Aa
Can a blocked artery cause these symptoms
I ask because I have had a battery of physical tests which include:
Complete Blood Count X3
Thyroid/Parathyroid Blood Test X2
Cholesterol, Calcium, Magnesium,
D-Dimer Test
Electrocardiogram X5
Echocardiogram
Stress Echocardiogram
24Hr Holter Monitor
Stress ECG
CardiopulmonaryX test
24Hr Urine test
and the only thing that has came back abnormal was on my exercise tests, i was told 'my heart rate reaches a very high rate at a very quick rate, which stops me from exercising further' and as a result i have never been able to finish a stress test properly.
When i try and exercise i can only go for a minute before i start feeling unwell. What usually happens is when i try and exert to a strong level, i start getting a very strong heart beat in my chest which usually accompanies a strong beat which can be felt in random places in my body which accompany a feeling of not being able to get enough air. For example, i ran today for about two minutes and the hard heart beats started in the chest and every time i tried to take a satisfying breath, i would get severely hard palpitations in the throat, but i have had them in other places at other times too like the chest or aorta. the only way to avoid the throat palps is for me to not take a deep breath, only shallow until it goes away. Weird thing is, i have had this happen on the stress tests and NOTHING abnormal has shown up... why? This all started 5 months ago and gets progresively worse each week.
In addition to that i have a constant hard bounding pulse which is in almost all of my body now. eg, if i lay down its real bounding in my head, if i sit up, its hard in my back and stomach, its so hard it actually makes my whole body move with each beat. and i also get chest pressure with the inability to take a deep breath when i climb a flight of stairs. Only going vertical will i experience chest pressure, yet blood presure is generally 125/70
My doc wants me to have a pulmonary ebolism test but somehow i still think its heart related. The only test i havent had done is a Cardiac Catherisation but my docs are refusing to do this as i am 21 and not overweight, but what they wont listen to me about is that for about 3 years of my childhood, i literally lived off McDonalds EVERY DAY without fail. and for tea i would eat high fat foods and NEVER EVER exercised, i was literally a couch potato but didnt gain any weight because i have a fast metabolism. I'm worried that i may have a blocked artery which no-one will investigate and i am fearing a heart attack.
Complete Blood Count X3
Thyroid/Parathyroid Blood Test X2
Cholesterol, Calcium, Magnesium,
D-Dimer Test
Electrocardiogram X5
Echocardiogram
Stress Echocardiogram
24Hr Holter Monitor
Stress ECG
CardiopulmonaryX test
24Hr Urine test
and the only thing that has came back abnormal was on my exercise tests, i was told 'my heart rate reaches a very high rate at a very quick rate, which stops me from exercising further' and as a result i have never been able to finish a stress test properly.
When i try and exercise i can only go for a minute before i start feeling unwell. What usually happens is when i try and exert to a strong level, i start getting a very strong heart beat in my chest which usually accompanies a strong beat which can be felt in random places in my body which accompany a feeling of not being able to get enough air. For example, i ran today for about two minutes and the hard heart beats started in the chest and every time i tried to take a satisfying breath, i would get severely hard palpitations in the throat, but i have had them in other places at other times too like the chest or aorta. the only way to avoid the throat palps is for me to not take a deep breath, only shallow until it goes away. Weird thing is, i have had this happen on the stress tests and NOTHING abnormal has shown up... why? This all started 5 months ago and gets progresively worse each week.
In addition to that i have a constant hard bounding pulse which is in almost all of my body now. eg, if i lay down its real bounding in my head, if i sit up, its hard in my back and stomach, its so hard it actually makes my whole body move with each beat. and i also get chest pressure with the inability to take a deep breath when i climb a flight of stairs. Only going vertical will i experience chest pressure, yet blood presure is generally 125/70
My doc wants me to have a pulmonary ebolism test but somehow i still think its heart related. The only test i havent had done is a Cardiac Catherisation but my docs are refusing to do this as i am 21 and not overweight, but what they wont listen to me about is that for about 3 years of my childhood, i literally lived off McDonalds EVERY DAY without fail. and for tea i would eat high fat foods and NEVER EVER exercised, i was literally a couch potato but didnt gain any weight because i have a fast metabolism. I'm worried that i may have a blocked artery which no-one will investigate and i am fearing a heart attack.
Just a bit of feedback on my case. I had the VQ scan done and it was all clear. My specialist is certain the problem lies with the heart. I am waiting my next appointment with a proffessional cardiologist who specialises in heart rhythims, so he might be able to shed some light on what is happening with me.
I know my specialist prior to this suggested that my cardiologist will need to do some invasive testing of the heart. I had asked him whether or not he was refering to an angiogram. He basically said that an angiogram wouldnt be necesary on an underweight 21 year old. He told me an invasive test to evaluate the chambers of the heart would be more appropriate.
Correct me if i'm wrong, but isnt that test called a Catherisation? I thought a catherisation was another name for an angiogram? He has left me confused. Whats the difference betwewen the two? Could a catherisation provide SOME information about the potential arterial plaque in my coronary arteries?
