Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with health and heart

What is this heart condition called?

heytch — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 07:29:25 -0800

What is the name of this heart condition, and is it genetic? The main artery supplying blood to the heart isn't developed properly in utero, resulting in major surgery and/or death of the baby post birth. Back in 1981 my mother gave birth to a baby boy with this disorder. The pregnancy appeared normal, but he only survived for 8 days after being born. My mother can't remember the clinical name of the disease, all we have is this description: The main artery in/to the heart was not developed, resulting in a fatal heart failure. Apparently a cure was developed only a few years later, in the mid 80s. It involves surgery, and can now be detected in utero and treated before the baby is born. The rest of my family members are healthy, but we have a very small sample size so I don't think a hereditary link would be obvious. As an added note, all the other children (incl cousins and children of cousins) are female.

Clearly, IANAD or med/nursing student, so I don't know where to even start googling. Are you? I am especially keen to know whether or not this condition is hereditary, in which case I need to watch out for it when I have children of my own. Thanks!

The Good and Bad of Living With a Bum Ticker

lekvar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:48:48 -0800

My father's been diagnosed with stable angina, and he's looking for a little reassurance... The longer version:

Yesterday my dad calls me up to tell me that he has stable angina, but it's advanced enough that he's going in for further testing, and likely stents, today. He's a little freaked out about this, not because of the procedure itself, but because he's afraid that having a bad heart is going to affect his over-all quality of life.

If you've got anecdotes about you or your loved ones living with stable angina, I'd like to hear them, especially if they lean towards the "active, vital member of society" end of the spectrum, though all perspectives are welcome.

Turning into a hypochondriac?

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:26:24 -0800

Am I turning into a hypochondriac? I hadn't been to the doctors in years, so I went for a routine physical. The physical showed I had elevated LDL (144) and was very deficient in Vitamin D. Additionally, I was to have an MRI to rule out a neuroma because of ringing in my ears, and I had to have a suspect mole removed.

The MRI came back negative, and the mole came back as precancerous. So, they took more of a margin around the pre-cancer mole and took 5 other borderline suspect moles just as a precaution.

Also, during the initial physical I asked the doc about some light to moderate chest pain I have been having. He said given my age (29) and overall health that he order a bunch of tests but thought assuredly that it would turn up nothing. So he suggested I not do the tests because of the added expense even though I have a family history of heart disease.

As I am sitting here typing this I am contemplating going back to the doctor to have more tests done because I have chest pain. It comes and goes but never lasts for more than a few seconds at a time, but the coming and going often persists for a couple of hours. The pain is right below my left collar bone and radiates into the inside of my arm below my biceps.

I feel like I am becoming a hypochondriac. I am an overall anxious person, so how can I help myself determine what needs to be brought to a docs attention and what can just be attributed to my anxious and worrysome nature?

Preparing for a doctor appointment

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:36:23 -0800

When, if ever, is it reasonable to ask for a preemptive test? Given a family history of congestive heart failure I'm wondering how reasonable it is to reguest a MUGA or echocardiogram just to allay (or confirm) my own worries. I'm definitely already going to see a doctor, so I'm not asking for medical advice. I guess I am asking for perspective to help me frame my request with my physician. I'm 53 and have an upcoming appt with my internist regarding a different matter. Since I made that appointment my slightly older brother died a few weeks ago of sudden cardiac arrest at age 56. Apparently he had been seeing a doctor for congestive heart failure for a while. My other brother (age 59) received a stent some years ago while being diagnosed with diabetes and some degree of congestive heart failure. My mother died at age 66 of -- you guessed it -- congestive heart failure. Until my younger-older brother died, I was aware that my family history was not great, but his death has catapulted the issue of CHF to top-of-mind, to say the least. Yet...

I have what I assume to be the usual litany of complaints about getting older, but I tend to think of them as not really rising to the level of needing to be addressed. I received a good bill of health at my physical last year, along with the usual lifestyle warnings. (Salt, alcohol, maybe I should do some strength work in addition to walking, etc.) I just don't feel I have any acute physical complaints that would justify tests that are probably kind of expensive.

For anyone with perspective from the US health care community, am I one of those "walking worried" patients driving up costs for everyone, or would it be reasonable to push hard for a test to rule early CHF in or out?

What causes my rapid heartbeat?

7life — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:46:23 -0800

What causes my rapid heartbeat? For as long as I can remember, my heart rate jumps up very quickly when I do even the lightest of activities.

My normal heartbeat is about 70ish a minute rested. I would climb a flight of stairs and my heartbeat would be in the hundreds.
I am by no means exhausted, out of breath, or physically stressed.

Or a brisk walk would send it to 120-130 a minute within the first 5 minutes. As I mentioned before, I'm not physically stressed at all and I could keep up that pace for hours.

I'm not worried about this but I'm just curious if anybody has the same thing or has any ideas what causes this.

I am a 30 years old male, normal body weight, and I walk for an hour a day as my exercise.

Have a heart?

