Re: RVOT-VT

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on April 12, 1999 at 15:13:13:

In Reply to: RVOT-VT posted by A.Traverse on April 12, 1999 at 13:22:59:






I am a 39 year old female diagnosed one year ago with RVOT-VT.  I went through a battery of tests including an EKG, an echo, a MRI, a MUGA, a stress test,
and an EP study.  The tests showed my heart to be structurally sound.  The cardiologist could not induce an arrythmia during the EP study so the cause of my tachycardia
is still unknown.  I was prescribed 50 mg of atenolol daily and it has been working.  I have not had a run of tachycardia since.  I do get
short unsustained runs only.  I am an avid runner and continue to run.  I would like to train for and run another marathon.
If I am on atenolol daily and do this training could I damage my heart? Or, will my heart get stronger as I increase my training and accept the
exercise at a lower heart rate.  I have never had an episode while running before or after I started atenolol.
Thank you.
A Traverse




Dear A. traverse
To answer your question, exercising on atenolol does not damage the heart. Atenolol does tend to blunt peak exercise performance by limiting maximum heart rate. Before running a marathon, I would prefer a repeat exercise stress test on you while taking atenolol. This would be to ensure that you do not have any arrhythmia while exercising.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.