Hi everyone-
I'm 37, Male, and my health is fine, active while playing and exercising and my family's genes are good. I've been treated for Panic Attacks
using the following:
1) Antidepressants/anti-anxiety (Cipralex or Lexapro) since Aug 2009 (2 years so far)
2) BetaBlocker (Propanaol) -> Time release 40 mg
3) BP is under control
Liver, Kidneys, heart are fine.
I'm also on multi vitamins for the past 1 year
1) Following Paulig's therapy: VItamin C and Lysine (1000 mg every 3 hours for 5 times per day)
2) Taking Arjuna and Ashwagandha for the past 1 year
3) Some other muti vitamins like Vit D3 (only for a time so that value of Vitamin D3 cholicalciferol test
reveals values under optimum levels)
Cardiologist i met recently told me that there are 3 ways they measure values for AO in Echo and
there are other sources of error as well: Mean, left of that (this would reveal higher value), right of that (this would
reveal lower value). I don't know the deviation between mean and left and mean and right.
Here are the results of the echo and i'm interested in your opinion and help on the AO parameter:
1) In Mar 2003 -> Everything was normal and AO - 26 mm (not sure how they measured it, mean, left of that etc.,)
2) In Sep 1, 2009 -> Everything was normal and AO - 31 mm (not sure how they measured it, mean, left of that etc.,); Mild COncentric Left Ventricle Hypertrophy was present and all this regressed nicely in subsequent echos
Note: No BP medicine between those 6 years and hence it's possible that it increased due to hypertension
3) In Sep 15, 2009 (2 weeks later and 2 weeks after antidepressnt LExapro and betablocker) - Ao - 34 mm
4) in Feb 14, 2010 ( around 6 months after antidepressant Lexapro and betablocker) -> AO - 31 mm
5) in Sep 9, 2011 (around 2 years after antidepressant Lexapro and betablocker) -. AO - 37 mm (This the cardiologist told me was the mean value)
I've few questionas:
1) What's the gold standard in measuring Ao Dilation value? Is it MRI? Is this risky? Does Echo underestimate or overestimate? Why's there so much variation in my values? what should i do to find out the exact value?
2) Has anyone who has tried Pauling's therapy or additions to it atleast to keep the AO value fairly stable and if not non-progressive or reversible or keep them stable?
3) Does COQ10 help + good diet in reversing it by even 3-4 mm?
4) I've read a report that anitdepressant like SSRI class (similar to lexapro) caused aortic valve problems in newborns. Does anyone know whether antidepressant can cause/increase AO dilation (however mild it may be)? I'm thinking off coming off this drug in 2 months time
5) I'm really confused and worried as to what i should do
6) Also, what are the possible causes of AO dilation so that i can rule out this one by one and find out possible
narrowed causes?
I'd some cold, fatigue, sore throat in the last 3 months and it went away. Does this indicate endocarditis? if so, can this trigger this AO dilation? Please help
Please help
This discussion is related to
Enlarged Aorta.