290383?1193103921
Douglas Bogart, MD  
Male
MO


Truman Medical Center
816-404-7000
7900 Lee's Summit Road
Kansas City - MO
How Stress affect Health
Dec 10, 2008 08:50AM in the Interventional Cardiology Expert Forum
Stress has many adverse effects on the heart and the body in general. It will increase the levels of adrenalin in the body which increase the BP and also the heart rate. There are also effects to raise the levels of cholsterol which can then exert an adverse effect on the blood vessels.
now you see it now you don't!!
Dec 10, 2008 08:46AM in the Interventional Cardiology Expert Forum
You can have a PFO which is demonstrated on the echo but the MRI tests for damage to the brain ie, it checks for small strokes. Since about one in four people have a PFO and PFO's are a rare cause of strokes it is very plausible to have a PFO with no evidence of a stroke. I think the confusion here is that the 2 tests MRI and echo look at different things....
Out of Control Heart Rate?
Dec 10, 2008 08:40AM in the Interventional Cardiology Expert Forum
You likely need to see an electrophysiologist and you may need to have an ablation.
occasional sternum pain and short of breath
Dec 10, 2008 08:31AM in the Interventional Cardiology Expert Forum
The symptoms may be related to your heart and clearly this needs to be evaluated to determine the cause of the symptoms.
Re:stent
Dec 10, 2008 08:16AM in the Interventional Cardiology Expert Forum
Patients with diabetes can have atypical or no symptoms so in general they merit an aggressive evaluation. A repeat cath is unlikely to cause scar tissue or damage to the heart. You need also aggressive control of the cholesterol, your sugar levels and you should be on an ACE or an ARB as well as a beta blocker and carvedilol is a good medicine for diabetic...
coarctation/ bicuspid valve
Dec 10, 2008 08:10AM in the Interventional Cardiology Expert Forum
Coarctation is associated with aortic enlargement and the MRI is a good way to follow this. Also there is an association with brain aneurysms and that is likely why they did the MR of your head. An echocardiogram should be done to look at your aortic valve to make sure you don't have a bicuspid aortic valve. I think there is in general benefit from a sta...