heart problem?

[stevebu]

Hello.  I am concerned about my mother, so I wanted to ask a question.  My mom is 57 years old with no bad habits and is not overweight.  She is a jogger. She has no history of heart disease, and her parents (both 85 years old) have no history of heart disease.  Last week she showed me her small finger.  It was blue half way down and the end of it was white and cold.  My mom also said she has had mild chest pain now and then, but never when she is working out.  She went to the doctor and he ordered a couple tests (echo, and some kind of test for the blood pressure in her arms.  The tech said she found no sign of blockages but her pressure in both arms was abnormal.  Low I think.  Echo results still not in.





Is this something you would expect as a first sign of heart disease?  



Have you seen this before in heart patients?



If the echo is normal, is there any other tests she should take?





Thanks for your time.

[CCF-M.D.-DLB]

This would be an unusual first manifestation of coronary artery disease. However, the finger is concerning, raising the possibility of inadequate blood flow to the hand - this may account for the abnormal blood pressures. She may have also thrown a blood clot (possibly from her heart)to her finger. Depending on exactly what her tests show, she may need an arteriogram to look at the circulation in her hand. She may also need a stress test.