My Mom's racing heart

[booape]

My mom is 63 y/o female with no hx of drinking / smoking.  She excersis daily with a cardio workout.  Never complains of feeling ill.  She came into my house holding her chest.  Told me she was dying!  I listened to her heart (I'm a nurse) her heart rate was extremely fast and irregular along with her pulse.  I couldn't get an accurate rate.  She said she did not have chest pain but couldn't really talk, both hands / fingers were contracted / stiff, she was extremely sweaty.  I gave to her two Ibuprofen and called 911.  The medic / ambulance came and hooked her up to a 2lead EKG - they couldn't get an accurate read.  They had her do the valsalva menuver and this is what stablizered her heart.  She went into the ER and they had her hooked up to the EKG which showed "fluttering" of the heart.  We were told this is normal.  She was also told that her chest xray showed an enlarged heart.  They had no concerns about this either.  My mom's brother was diagnosed with an enlarged heart after he died from a masive heart attack at the of 50.  I have serious concern that a women who has never had any heart issues or serious medical concerns other than high blood pressure for which she takes her medication regularly and follows up with doctor regularly.  To see my mom drop in front of me and tell me nothing is wrong with her.  I am concerned.  My question is:  Should we be concerned with this irregular heart beat that seamed like a heart attack to me?

[booape]

Well, the reason she was given an Ibuprofen is b/c we are all allergic to aspirin.  I know that you are suppose to give aspirin but again we can not take aspirin.  She also is not able to beta blockers.  They turn her entire body beat red.  It starts at her feet and rises up to her face.  This is why her blood pressure medication is only a ace inhibitor.  Her blood pressure has never reached a normal safe limit even with her BP medications.  They have tried many.  She does work out a lot and changed her diet to try and assist in this area along with trying to bring down her cholesterol.  Thank you for your help, but again I'm still confused and concerned.  

[Encephalomalcia]

If a person has chest pains, they should be given aspirin instead of ibuprofen.  Ibuprofen is not good for the heart.  Chewable aspirin is the best so that it gets in the system faster.  When a heart reaches 200 beats per minute, it simply shakes.  An irregular heart beat is not good as it can cause blood clots which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.  If she continues to have an irregular heartbeat, she should be taking an aspirin daily.  Ask her doctor about this first to make sure that she can take aspirin (if she has ulcers or some other medical condition she may not be able to take the aspirin).  Something got her heart going, some adrenaline boost.  If it keeps happening, you will want to make sure that she is tested for a kidney tumor.  Kidney tumors can cause an extreme increase in heartrate.  If this is not the case and the fast heartrate continues, she will most likely have to take a beta blocker.  Again, ask her doctor regarding this.  The enlarged heart most likely came from the high blood pressure over the years.  Make sure that her blood pressure is staying down.  120/72 is normal, but her doctors may want hers to be lower.  The lower the blood pressure, the less the heart has to work and this will help keep the left side of her heart from enlarging.  The heart enlarges because of the extra workload.  To an answer your question, yes you should be concerned.  Ask her doctor about blood pressure medication to keep her blood pressure down, ask her doctor about aspirin to prevent dangerous blood clots, and if her heart keeps racing ask her doctors about a beta blocker and to test for a kidney (adrenal) tumor.  Hope she is feeling better soon.  Most people who take heart medication can live a long life.