Nutrition Health Chat: Tuesday, Dec. 8th, 5-6 PM Eastern. Learn how vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients affect your health. Free live Q&A. Join us!
Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Cluster of Symptoms
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Cluster of Symptoms
by wen, Jan 17, 2002 12:00AM
I had had the same cluster of symptoms that President Bush manifested this weekend - neurocardiogenic syncope, plus a very low resting heart rate. I remember the day before my scheduled imlant an article appeared in the paper which lauded his low resting pulse - 38 bpm. I actually brought the article to my EP - and asked why he was recommending a PM to me (my resting rate wa 40 - dropping to low 30's at times; I also run recreationally) - when in Bush it seemed like the low rate was a kind of "trophy"! I am also about the same age as W. Several doctors recommended a pacemaker implant (which I now have - and which is not difficult to live with!). I'm just wondering: would this be recommended for him? (Or does potential public reaction outweigh the medical advice.) A Curious Patient.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-CRC, Jan 17, 2002 12:00AM
Dear wen,
Perhaps you should stay away from Pretzels! ;)
You are asking about 2 different issues - pacemaker for low heart rate, and pacemaker for neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS). In regard to the first there is no "lower limit" which determines if someone needs a pacemaker as long as they are symptom free. If there are symptoms due to the low heart rate then pacing is recommended.
As far as NCS goes pacing helps some people but not everyone. In general we like to see multiple fainting episodes and not just one and a failure to respond to lifestyle changes and medications before we recommend pacing.
Perhaps you should stay away from Pretzels! ;)
You are asking about 2 different issues - pacemaker for low heart rate, and pacemaker for neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS). In regard to the first there is no "lower limit" which determines if someone needs a pacemaker as long as they are symptom free. If there are symptoms due to the low heart rate then pacing is recommended.
As far as NCS goes pacing helps some people but not everyone. In general we like to see multiple fainting episodes and not just one and a failure to respond to lifestyle changes and medications before we recommend pacing.
I just wonder why my doctors (and I got a second and third independent opinion) were unanimous in recommending the PM. I had one observed fainting episode, and an accident that in retrospect I attribute to an episode - though I could never be certain. In any case, not having a full time chauffeur, I figured I better go ahead and do everything to prevent a potentially dangerous incident!
Not a DOC.
Maybe I'm wearing off on some here!<G>
wilson-wilson