Is it safe to take Xanax for white-coat hypertension?
Hello doctor,
I am a 71-year-old female. I have white coat hypertension. I have had this all my life. I have been to numerous psychologists and therapists. I am in good health and take 1 mg of Synthroid daily. When I go to the doctor's office my BP goes sky high. At home, it is around 120/70. I went to the doctor last Monday. Just before leaving for the appointment at home it was 140/80 mmHg. At the appointment, it was 180/90 mmHg, and the pulse was 123 beats per minute. I got home an hour later. It was 120/75 mmHg again. I have a great fear of high BP since I was a child. At my last appoinment, I took Xanax 37.5. It is the first time ever I have taken any meds like that hoping that would calm me down. I guess it did not work. I am so worried that that high number will kill me. I am so tired of worrying about it.
26 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
How can the catheter ablation procedure be checked?
Hi doctor,
Approximately 15 years ago I underwent a catheter ablation procedure to fix an irregular heartbeat. It was cured. My question is that can a cardiologist, who did not do the ablation, see exactly what was done without seeing a report of the procedure? I am currently taking Symbicort 200.
24 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
How common is second-degree heart block in young adults?
Hello doctor,
My boyfriend is 24 years old. Being a fitness trainer, he does not take any drugs. He has been getting chest pain for the past four months and sometimes lightheadedness. He went to the doctor and had a blood test which came back normal. His blood pressure is low, and he had a 24-hour Holter monitoring and ECG. The results came back as second-degree heart block four times in 24 hours. Our appointment with a cardiologist is after a month. I am worried because he feels weaker when he exercises and the pains are more frequent. Not sure what we can do in the meantime or what is causing it.
18 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
What could be the reason for chest pain under the breast?
Hello doctor,
I am attaching a word document detailing cardiac issue symptoms. I have been experiencing this for the past seven months of this year since I ended up in A and E. It outlines the issues and tests so far. At present, I have chest pain that comes and goes on the left-hand side under the breast, and it is not a tightness it feels more like an ache. Left-arm pain that comes and goes, lightheadedness and woozy sadness, especially when walking or standing. I want to get the thoughts, and some advice on what could be the possible issue, and any further tests recommended.
18 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
What causes heart enlargement on chest x-ray?
Hello doctor,
I had bronchitis and they did a chest x-ray, it showed my heart was enlarged. My primary doctor did an echo and the results are below. My family history, maternal grandfather died of a blood clot that went to his heart and caused a heart attack. Mother died after a heart valve surgery in the early '50s, right ventricular failure and she had pulmonary hypertension. My brother just had a triple bypass for blockages two weeks ago. My personal health issues are high blood pressure well-controlled, sleep apnea, morbid obesity, acid reflux, IBS, peripheral edema, small hiatal hernia, anxiety well controlled. My primary doctor said the echo results were nothing to be concerned with at this point and want to retest in a year. However, I had an echo done five years ago and none of these issues were present then. With family and personal history what do you think? Only symptoms would be intermittent palpitations (not too often) and SOB on greater exertion. Procedure: A complete two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiogram was performed (2D, spectral and color flow doppler). Interpretation and Summary is contrast injection was performed due to suboptimal images. Left ventricular systolic function is normal. The visually estimated left ventricular ejection fraction is greater than 55%. There is a mild left ventricular hypertrophy present. Respiratory variation of the IVC indicates normal right atrial pressures. The left atrium is mildly dilated. There is a trace amount of mitral regurgitation. The tricuspid regurgitant signal is inadequate for evaluating right ventricular pressure. There is a trace tricuspid valve regurgitation. No hemodynamically significant valvular aortic stenosis. No aortic regurgitation is present. There is no pericardial effusion. Left ventricle: The left ventricle is normal in size. There is no thrombus. There is mild left ventricular hypertrophy present. Left ventricular systolic function is normal. The visually estimated left ventricular ejection fraction is greater than 55%. The left ventricular wall motion is normal. Right ventricle: The right ventricle is normal in size. The right ventricular systolic function is normal. Atria: The left atrium is mildly dilated. Right atrial size is normal. Respiratory variation of the IVC indicates normal right atrial pressures. Mitral valve: The mitral valve leaflets appear normal. There is no evidence of stenosis, fluttering, or prolapse. There is a trace amount of mitral regurgitation. Tricuspid Valve: The tricuspid valve is normal. There is no tricuspid valve vegetation. No significant tricuspid stenosis. There is trace tricuspid valve regurgitation. The tricuspid regurgitant signal is inadequate for evaluating right ventricular pressure. Aortic valve: The aortic valve is trileaflet. There is no aortic valvular vegetation. No hemodynamically significant valvular aortic stenosis. No aortic regurgitation is present. Pulmonic valve: The pulmonic valve leaflets are thin and pliable, valve motion is normal. There is no pulmonic valvular stenosis. There is trace of pulmonic valvular regurgitation. Great vessels: The aortic root is normal in size. Pericardium / pleural: There is no pericardial effusion. Thrombus / mass: No intracardiac masses identified. MMode / 2D Measurements: RVDd: 3.4 cm, LVIDd: 4.9 cm, IVSd: 1.1 cm, LVIDs: 3.0 cm, LVPWd: 1.2 cm, FS: 37.6 %, Ao root diameter: 3.1 cm, EDV(Teich): 112.0 ml, Ao root area: 7.5 cm2, ESV(Teich): 36.4 ml, LA dimension: 3.3 cm, EF(Teich): 67.5 %, LA/Ao: 1.1, LVOT diam: 2.0 cm, LVOT area: 3.1 cm2, Doppler Measurements \T\ Calculations, MV E max vel: 100.0 cm/sec MV, V2 max: 98.8 cm/sec, MV A max vel: 93.0 cm/sec, MV max PG: 3.9 mmHg, MV E/A: 1.1, MV V2 mean: 69.4 cm/sec, MV mean PG: 2.0 mmHg, MV V2 VTI: 33.6 cm, MVA(VTI): 2.7 cm2, MV P1/2t, max vel: 99.8 cm/sec, Ao V2 max: 157.0 cm/sec, MV P1/2t: 61.2 msec, Ao max, PG: 9.9 mmHg MVA(P1/2t): 3.6 cm2, Ao V2 mean: 105.9 cm/sec, MV dec slope: 477.0 cm/sec2, Ao mean PG: 5.5 mmHg, Ao V2 VTI: 33.4 cm, AVA(I,D): 2.7 cm2, AVA(V,D): 2.9 cm2, LV V1 max PG: 8.2 mmHg, SV(LVOT): 90.2 ml, LV V1 mean PG: 4.0 mmHg, LV V1 max: 143.0 cm/sec, LV V1 mean: 91.8 cm/sec, LV V1 VTI: 28.7 cm, PA V2 max: 119.0 cm/sec, PA max PG: 5.7 mmHg, PA V2 mean: 72.6 cm/sec, PA mean PG: 2.5 mmHg, PA V2 VTI: 22.1 cm.
17 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
Cardiology