young and concerned

[melisa__0__0]

  I am 29 years old ..I smoke  *ugh* weigh 171 lbs *ugh again* 5' 4" *short*
  medium build no am not  looking  for  a date . but I am ridding a bucycle everyday  for  10 miles and do heavy areobic training with kickboxing ....I know  wata contrast! got  an ear upper  respiretory  infection about two weeks  ago ......did  the  saline solution  adn  Ibuprophen no antihistamines nor  decongestents ....finnaly went  to dr got  dx  of  prior  explaination ....but  pressure  was  up  to  high  180 over 120 pulse rate 87  and  that was  after several mintues  of  resting  in a lying  down positon .....have  had  high bp  several times  b-4 ie 160 /110 ---140/115   ......am currently taking  100 mgs  of  Zoloft  and  10 mgs  of elavil  dx  for  insmnia  and  depression
  DR sx varapamil 120mgs 1* a day ......there  is a history of  atherial sclerosis  hyper tension and congestive  heart failure  on both sides  of  family  ....sibs  with hyperthyroid one  with hypertension and  anothe  sib  with  Multiple Sclerosis.....now  I know  I  need  to get  excess weight  off  stopp smoking
  and  even tho I can  exercise  all  I  want  every day  like  I have  been  for  the  last  year  like  a religion  for  ever I want  to know  if  there  is a possibility  that any of  this  is  related  because of  the  next  few  symptoms  I have  had  ....numbness  in hnads  and  feet  * poor circulation* head aches  and  dizziness when  in a seated  postion ....*lke  you are  gunna  pass out* also  a chest  pressure like  and  anxiety attack ....now  I have  had a  suggestion form a  friend  of  whom  is  a cardio nurse  to have  a moniter pak  adn  ekg  and  etc ......... also want  to know  what kind  of  drug  VARAPAMIL  is  and  is  there  any possiblity  of  drug interaction  with  IBUPROPHEN   is  it  one  of  the  moa  or  however  you spell it  inhibitors??
  thank  you for  your  time and  energy on this  matter .

[CCF CARDIO MD APS]

Dear Melissa,
Verapamil is in the category of calcium channel blockers, and is unlikely to
interact with your ibuprofen.  It works on a cellular level to relax muscle
tissue that lines the blood vessels as well as the muscle tissue of the heart
itself.  It is very important that you follow up with your doctor to have your blood
pressure measured on the medicine-to test it's effectiveness of that dosage.  
You are absolutely right that you need number one to stop smoking, and number
two lose weight.  Although with that family history, your current risk factors for
heart disease(smoking etc.), and the symptoms you describe you really should have
some kind of cardiac evaluation prior to starting a rigorous cardiac workout.
It is possible that your excess weight may have to do with an eating disorder,
a hormonal imbalance, or simply poor eating habits, and I suggest these possibilities
because these are things to be considered in someone who truly works out aerobically
every day and still does not lose weight.  Of course I did not mention that weight gain
can also be a side effect of drugs, depression, etc.  Good Luck in seeking a pre-exercise
cardiac evaluation and seeking counseling by a dietician as these would benefit you greatly.  
Information provided in the heart forum is intended for general medical informational
purposes only, actual diagnosis and treatment can only be made by your physician(s).