Re: spasms and the heart

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on July 20, 1998 at 09:50:00:

In Reply to: spasms and the heart posted by BILL BAILEY on July 20, 1998 at 01:00:13:






i have spasm in my esphigos ever morning when i awake. the spasm cause my heart to mis a beat.the spasms last 1-3 hours causeing irregular heart rate.the scope was done no problem ,a electracardiogram was done no problem
the irregular rate was caught on a ekg at the onset of this occurring experience.the spasms very in their intensity.the gasteriol doctor want to
have my doctor regular doctor do a 24 hour heart monitor next.please help me put a name to this illness .iam total in the dark.the spasms reoccurring
to concern me along with the irregular heart beat.
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Dear Bill:
I think the 24-hour heart monitor is a good idea and will answer the question about what your heart beat is doing.  As far as the spasms, I am not sure what they are. If the endoscopy was normal, that rules out many causes of esophageal spasm.  It is still possible that you have acid reflux from the stomach into the esophagus; perhaps your gastroenterologist could prescribe a potent anti-acid medicine.  There are also medicines that can be useful for spasms of the esophagus; again, your gastroenterologist would be able to prescribe these. It is possible also that your pains are not due to your esophagus at all, but I cannot make this determination from a distance.
I hope this is useful. Feel free to write back with further questions.
If you wish to be evaluated here at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at desk F15.  Information provided in the Heart Forum is for general purposes only.  Specific diagnoses and therapies can only be provided by your doctor.