Q
: 1
12/01/2009 |
I have SVT and low blood pressure. The latter doesn't bother me at all. Though I don't have SVT all the time, when I do have it I cannot function and am rushed to the hospital within 15 minutes where Cardizem is administered. I don't fly or travel anymore because of this. I know this forum pushes for ablation, but I want to know if ICD is an option or if I could just take a Cardizem pill.
SVT should not affect your life, if it is then something should be done. If you want to try medications, either a beta-blocker or Cardizem should be given daily to stop the episodes. This may, however, cause a lower blood pressure. The ultimate solution would be an ablation. For typical SVT, the cure rate is > 95% and then you do not have to deal with it anymore. ICDs are not used to treat this condition.
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Q
: 2
11/23/2009 |
Is ventricular tachycardia a hereditary condition?
Usually, ventricular tachycardia is not a hereditary condition. However, it is often related to underlying heart disease which may be hereditary.
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Q
: 3
10/23/2009 |
My heart palpatations have become almost constant, and an irregular heartbeat shows on my blood pressure machine, along with low blood pressure. Could this be a Magnesium deficiency? Would it be Ok to try Magnesium supplements?
There is no danger from Mg suppliments as long as you do not take very large amounts. However, these supplements are unlikely to help unless you have low Mg. I recommend talking to your doctor about the cause of the extra heart beats.
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Q
: 4
09/07/2009 |
Is there a cure for atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation can be cured in some patients. It depends on many other factors, such as how long you have had it and your cardiac condition.
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Q
: 5
09/03/2009 |
I was on your website, which gave information about alternative medicine and herbs. Are there any herbs or alternative medicines that will slow the heart rate for those with arrythmias?
There are no safe herbs that will prevent rapid heart rhythm. If it becomes a problem, Atenolol is okay, or an ablation could cure it.
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Q
: 6
08/25/2009 |
I am 84 years old, and I was recently cardioverted for an atrial flutter of less than one year duration. I was wondering, what is the normal recurrence rate?
Generally the recurrence rate is high. If it recurs, you should consider an ablation.
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Q
: 7
08/01/2009 |
Which condition is more severe, a-fib or a-flutter? Is one more easily controlled than the other?
Both conditions cause the same problems. It is usually harder to control the ventricular rate of atrial flutter than it is with atrial fibrillation. In both, there is a risk of stroke and both compromise heart function equally.
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Q
: 8
07/20/2009 |
Is a daily low dose of aspirin likely to help multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT)? I am curious because MAT and atrial fibrillation (A-fib) seem to be so similar, and aspirin is often prescribed for A-fib.
Aspirin does nothing for the arrhythmia of MAT. It is often used to help prevent clots in lower risk patients. MAT is probably at a lower risk than atrial fibrillation. We just use aspirin for patients who have A-fib and/or considered to be at a low risk for stroke.
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Q
: 9
06/08/2009 |
I am 31 years old and I had just one episode (6 months back) of fast heart rate (around 200 bpm). My cardiologist said that it is SVT and can be cured with RF ablation but do I need to go for it with just one episode of SVT? I also heard that even with RF ablation you can get more episodes later and that it might activate other circuits in heart, is it true? Any advice?
SVT is not deadly but can be nuisance. Ablations are generally safe and effective at eliminating it. If it does not bother you, you do not need to do anything. Beta-blockers and Ca channel blockers are descent at controlling it. If it is interfering with your life, consider the ablation.
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Q
: 10
05/29/2009 |
Is it possible that an atrial fibrillation's cause is lack or low levels of oxygen in the blood? maybe as a result of severe sleep apnea?
Atrial fibrillation usually does not cause low oxygen except if you have severe heart failure. Sleep apnea is a more likely culprit.
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Q
: 11
05/25/2009 |
Sometimes my heart skips a beat. I notice it at night when I lay on my left side. Is this anything I should be concerned about?
What you describe is very common. If you notice your heart skipping beats only when you try to go to sleep, it probably is benign premature beats. If you have problems at other times or lightheadedness or dizziness, contact your physician.
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Q
: 12
04/28/2009 |
After wearing a halter monitor for 24 hrs, I was diagnosed with MAT. The read-out showed only 2 different types of episodes; one positive and one negative. Because of this, my Dr. is very negative about doing an Ablation. She says that if there are two there are probably more and the success rate is not acceptible for more than two. What is your opinion?
MAT has more than one focus and is not usually ablated. One or a few atrial ectopic foci can be ablated successfully.
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Q
: 13
04/26/2009 |
I have had one episode of PSVT, which required a trip to the ER and 6 mg of Adenosine to return by heartbeat to normal. I am 45 and this was a first time occurence. Could this be a one time occurence or now that it has happened once is there a higher percentage that I will continue to have PSVT episodes.
Unfortunately, this is probably not a one time occurrence. PSVT is usually caused by an extra connection between the top and bottom halves of the heart. Normally there is only one connection but you were born with more than one. When the balance gets right, the impulse travels down one, then up the other and cycles around again. This is likely to happen again but maybe not for some time. Treatment involves either medication or a procedure called an ablation which eliminates the extra connection.
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Q
: 14
04/15/2009 |
I am a 25 year old female and in the past two months I have gone from having a normal heart rhythm to having long pauses of up to 4.59 secs, junctional beats, atrial fibrillation, tachnicardia, bradycardia. My cardiologist has no idea what is going on or why and says the only treatment is a pacemaker. I do not want to get a pacemaker if no one can tell me why at 25 this is happenening. What should I do next?
It sounds as though your sinus node (pacemaker of the heart) is not functioning normally. It is usually called a sick sinus syndrome. Unfortunately the cause for this may never be known. In some cases it can be an infection that affected the heart but it is very difficult to diagnose without looking at the heart under a microscope. If it is progressive and causing symptoms, the only solution may be a pacemaker. I assume they have already done an echocardiogram to see how the rest of the heart is functioning. If there is any question, a cardiac MRI might be useful.
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Q
: 15
03/15/2009 |
I have suffered from extrasystoles for almost 10 years. I have had several echos done to my heart which showed a mild mitral valve prolapse and have been told that this is what is causing the extrasystoles. Lately, the extrasystoles have increased in severity and there isn't a single day that I don't get them. Is this normal? I have tried taking b-blockers but it was no good. Is there something that will make these extrasystoles go away?
Medication is not likely to work. Beta blockers are the best to try. If it is just extra-beats and your heart is normal, they are benign and should not harm you.
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