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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Breathlessness, cheat pain, excercise intolerance
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Breathlessness, cheat pain, excercise intolerance
by jdraper, Apr 28, 2007 12:00AM
I am 26 years old, male, and I am perpetually short of breath and even the slightest physical activity (sweeping/vacuuming) can cause me to start yawning uncontrollably and feel like I am suffocating from lack of oxygen. My resting heart rate is typically around 90bpm, and I have high blood pressure (around 165/102 average). I am overweight at 265 pounds, 6'0", normal frame. I do not drink or smoke, nor do I do any type of drugs.
I have also recently discovered (by doing regular daily checks) that my blood sugar is high as well - typically around 140 fasting, 220+ an hour or so after eating. I was also diagnosed with high cholesterol 2 years ago (can't remember the actual numbers) and placed on Lipitor (which I couldn't afford to buy due to lack of insurance).
My heartbeat is extremely powerful, and moves my entire chest and sometimes my entire body. I am almost always aware of my heartbeat, and can feel it in my fingers and toes at any given time. When standing up quickly, bending over to pick something up, and then sitting back down, my heart beats so hard that it's painful, and I have to lean back and take shallow breaths for a few seconds.
My question is this - do my symptoms sound like they could be caused by deconditioning? I have had an extremely sedentary lifestyle for the past 4 years, getting no regular exercise period. Also, could stress be a factor? Both of my parents have died in the past 3 years (mom had lung cancer, dad had multiple heart attacks) and I have had severe financial problems, so stress is a daily thing for me.
And finally, considering that seeing a doctor is pretty much impossible for me, do you think that it would be safe to begin trying to lose weight and exercise, keeping in mind that I have no exercise tolerance and even mild exertion at times can cause symptoms that are very scary to me? Thanks for reading, and thank you for any advice that you can give.
I have also recently discovered (by doing regular daily checks) that my blood sugar is high as well - typically around 140 fasting, 220+ an hour or so after eating. I was also diagnosed with high cholesterol 2 years ago (can't remember the actual numbers) and placed on Lipitor (which I couldn't afford to buy due to lack of insurance).
My heartbeat is extremely powerful, and moves my entire chest and sometimes my entire body. I am almost always aware of my heartbeat, and can feel it in my fingers and toes at any given time. When standing up quickly, bending over to pick something up, and then sitting back down, my heart beats so hard that it's painful, and I have to lean back and take shallow breaths for a few seconds.
My question is this - do my symptoms sound like they could be caused by deconditioning? I have had an extremely sedentary lifestyle for the past 4 years, getting no regular exercise period. Also, could stress be a factor? Both of my parents have died in the past 3 years (mom had lung cancer, dad had multiple heart attacks) and I have had severe financial problems, so stress is a daily thing for me.
And finally, considering that seeing a doctor is pretty much impossible for me, do you think that it would be safe to begin trying to lose weight and exercise, keeping in mind that I have no exercise tolerance and even mild exertion at times can cause symptoms that are very scary to me? Thanks for reading, and thank you for any advice that you can give.
Doctor's Answer
by Forum-M.D.-MJM, Apr 28, 2007 12:00AM
Hello,
I am sorry to hear about your parents. That is a lot to go through.
Regarding statin medications, simvastatin (generic for Zocor) is now generic and is about 1/10th the cost and work just as well for someone in your situation.
Do my symptoms sound like they could be caused by deconditioning?
Your symptoms could be decondition, but it also sounds like you have many other stressful situations going on. I am concerned that stress / anxiety/ depression may be a larger component. It is difficult to say this based on a one paragraph description, but it does sound like you have a lot on your mind right now. Have you talked to your doctor about the being treated for anxiety -- if you think this is a component.
Yawning is not something that happens with shortness of breath from cardiac causes -- that is almost always a anxiety issue.
Also, could stress be a factor?
Yes (above)
And finally, considering that seeing a doctor is pretty much impossible for me, do you think that it would be safe to begin trying to lose weight and exercise, keeping in mind that I have no exercise tolerance and even mild exertion at times can cause symptoms that are very scary to me?
I can't safely make judgements about this without seeing you in clinic. For someone your age, the answer is almost always weight loss, diet, exercise, but I would want to make sure being seeing you in person. I would recommend seeing a doctor anyway to address your what I am concerned is an anxiety issue.
I hope this answers your question and wish you well as you try to work through this.
Thanks for posting.
I am sorry to hear about your parents. That is a lot to go through.
Regarding statin medications, simvastatin (generic for Zocor) is now generic and is about 1/10th the cost and work just as well for someone in your situation.
Do my symptoms sound like they could be caused by deconditioning?
Your symptoms could be decondition, but it also sounds like you have many other stressful situations going on. I am concerned that stress / anxiety/ depression may be a larger component. It is difficult to say this based on a one paragraph description, but it does sound like you have a lot on your mind right now. Have you talked to your doctor about the being treated for anxiety -- if you think this is a component.
Yawning is not something that happens with shortness of breath from cardiac causes -- that is almost always a anxiety issue.
Also, could stress be a factor?
Yes (above)
And finally, considering that seeing a doctor is pretty much impossible for me, do you think that it would be safe to begin trying to lose weight and exercise, keeping in mind that I have no exercise tolerance and even mild exertion at times can cause symptoms that are very scary to me?
I can't safely make judgements about this without seeing you in clinic. For someone your age, the answer is almost always weight loss, diet, exercise, but I would want to make sure being seeing you in person. I would recommend seeing a doctor anyway to address your what I am concerned is an anxiety issue.
I hope this answers your question and wish you well as you try to work through this.
Thanks for posting.
I think that feeling better has shown me that my problem isn't some killer disease, but just my own lack of physical conditioning and the poor care I have been giving my body.
I'm sorry to hear about your losses as well mjw029, it's a tough thing to go through and I'm still not fully alright after years have passed. I hope that you can come to terms with your loss and find the strength to get back into shape. As far as myself, I think I've reached a point where I know that I have to pick up the pieces and press on, so that's what I'm gonna be doing :) Good luck to you, and feel free to post back with your progress.
I think that feeling better has shown me that my problem isn't some killer disease, but just my own lack of physical conditioning and the poor care I have been giving my body.
I'm sorry to hear about your losses as well mjw029, it's a tough thing to go through and I'm still not fully alright after years have passed. I hope that you can come to terms with your loss and find the strength to get back into shape. As far as myself, I think I've reached a point where I know that I have to pick up the pieces and press on, so that's what I'm gonna be doing :) Good luck to you, and feel free to post back with your progress.