Hands of Manos — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 11:18:43 -0800

How can I manage these chest pains? (Doctors say my heart is healthy) I have chest pains all the time. My arm tingles as well. Over the course of a few years I've been in the ER as I thought I was having a heart attack only to be told "your heart is healthy, it must be stress." I've been to cardiologists and they say "you're heart is fine."

So I guess it's stress and I've got a few stresses affecting me. My wife and I are splitting up, I'm freelance and have to constantly scramble for work in this economic meltdown, I'm naturally an anxious person and my bank account is quickly dwindling.

I'm on anti depressant medicine and I'm doing marriage counseling and I don't ever really *feel* stressed out but my heart says otherwise. I'll be fine and then all of the sudden I feel like there is a very large suitcase on my chest and pains running up and down my arm.

My counselor says I need to see a psych and get some meds for it but I honestly can't afford a psych and more meds (I'm on a HSA and my deductable is 5k...something I don't have).

So what are some ways I can manage my heart pains? Some people have suggested meditation but I have the attention span of a squirrel and have trouble doing that (although I'm open to continue to try). Is there anything else?

As for my habits. I don't really exercise (I go for walks from time to time), I drink probably a little heavier than I should, I *love* my job although it barely gives me any income and while it's a helluva problem, my wife and I get along pretty well for two people splitting up.

So does the hive have any suggestions? I'm open to books, natural remedies, self talk and any other forms of help.

Thump...thump..thump

downing street memo — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:04:41 -0800

Weird Body-Filter: Two days ago I started to become abnormally aware of my own heartbeat. The beat is not arrhythmic or particularly rapid, or abnormal at all, really, except for all of a sudden I perceive it to be much stronger. I have had random exertion-related palpitations in the past, but they usually subside with a few deep breaths. Potentially related: beforehand, on the day this started, I exercised my chest (bench press, flys, dips).

Other than this I am a healthy, reasonably-in-shape 23 year old male. What is going on?

Blood for Every Limb!

EatTheWeak — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 10:17:02 -0800

I'm looking for advice on how to improve my circulation. Hi AskMe! I'm interested in improving my circulation, and I'm hoping the hivemind might have some guidance for me in this matter. I know it is best to consult medical professionals in such matters, but doctors cost a damn sight more than a $5 lifetime membership charge.

Now, with my complete lack of medical knowledge, I reckon the most obvious answer is to increase my cardiovascular exercise. If that's the case, are there any workouts better than others for promoting a strong, healthy blood flow to every part of my body? Like, is jumproping better than cycling or what? I'm looking for specific exercises, if possible.

Are there any supplements or dietary changes that I might try to boost my circulation? How significant a role does hydration play? Any and all information you might have on how to get my blood pumping better is of great interest to me.

Thank you very much.

Can arterial damage be undone?

stenoboy — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:29:03 -0800

Is it possible to undo any of the damage I've done to my arteries in 43 years of eating badly? I grew up in the 1970s in rural England and our diet was full of animal fat, lots of vegetables and fresh stuff. However, all my life, I've been eating a lot of butter, pastry, cream, milk, etc, and I'm now wondering if there's anything I can do to restore my (probably) damaged arteries.

Cholesterol checks revealed high cholesterol, but that's coming down gradually through diet and exercise (and great advice from other answers here), and I'm now thinking that once I've got that under control whether any damage can be reversed.

A search on google just seems to lead to lots of sites advertising herbs for this but I doubt their efficacy.

And if I can't undo the damage, what's the best way forward to ensure circulatory health?

tead off

luriete — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:37:44 -0800

I started with Earl Grey, and drank it for years with milk, until I tried better quality teas and gave up the milk. Then oolong, which was too weak and subtle for me. Now I've moved on to Lapsang Souchong and a malty golden-tipped Guangxi black called Golden Downy. I like strong teas, with no herbal additives; can anyone suggest other teas as strong as the Lapsang, smoky or not? After a recent heart attack my cardiologist, a researcher, suggested I start drinking 4 cups of black tea every day, and that the health benefits - for my heart, at least - might rival even those of green tea. So, now I'm looking for a bit more variety.

How long to kill the heart (that pumpy thingy, not the lovey thingy)?

trinity8-director — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:00:33 -0800

How long to kill the heart (that pumpy thingy, not the lovey thingy)? I had an echocardiogram (aka, stress test) earlier this year and it got me wondering: how long would it take to go from a perfectly healthy heart to one in grave danger? Not counting, say, infectious diseases or other contributing ailments but just from lifestyle and behavior?

If a person were to suddenly start doing all the wrong things, roughly how long before the effects show up in a stress test?

Not planning on trying this out myself, just wondering.

I have some symptoms of serious heart conditions. How urgently should I seek a medical opinion?

lgyre — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 10:11:23 -0800

I'm a 29 year old female. I've had a pretty significant arrhythmia for about three years. It's unpredictable, but quite frequently my heart beats much faster when I inhale and then very slowly as I exhale, and also otherwise irregularly. I also have several other concening symptoms. I had a baby about a year ago, and while I was pregnant my midwife sent me to a doctor to get this condition checked out. The doctor gave me an EKG, said that the actual beats of my heart looked healthy, and that she couldn't explain the irregularity but wasn't concerned. I also had started to have a tiny bit of chest congestion when lying on my back at this time, but the doctor attributed that to the extra strain of pregnancy and was still not concerned, so I didn't think much more about it.

