Tachycardia and chest pain

[lamcdermott]

I am 40 year old never smoker 157lb moderately active female who has recently been having intermittent chest pain(squeezing and burning)and SOB with activity and stress. Had period of high blood pressure but has resolved with weight loss and dietary changes. My father had fatal MI at 41 and very extensive family history of cardiac. My current cholesterol is 170, Trig 102, HDL 26, LDL 124. Recent stress test reached HR 166 in 6min with fatigue and dyspnea (workload 7.3mets) with stress 8 years ago hit HR 180 at 14min (workload 13mets). They stopped stress because of achieved hr although I told them I don't usually get pain that early in my workouts, usually  around 15-20minutes of exercise causes pain. Also had 24holter showing all symptoms correlated with increased HR.  Echo shows borderline concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, normal EF, and mild aortic valve sclerosis, trace tricuspid regurg. Normal echo 6 years ago. Just last year I was able to rollerblade 9miles multiple times a week but have progessively gotten very short of breath with 1 flight of stairs. A normal walk pace will raise my HR to 130. Recently placed on zocor, toprol, fish oil and asa.  Scheduled to see cardiology in 6 weeks.  Do you think I should request a cardiac cath or is this inappropriate sinus tach causing my pain and sob?  Thanks for your help.

[Forum-M.D.-bkj]

lamcdermott,

It's impossible to order test over the internet. If I had a patient with your risk factors I would think about catheterization based on your progressive exertional symptoms.  Also, with your family history I would want better control of your cholesterol profile and blood pressure.

Your symptoms themselves do not neccessarily sound like IST.

good luck

[anacyde]

I'm glad your seeing a cardiologist.  Your low HDL is a risk factor (low HDL is as bad as high cholesterol), and with your family history it is really important that you be proactive.  Any chest pain with shortness of breath that worsens with exertion needs checked out.  Please keep at it.

[sue2910]

Hi,
I use to do 3-4 triathlons per year.  When I was ~46 year old while training for a triathlon I developed palpations (that I needed to squat to relieve the symptoms) with SOB and chest pain.  Then fatigue would set in and it would take an hour or two to recover.  I saw a cardiologist that did a stress echo with resulted in a cardiac cath.  The cath was reported as normal and I was released to do what ever I wanted.  But the symptoms are still there.  The way I curtailed the symptoms is to be attune to them and stop the exercise.  This has been frustrating for me.  While in Peru I developed very bad symptoms while walking in the mountains.  Very SOB, sick to stomach with abnormal rhythm (felt by a physician).  When I got home went back to Cardiologist who said with negative cath it is all in my head.  Is it?  Why do I feel so bad after excercising?  Or could it be microvascular angina?  Thanks.

[Arabella]

Hello I wrote to you Verapamil and you said to let you know how I got on SVT's High Blood pressure well at last 14 months down the line I know what is wrong with me.  I have a right bundle branch block and 2nd degree AV Block and am tomorrow going into hospital to have a dual pacemaker inserted.  Thank you for your help.  I now faint usually twice a day and get very confused and have pain in chest and sometimes they feel like electric shocks through the chest and down my arm. Sometimes I have felt as if I was going to faint without relief for 2 or three days it has been a horrible time for my family and myself.    

[sandrabel]

I have a question to everybody.  A few months ago i went to a doctor because i had a lot of pvc's. After a lot of tests he told me that a have a normal heart and that my pvc's are benign. But he also told me that ten pvc's in a row could be dangerous. Why is that?

This is an answer i found on this forum.

kaceyj
1/22/2007
C3  . ten pvc's in a row like that is dangerous i was told b\c it then turns into v-tach.

IS THIS REALLY TRUE?????

[Arabella]

I don't think that is dangerous I have had loads and was told for 8 months I had a normal heart but I get SVT's going to 200 a minute and my normal heart rate has been 90 - 110.  I had a pacemaker fitted last week unfortunately the wires broke off during surgery and now I had some of it removed but have to go back in 6 weeks for the rest to be removed and then when that has healed to go back in and have pacemaker fitted. So I would not worry.