BMI (Body Mass Index) is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both men and women between the ages of 18 and 65 years. BMI can be used to indicate if you are overweight, obese, underweight or normal. A healthy BMI score is between 20 and 25. A score below 20 indicates that you …
High systolic and low diastolic pressure
Submitted by Dr T on October 15, 2014 – 7:18am in Cardiac Risks Question: My mother has been lately suffering from a unique BP ailment. She had a blackout recently in which she was semi-conscious. Since then we have been monitoring her BP and have found that her systolic BP hovers around 140-150 while her diastolic level oscillates between 60-70. …
Hypertension and Renal Artery Stenosis
Submitted by Dr T on August 7, 2014 – 9:47am Question: I was diagnosed with high blood pressure about a year and half ago. Recently I had some swelling in hands and feet that wouldn’t go down some called doctor. She had me come in and check BP which was raised even on my medicine which was Exforge. She switched …
Long Term Survival after Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Submitted by Dr T on July 28, 2014 – 8:42am in Cardiac Risks Question: Doctors as suggested my mom to undergo bypass surgery due to the blockage in all the 3 heart valves, whether there is any modern medicines instead of surgery to cure the heart problem, because i read in one of the article that Heart blockage can be …
Atypical exercise recovery chest pain
Submitted by Dr T on July 15, 2014 – 8:22am Question: Hello Doctor, Im a 30y/o female in good health. Good wt, bp, chol, etc. I have worked out for over a decade. In the last year, I have had shooting pains up to my chin and faintness strictly during the Recovery phase of my workout. I run for a …
Please help me interpret these cardiac tests
Submitted by Dr T on July 1, 2014 – 9:50am Question: Fibrous pericardium with granulation tissue with fibrinous exudate mild fibroblasia. There are mononuclear cell infiltrates with rare leukocytes and eosinophils What is organizing fibrinous pericarditis? What are the short term and long term implications? Thank you Hi Amy, These results mean you have had a pericardial effusion that was …
Herbs and Supplements for Heart Disease
Submitted by Dr T on June 22, 2014 – 2:55pm in Cardiac Risks Question: Whenever considering taking herbs or supplements, we are always told to discuss it with our healthcare professional. I’ve never met a doctor who accepted other treatment in conjunction with theirs. 1 yr ago I had a heart attack. My ejection fraction then & now is 39. …
Can my leaky valve cause shortness of breath?
Submitted by Dr T on June 18, 2014 – 4:54pm in Cardiac Risks Question: Thank you for your time and expertise. I just got the results of my echocardiogram in the mail. I am a 45yr female. I had an avnode ablation after unsuccessfully trying to ablate multiple arrythmias, including aberrant afib. I currently have a pacemaker. My echo states: …
Is an abnormal EKG with LBBB dangerous?
Submitted by Dr T on June 17, 2014 – 9:33am Question: I am a 78 yo male who has been a long distance runner for over 30 yrs. I have been healthy; 5’7,127 lbs. My blood pressure has been borderline hypertensive over the last year so I take the smallest dose of HCTZ and take 5mg of simvastatin (chol 178, …
When Are New PVCs Dangerous?
Submitted by Dr T on June 8, 2014 – 8:45am Question: Have PVCs, more when relaxing, had holter am going for stress test and echo. No pain or shortness of breath. Given 20 mg of propranolol. On meds for HBP, now BP is very low 121/53. Should I discontinue the BP meds? Am 62 yr old female. Are these PVCs life …