray for a cough and it was normal but on the report it said uncoiling of the thoracic aorta???? I asked my Dr what it meant and he didn’t know..(LOL).. So does anyone know what causes this and is there a way …
I have svt, afib, pvcs, 1st degree heart block, mild mvp
Submitted by Dr T on January 31, 2011 – 10:01am in Your heart rhythm Question: 1.In a structurally healthy heart, how serious is it if a person has all of the following: svt, afib, pvcs, 1st degree heart block, mild mvp?2. If a person has a-fib lasting 10 seconds every 8 months do they need a blood thinner? (if they …
leg pains and cramps while resting
Submitted by Dr T on January 31, 2011 – 9:52am in Other Question: My leg pain comes and goes mainly at rest or driving . Have been on simvastatin tired pravastatin for problem was told to stop until pain goes away has not in 3-weeks . but the next trial will be crestor . should i ignore pain and treat …
Severe Heartburn, could it be heart disease?
Submitted by Dr T on January 30, 2011 – 12:36pm in Chest Pain Question: I have had severe heart burn for about 5 day’s now, It gets so bad at times I have trouble breathing, I am having a hard time eating and taking my meds beacuase it hurts to swallow. I have been taking over the counter Prilosec, but …
Aspirin Therapy
Submitted by Dr T on January 30, 2011 – 12:20pm in Chest Pain Question: I have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease with elevated cholesterol, slightly high blood pressure and angina. I’ve had the treadmill stress test, echocardiogram and ekg. I have an MET level of 8. I am taking metoprolol (100mg time release), Lipitor (10mg) and low-dose aspirin. The …