Questions posted in the
Heart Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
| |
|
Subject: Re: Vasovagal syncope I am a 39 year old male with a history of high blood pressure. I,me on apotriazide 25/50 MG.I have blacked out 8 times in the last 9 month,s. I,me out for app. 2or 3 minutes there is no warning it,s just out I go.When I wake up I feel weak and get a headache which last's for about an hour. I also feel like I'me going to pass out from time to time . I,ve had blood work EKG,EEG, heart sonogram ,stress test, CAT scan, holter,tilt table, my neck arteries were checked all those test are normal. I am now wearing a loop monitor last night I pressed record and when the hospital called this morning they said my strip was normal. What would cause this problem? Is it possible that I had a false negative on the tilt table . thank you Glendon
Dear Glendon, Until one of the actual black out episodes is caught on tape (on the loop monitor), no physician could definitively say whether or not your heart rhythm is contributing to the blackouts. Of course with all your "normal" results, it is highly unlikely to be your heart, but as you said, false negatives are an issue with almost all tests. The major advice I have for you is that you continue to follow regularly with your doctor and do all that you can to catch your heart rhythm on the monitor (not when you are dizzi, but when you actually black out.) It might make you feel better to know that most patients that have multiple passing out episodes and survive them are in very little danger of sudden death. Of course the danger of just passing out with no warning (and for instance hitting your head) is significant as well, the decreased quality of life for the patient is significant. There is a research team at a Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee that does a tremendous amount of research on autonomic
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please
| |