Since having my baby, the congestion has increased somewhat rather than decreased. I always kind of intended to get it checked out eventually, but I did a little research yesterday and realized that these are actually pretty scary symptoms. I am definitely going to go to a cardiologist, but my question is, is this (and would my health insurance plan consider this to be) an emergency? Is it fine to wait until monday, when most health services will be open? How long should I be willing to wait after that for an available appointment, before I consider seeking emergency care?

Besides the symptoms mentioned above, I have occasional palpitations, sometimes as frequently as daily, sometimes more like once a month or less. also, about four months ago I woke up with a stabbing chest pain, but since it resolved itself within a few minutes I didn't think too much more of it. I haven't been particularly fatigued or had pain at other times.

Bonus question: when I do see a doctor, what questions should I ask to make sure they take my concerns seriously and figure out what is going on?

What's the best way to lower my resting heart rate?

Geoffh — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 22:19:38 -0800

What's the best way to lower my resting heart rate? I'm slightly overweight, and exersice just a few times a week. I've read a ton of literature that says a lower heart rate leads to a longer life. Any tips? Exercises that'll help? I'm slightly overweight, and exersice just a few times a week. I've read a ton of literature that says a lower heart rate leads to a longer life. Any tips? Exercises that'll help?

Heart rates and exercise safety

riotgrrl69 — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:44:07 -0800

Heart rates and exercise safety Bathsheba has recently started working out every day after work. Before, she walked here and there sometimes and was pretty active on weekends, but she was not doing any kind of daily sustained exercise. She's kinda fat and out of shape but has never had any cardiac problems (as far as she knows). Her blood pressure is excellent and her resting heart rate is usually around 55 or 60.

Since she is in her mid-twenties, target heart rate guides suggest her maximum heart rate during a workout should be around 160. Sometimes she exceeds this level slightly with seemingly no adverse effects. She has no problem sustaining activity for half an hour or longer at a heart rate around 160.

Is exceeding the target heart rate dangerous? Could the guides just be wrong?

Weight training with a Mitral Valve Prolapse

bigspoon — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 00:20:16 -0800

Is it really dangerous to lift weights with a mitral valve prolapse? I was diagnosed as having a mitral valve prolapse when I was 12 or 13 and my cardiologist repeated over and over again that I should avoid static activity such as water skiing or wrestling. However, I also soon learned that Arnold Schwarzenegger had the exact same condition and didn't have to have surgery on his heart until years after he was Mr. Universe. My doctor tells me I should lift more than 50 pounds when working out, and I have started lifting regularly and find this to be a huge impediment on my progress. I trust my doctor well enough but I also know doctors err on the extreme side of caution, also my doctor treats mostly small children (I'm almost 18) which I would think would make him even more cautious. Would lifting heavier weights seriously endanger my body and if so how? In addition what exactly is MVPS (mitral valve prolapse syndrome)? Do I automatically have it because I have an MVP?

Why does my heart rate vary drastically day-to-day during cardio?

wolfkult — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 09:10:48 -0800

Why does my heart rate vary drastically day-to-day during cardio? 120 one day then 160 the next under same conditions. I go to the gym around 3 days a week and always use the elliptical machine for 25-40 minutes. It has one of the usual hand heart rate monitors. I typically use the same resistance/incline/strides-per-min, but some days my heart rate is much higher. For example, it is usually around 110-120/min, however, today it was 150-160/min. I'm not really complaining, on days like this it is a lot easier to break a sweat, but why does heart rate vary so much day to day?

I can think of a few reasons like diet (but what?) or drugs (nothing illegal, caffeine or ephedrine, but I'm not sure those would make it so drastic).

Just for the record, I'm a 25 year old male.

Ech, you're giving me a coronary!

Kololo — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 23:34:49 -0800

The "new, state of the art" cardio machines at my gym always tell me my heart rate is unreasonably high (170 beats per minute) even though I'm working at a level where I can still maintain a breathy conversation. Occasionally, the machine will say my heart rate is something totally wacky, like 220. The readout is never unrealistically low, always just scary high. It happens across both the treadmills and the elliptical machines, and on each machine of that type that I've tried.

Are these machines all crap, or is there something really scary going on with my heart?

(I'm a 29 year old woman in the low end of 'kinda in shape-ish' - I can jog comfortably for about 3km.)

Tips and suggestions for getting my health in order, please!

mudpuppie — Mon, 14 Feb 2005 14:25:15 -0800

The other kind of Valentine's Day heart: My 40-year-old brother was diagnosed today with congestive heart failure. Bad heart genes run in our family, and I'm taking this as a wake-up call to get my own bod in order. [+] I know all the rules -- eat right, exercise, don't smoke, don't drink too much. But how does one actually put this in practice? Any tips or routines you can share? Discounting the health-fad-of-the-month, what can one do to invest in and accomplish long-term health?

I'm in my early 30s. If you're my age, what have you started to do differently? If you're older, what would you go back and change? (If you're younger, just you wait. You'll get yours....)