questions of heart disease and heart related questions

[vince0202]

I am 17 years old and i have had a heart murmer since i was about 7 or 8 the doctors though i would outgrow it as many do however i havent. i get chest pain frequently and the doctors just give me th oh its nothing probally just acid reflex. my family has alot of heart disease, my father for instance has 14 stents and has a pace maker and a defibulater. anyway i was working and had severe pain that caused me to loose breath and had gotten very weak like to weak to walk and had sweats. i went to my doctor and he said that i hurt the muscle in my chest and that i didnt have to worry but because of the family history he did blood work. the results were good but when i explained the pains he was concerned. my pains are like pain in my left side of my chest that are like jults that if i brethe too heavy they increase but if i relax and take small breathes they go away. and its not all stress related or during exercise. i even get them in bed at times. they have me going to a cardiologist on the 3rd for a stress test and a complete evaluation i have to wait till then cause ill be 18 and because of insurance i had to wait. so my questions are what does the test determain? do my symptoms sound heart related and how to prepare for the test. i know its not acid reflex because the pains can get very severe.


This discussion is related to Clogged Arteries.

[ireneo]

It's good that they're doing a stress test. It will show how well your heart responds to exercise/stress. There's not much to do to prepare for the test. When I had mine I made sure I had a good night sleep, ate a light breakfast and wore comfortable clothes. That's about it. Have they done an echocardiogram to look at your heart? That's where they put the gel on your chest and run the hand held gizmo over your heart area to see the valves and chambers of your heart. They can make sure the heart size and valves are in good condition.

I've had a heart murmur all my life (I'm old at 55), 2 of my three kids have heart murmurs but they're fine. Some heart murmurs are nothing more than a little bit of noise that's made when the heart pumps. It doesn't always indicate a problem. But for your peace of mind, it's good to get some tests done. Then you'll be free to do what you want with your life. Not knowing is difficult.

[rockcityaudiouk]

Hi Vince,just thought I would tell you that I have been told that I have a slight heart murmur too and I passed 3 echo cardiograms,1 stress test,1 24 hour tape test,numerous ECG,s but had a myocardial profusion scan an that showed  mild Ischemia or something and I'm waiting on the appointment in Sept.
I was also told that a slight heart Murmur is fond in most of the population and is quite normal.
cheers dude.
john.