Turning 40 was bad enough but really...

Posted By  CCF Cardio MD-SGM on January 20, 1998 at 23:19:31:

In Reply to: Turning 40 was bad enough but really... posted by Jeannie on January 15, 1998 at 10:34:08:

: Seems that since I turned 40 my body has just gone downhill. I have been on highblood pressure meds for 10 years. Since age 40 my heart now beats irradically. It is very distrubing. It also tends to be skipping beats, too. I don't sleep much at night. Wake up easily 2:30 am every morning - rain or shine! I was recently switched to bifocals and can swear that my new glasses are now outdated - 6 months later. My eyes are fading fast. Not to mention that I am now getting conjunktivitis as well. My body is twitching like crazy when I sleep, enough that it wakes me up. I also am very cold - always and lately have had tingly/numb fingers on the left hand. Possibly poor circulation? I don't know if any or all of these symptoms are all something or I am just getting old? I don't like it. I feel like my heart should not be taking this much pounding - it can't be good for it. Am I missing some vitamin or mineral? I also appear to be losing memory. It seems as though I need to think A LOT before I remember something that is so easy. Why the decrease all of a sudden? What happens at 50?

[CCF Cardio MD-SGM]

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Dear Jeannie,
You sound quite frustrated in regards to the myriad symptoms you're experiencing.  Constraints of time and space compel me to focus on the heart-related issues, but I strongly recommend that you see your general physician and opthalmologist regarding the visual disturbances, loss of memory  and twitching.
Regarding the eratic beating of your heart as well as the skipped beats-- this likely represents premature contractions arising from the atria(upper chambers) or ventricles(lower chambers) of the heart.  Most commonly, this condition is benign unless there is structural heart disease such as previous heart attack or other serious heart abmormality.  If the extra beats are keeping you up at night, you may want to see a general physician or a cardiologist to obtain a thorough evaluation of this problem.  Some tests that would help elucidate the cause of the extra beats include an electrocardiogram(ECG), a holter monitor that would record your heart rhythm for 24-48 hours, and possibly an echocardiogram to examine the structural function of your heart.  In most cases, therapy for premature beats is supportive, as the side-effects of most medications outweigh the benefits that they contribute to this problem.  It may be reassuring for you to have this evaluated, however.  
I'm sorry I can't give you specific suggestions regarding the other issues, but I believe your general physician would be best equipped to address them.