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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
What next?
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
What next?
by stevebu, Aug 10, 2001 12:00AM
My brother is 29 years old, 5ft 7, 145lbs, doesn't smoke or drink and never any heart related problems up until now. One thing though, he gets zero exercise.
Monday at work my brother started to feel a constant pressure in his chest. On a scale of 1 to 10 he rated the pain a 5. After several hours he drove home. At home he felt his left arm going numb, and said it was like he couldn't move it. His wife took him to the ER. His heart rate was between 110 and 130 for several hours while in the ER. They said the rate was obviously high, but the rythm was normal. They check for heart attack and stroke but said he did not have either. They gave him a nitro pill but that did not relieve the pressure he felt.
After several hours, his heart rate dropped to 100 and his symptoms went away. His heart rate eventually dropped to about 80. He stayed about 24 hours in the hospital and was released.
His doctor has taken some blood to check his cholesterol, but the results are not known yet. He is scheduled for a stress test in two weeks.
Questions
1) We have no history of heart disease in our family, but our 58 year old dad had super high cholesterol before taking meds. Also, all of our 80 something grandparents are still alive with no heart disease. Is heart disease a realisitic possibility for him at 29?
2) I had a PSVT problem up until 2000 when my RF abalation cured my problem. Is this worth mentioning to his doctor since we are brothers?
3) Would the ER know if this was SVT?
4) Are there any other test he should be taking?
Thank you.
Monday at work my brother started to feel a constant pressure in his chest. On a scale of 1 to 10 he rated the pain a 5. After several hours he drove home. At home he felt his left arm going numb, and said it was like he couldn't move it. His wife took him to the ER. His heart rate was between 110 and 130 for several hours while in the ER. They said the rate was obviously high, but the rythm was normal. They check for heart attack and stroke but said he did not have either. They gave him a nitro pill but that did not relieve the pressure he felt.
After several hours, his heart rate dropped to 100 and his symptoms went away. His heart rate eventually dropped to about 80. He stayed about 24 hours in the hospital and was released.
His doctor has taken some blood to check his cholesterol, but the results are not known yet. He is scheduled for a stress test in two weeks.
Questions
1) We have no history of heart disease in our family, but our 58 year old dad had super high cholesterol before taking meds. Also, all of our 80 something grandparents are still alive with no heart disease. Is heart disease a realisitic possibility for him at 29?
2) I had a PSVT problem up until 2000 when my RF abalation cured my problem. Is this worth mentioning to his doctor since we are brothers?
3) Would the ER know if this was SVT?
4) Are there any other test he should be taking?
Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-CRC, Aug 10, 2001 12:00AM
Dear sure,
1) We have no history of heart disease in our family, but our 58 year old dad had super high cholesterol before taking meds. Also, all of our 80 something grandparents are still alive with no heart disease. Is heart disease a realisitic possibility for him at 29?
A: Heart disease is unlikely at the age of 29 but not impossible. I would agree with his doctors that this should first be excluded before looking at other diagnoses.
2) I had a PSVT problem up until 2000 when my RF abalation cured my problem. Is this worth mentioning to his
doctor since we are brothers?
A: There are certain rhythm disturbances such as WPW which can run in families and I would certainly mention it to his doctors.
3) Would the ER know if this was SVT?
A: If he was in SVT while they were checking they would have noticed.
4) Are there any other test he should be taking?
A: I think what has been ordered is a good starting point and then other tests can be done if needed based on the results.
1) We have no history of heart disease in our family, but our 58 year old dad had super high cholesterol before taking meds. Also, all of our 80 something grandparents are still alive with no heart disease. Is heart disease a realisitic possibility for him at 29?
A: Heart disease is unlikely at the age of 29 but not impossible. I would agree with his doctors that this should first be excluded before looking at other diagnoses.
2) I had a PSVT problem up until 2000 when my RF abalation cured my problem. Is this worth mentioning to his
doctor since we are brothers?
A: There are certain rhythm disturbances such as WPW which can run in families and I would certainly mention it to his doctors.
3) Would the ER know if this was SVT?
A: If he was in SVT while they were checking they would have noticed.
4) Are there any other test he should be taking?
A: I think what has been ordered is a good starting point and then other tests can be done if needed based on the results.