Appreciate your thoughts on this.
I know my specialist prior to this suggested that my cardiologist will need to do some invasive testing of the heart. I had asked him whether or not he was refering to an angiogram. He basically said that an angiogram wouldnt be necesary on an underweight 21 year old. He told me an invasive test to evaluate the chambers of the heart would be more appropriate.
Correct me if i'm wrong, but isnt that test called a Catherisation? I thought a catherisation was another name for an angiogram? He has left me confused. Whats the difference betwewen the two? Could a catherisation provide SOME information about the potential arterial plaque in my coronary arteries?
Appreciate your thoughts on this.
A VQ scan is appropriate involves two types of scans: ventilation and perfusion. The ventilation scan shows where air flows in your lungs. The perfusion scan shows where blood flows in your lungs. This test should have already been done for pulmonary embolism.
I can tell from experience in the medical insurance field and acturial evaluation involving claims' adjustment that if there is not a comprehensive diagnosis for pulmonary embolism, the doctor would be vulnerable for adverse action against his/her medical license for malpractice. Your doctor is probably following the proper protocol for an analysis as it relates to your symptoms and signs.
Regarding an angiogram subsequent to the doctor's workup would depend on the analysis of the doctor for your condition and whether or not an angiogram is a test that would be appropriate based on your doctor's findiing. The test needs to be justified for payment from the insurance view point. If you pay for an angiogram, you could have an angiogram, yes.
The other invasive tests other than cath angiogram, would be esophogeal ultra sound that would view your heart from a different angle or there can be a biopsy.
You can have a non-invasive CT scan angiogram rather than the cath angiogram that is invasive.
Hope this helps, Thanks for the response and questions. Take care..
.
I can tell from experience in the medical insurance field and acturial evaluation involving claims' adjustment that if there is not a comprehensive diagnosis for pulmonary embolism, the doctor would be vulnerable for adverse action against his/her medical license for malpractice. Your doctor is probably following the proper protocol for an analysis as it relates to your symptoms and signs.
Regarding an angiogram subsequent to the doctor's workup would depend on the analysis of the doctor for your condition and whether or not an angiogram is a test that would be appropriate based on your doctor's findiing. The test needs to be justified for payment from the insurance view point. If you pay for an angiogram, you could have an angiogram, yes.
The other invasive tests other than cath angiogram, would be esophogeal ultra sound that would view your heart from a different angle or there can be a biopsy.
You can have a non-invasive CT scan angiogram rather than the cath angiogram that is invasive.
Hope this helps, Thanks for the response and questions. Take care..
.
Hi Kenkeith, i have noticed that you have responded to almost all of my questions about what i am going through, I want to personally thank you for taking an interest because at this time, i am feeling very alone, as even my family wont take me seriously anymore.
Anyway, the PE test i have been requested to have is called a VQ Scan. I am only considering it because my cardiologist asked my lung specialist to have it done before he begins some 'invasive' testing on my heart itself.
My lung specialist is almost certain that it will come back negative, but wants me to have it anyway. I think i will get it done soon.
I am still concerned that all of my symptoms may be connected to a blocked coronary artery. Only because of the pain crushing pain on exertion. I know i am young, and against all risk factors, and this gives docs more of a reason to disregard me.
When my Lung specialist said, your cardiologist wants to do some 'invasive' testing on the heart, i thought he ment an angiogram, and at that time i was sort of relieved in a sence that i could finally put down the pain that i experience on exertion to my coronary arteries or not, but when i asked him about what sort of invasive testing he might do, he said that a coronary angiogram would be out of the question... I am confused? what other invasive tests can be performed on the heart to check for chest pain and undiagnosable heart palpiations?
If worst comes to worse, and i end up having these tests and nothing comes back at all, can i possibly request an angiogram if i really want to? or is it ultimately the cardiolgists call wheteher or not he sends me for one?
Appreciate your feedback, and god bless.
Anyway, the PE test i have been requested to have is called a VQ Scan. I am only considering it because my cardiologist asked my lung specialist to have it done before he begins some 'invasive' testing on my heart itself.
My lung specialist is almost certain that it will come back negative, but wants me to have it anyway. I think i will get it done soon.
I am still concerned that all of my symptoms may be connected to a blocked coronary artery. Only because of the pain crushing pain on exertion. I know i am young, and against all risk factors, and this gives docs more of a reason to disregard me.
When my Lung specialist said, your cardiologist wants to do some 'invasive' testing on the heart, i thought he ment an angiogram, and at that time i was sort of relieved in a sence that i could finally put down the pain that i experience on exertion to my coronary arteries or not, but when i asked him about what sort of invasive testing he might do, he said that a coronary angiogram would be out of the question... I am confused? what other invasive tests can be performed on the heart to check for chest pain and undiagnosable heart palpiations?
