Medical implications

[cytomale]

       A 68 year-old white male presenting with pectus excavatum and  blood pressure that averages 155/85 .  What  implications may be encountered regarding dysfunctional heart functions ?

[kenkeith]

I didn't intent to be vague, sorry.  Probably what sould have been said is that P.E. and HPB are independant and presently concomitant conditions, but hbp can cause an increase in heart dimensions if left untreated and that increase in size can present an additional problem with P.E.  in that physically the space is limited within the chest cavity.  If the heart is not able abnormally/normally to compensate with an increase LV dimension, and that would be a more serious condition than would be with a normal cavity size.

The heart may continue to function properly, but the crowding out effect can impinge on other organs within cavity space and that includes a condition of esphageal stenosis.

[ireneo]

So which comes first - the P.E. or the blood pressure? That is, will P.E. cause high BP or is it a natural consequence of getting older? Like you said if P.E. hasn't presented a problem after this many years, maybe that's not the problem.

[kenkeith]

Several medical studies have indicated that the sternum may press on the heart enough that the heart cannot fill with blood and pump it out as rapidly as with a normal chest. If P.E. hasn't presented problem after many years, there may be no medical problem.

If P.E. is medically a problem with the above conditions, there can be a low cardiac output that causes shortness of breath, chest pain (angina), etc.  Untreated the left ventricle can enlarge, impair contractions, and cause heart failure...meaning the heart is not able to pump sufficient blood/oxygen to meet the system's demand.

High blood pressure increases the heart's workload as it requires pumping against the higher resistance of constricted vessels.

[ireneo]

Not sure if there are any. My husband also has P.E. but it only seems to add to his reflux problems. His heart is great.