advise please??

[jessielee]

I am writing concerning my mother, she had it for about two and a half years.  She is going to be 48 next month and works as a waitress in a busy resturant.  She was diagnosed with hypertension 7 years ago and had a full hysterectomy a little over a year ago.  The problem that I am referring to is that she becomes out of breath, to the point where she says it almost feels like she is choking, her heart pounds really hard and fast, & she coughs.  She does not cough up any mucus or anything else, just coughs.  When she does she says it feels like there is a pain in the middle of her chest that runs up to the bottom of her throat.  She only gets like this when she is overworked (four days in a row are too much), or if she is really overexerting herself at work or exercise.  It will also happen during really cold or humid weather.  She has been to the doctor and was first diagnosed with allergies and given claritin, which did not really help. Next the doctor told her it might be asthma & prescribed an inhaler, which did help a little when this happened, but not at all to prevent it.  Now she is going back to the doctor in two weeks. This does not happen all the time,Just when she does the things I told you about.  When it does happen it will last for a few hours of her feeling tired also.  Sometimes if she even talks a very lot at a fast pace it will come on.  Her dad died of heart failure and I am worried that is what this is.  She is okay when lying down and has no swelling.  Is this her heart or lungs, or something else?  thank you. sorry this is so long.

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

jessielee,

Thanks for your post. Sorry to hear of your mother's problems.

It is impossible for me to say what is bothering her without a full evaluation.  Heart failure and coronary artery disease are certainly possibilities, but so is valvular disease, chronic bronchitis, atrial fibrillation, peptic ulcer disease, among others.

If you or your mother are concerned about her heart, bring it up with her doctor or seek an opinion from a cardiologist.  An EKG and stress echo would go along way to answering the question.

Hope that helps.

[MTV]

Hi...did your mom ever find out what the problem was?  I am asking, because I have been having the EXACT same problems as you describe.  I have mitral valve prolapse, but I am not certain that it has anything to do with that.  I got goosebumps when reading your mom's symptoms because they mirror mine exactly.  My doctor also prescribed an inhaler and anti-infammatory pills, but they just are not working.  Please let me know what you find out.  I hate this feeling.  Thanks!

Melinda