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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Heart Virus
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.
Heart Virus
by Didibird, Jun 24, 2005 12:00AM
My dad (62 years old - non smoker - healthy person) just had a heart problem in the airplane flying from Europe to New York. They thought he had a heart attack and was maintained for 8 hours under oxygen. He was then brought to a hospital in Boston where they run all the necessary tests. Apparently he had some kind of heart virus.
I would like to know if this happens currently in airplanes and how severe it is and could it have consequences on his general health.
Many thanks in advance for your kind answers and advice.
With very best regards
Diane
I would like to know if this happens currently in airplanes and how severe it is and could it have consequences on his general health.
Many thanks in advance for your kind answers and advice.
With very best regards
Diane
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-MJM, Jun 24, 2005 12:00AM
Hi Diane,
Sorry to hear about your dad's experience. Medical problems on airplanes, especially long flights, can be hair raising.
I am not sure what to tell you about the "heart virus." There aren't many viruses that attack the heart. The ones that do can leave some very long last effects -- they are not 4-8 hour ordeals.
I am not sure if the doctors were trying to simplify their diagnosis to something they thought you might understand, but I cannot tell you what happened based on that information.
On a good note, most airplanes now have defibrillators, so if someone is in real trouble and develops a life threatening arrhythmia, at least they can treat it.
If you think there is a problem with his heart, have him seen by a cardiologist. You should be able to get a straight answer on whether this was a cardiac problem or not.
Sorry I cannot be more helpful. Good luck.
Sorry to hear about your dad's experience. Medical problems on airplanes, especially long flights, can be hair raising.
I am not sure what to tell you about the "heart virus." There aren't many viruses that attack the heart. The ones that do can leave some very long last effects -- they are not 4-8 hour ordeals.
I am not sure if the doctors were trying to simplify their diagnosis to something they thought you might understand, but I cannot tell you what happened based on that information.
On a good note, most airplanes now have defibrillators, so if someone is in real trouble and develops a life threatening arrhythmia, at least they can treat it.
If you think there is a problem with his heart, have him seen by a cardiologist. You should be able to get a straight answer on whether this was a cardiac problem or not.
Sorry I cannot be more helpful. Good luck.
Since you said your dad is a very healthy person odds are he will suffer no ill efects from it, but if he is concerned he may want to have an echo and EKG done just to make sure.