If worst comes to worse, and i end up having these tests and nothing comes back at all, can i possibly request an angiogram if i really want to? or is it ultimately the cardiolgists call wheteher or not he sends me for one?
Appreciate your feedback, and god bless.
You have had a cardiopulonary test, and now your doctor wants to do test to evaluate if there any pulmonary blood clots. The CPET is the only test that can simultaneously determine which of these systems is causing the problem. Not only can the CPET determine if the problem is in the heart, lungs or muscles, but it can specifically detect the following conditions:
Heart condition that should have been ruled out and that includes congested heart failure. Diastolic and systolic heart failure. Myocardial Ischemia coronary blockage, reduced blood flow to one or more parts of the heart due to blockage or spasm, and heart valve integrity. Blockage of either the large blood vessels or small blood vessels can be detected by CPET.
Pulmonary circulation disorder – Inability of the body to pull oxygen from the lungs into the bloodstream ( blood clot in lungs, pulmonary vascular disease, scarring in the lungs, heart failure). This shoud have already been done with the tests you have had! So, does the doctor want to do further testing for pulmonary embolism?
_____________________
>>>>Has a chronotropic incompetence been considered? Although several large-scale studies have established the prognostic value of the chronotropic response during exercise, the underlying mechanisms are not very clear. Chronotropic incompetence is generally believed to reflect an underlying autonomic nervous system imbalance.
Individuals with dysfunctional autonomic heart rate responses and that may be the underlying cause for a fast heart rate at the onset of your exercise. Everything else seems to have been ruled out....but a question remains and that is why hasn't embolism been ruled out?!
Hope this helps give you an insight and a perspective on your out-of-breath symptom and some relief from the worry of an undiagnosed heart condtion. Take care and if you have any follow up questons, you are welcome to respond. Take care.
Heart condition that should have been ruled out and that includes congested heart failure. Diastolic and systolic heart failure. Myocardial Ischemia coronary blockage, reduced blood flow to one or more parts of the heart due to blockage or spasm, and heart valve integrity. Blockage of either the large blood vessels or small blood vessels can be detected by CPET.
Pulmonary circulation disorder – Inability of the body to pull oxygen from the lungs into the bloodstream ( blood clot in lungs, pulmonary vascular disease, scarring in the lungs, heart failure). This shoud have already been done with the tests you have had! So, does the doctor want to do further testing for pulmonary embolism?
_____________________
>>>>Has a chronotropic incompetence been considered? Although several large-scale studies have established the prognostic value of the chronotropic response during exercise, the underlying mechanisms are not very clear. Chronotropic incompetence is generally believed to reflect an underlying autonomic nervous system imbalance.
Individuals with dysfunctional autonomic heart rate responses and that may be the underlying cause for a fast heart rate at the onset of your exercise. Everything else seems to have been ruled out....but a question remains and that is why hasn't embolism been ruled out?!
Hope this helps give you an insight and a perspective on your out-of-breath symptom and some relief from the worry of an undiagnosed heart condtion. Take care and if you have any follow up questons, you are welcome to respond. Take care.
They could do a lung function test. This will measure how much air you take in, and how much oxygen your body absorbs.
Rather than running, have you tried a brisk walk every day for 30 mins and seeing if the task gets easier each day? When I had a triple bypass, I told my Doctor after three months that it had stopped working. She thought I was nuts. I walked the same 30 min route every day and kept a diary or how I felt on inclines etc. I scaled the difficulty from 1-10. I had 6 different locations where I would just scribble down a number and enter it in my diary when I got home. Instead of getting easier, it became a lot harder. I gave my Doctor my diary and she then took notice and sent me for tests which confirmed my fears. I believe she had no choice because I produced evidence and it wasn't worth risking her job by ignoring me. Maybe over several days you will improve, maybe stay the same, maybe get worse, but it's worth the investigation.
Rather than running, have you tried a brisk walk every day for 30 mins and seeing if the task gets easier each day? When I had a triple bypass, I told my Doctor after three months that it had stopped working. She thought I was nuts. I walked the same 30 min route every day and kept a diary or how I felt on inclines etc. I scaled the difficulty from 1-10. I had 6 different locations where I would just scribble down a number and enter it in my diary when I got home. Instead of getting easier, it became a lot harder. I gave my Doctor my diary and she then took notice and sent me for tests which confirmed my fears. I believe she had no choice because I produced evidence and it wasn't worth risking her job by ignoring me. Maybe over several days you will improve, maybe stay the same, maybe get worse, but it's worth the investigation.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Heart Disease Community
Is a low-fat diet really that heart healthy after all? James D. Nicolantonio, PharmD, urges us to reconsider decades-long dietary guidelines.
Can depression and anxiety cause heart disease? Get the facts in this Missouri Medicine report.
Fish oil, folic acid, vitamin C. Find out if these supplements are heart-healthy or overhyped.
Learn what happens before, during and after a heart attack occurs.
What are the pros and cons of taking fish oil for heart health? Find out in this article from Missouri Medicine.
How to lower your heart attack risk.
