Q
: 1
06/16/2009 |
My father-in law has had years of uncontrolled high and low blood pressure swings. Now he has now congestive heart failure. Are there any good vitamins he can take to help?
It is important that he not be dehydrated or fluid overloaded. If he gets enough vitamins in his food, there are no vitamins which have been shown to be beneficial when given in high doses.
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Q
: 2
06/03/2009 |
Is there any cure for heart failure?
There are many different causes of heart failure and treatments are different. However, most cases respond to good treatment. See these pages for more information:
http://www.umm.edu/heart/heart_failure/stand_treatment.htm
http://www.umm.edu/heart/heart_failure/new_treatment.htm
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Q
: 3
12/04/2008 |
I was diagnosed with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy in 2000, 11 days after the birth of my first child at age 23. All symptoms were gone within a year and I was taken off all meds. I had a second child in 2005 at the age of 28 with no complications at all, although I was followed by a neonatologist because of the potential risk. After my child was born, I had a tubal ligation. I would very much like to get the tubal ligation reversed, but wanted to know if the risk for another diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy would be too high to consider that.
People with perpartum cardiomyopathy are at increased risk of recurrence even if the heart returns to normal. No one can say for certain what will happen, but you should be aware of this and talk with your cardiologist about the risks if you are to consider this.
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Q
: 4
12/02/2008 |
Can someone with heart failure use Lyrica without complications?
I do not know of any interactions between Lyrica and heart failure or heart failure medications.
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Q
: 5
11/28/2008 |
My mother had Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. I was tested and this proved negative. My son died of a brain aneurysm but his post mortem found he also had an enlarged heart and left ventricular hypertrophy. Is this conected to my mother's illness and could my other sons be in danger of the same disease?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be genetic. it would be advisable to have your other children checked.
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Q
: 6
03/18/2008 |
I have Diastolic heart failure. I don't have fluid accumulation in my feet,ankles or legs. My fluid is in my
abdomen. My RX is Lasix 20MG x 5 = 100MG and Bumex 2MG per day. Are there any other treatments I can look to?
At present there is no proven treatment for diastolic heart failure other than fluid control. However, there are investigational studies which are ongoing, including one we are participating in at the University of Maryland.
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Q
: 7
02/25/2008 |
With left sided congestive heart failure is there an increase or decrease in stroke volume?
There is not a single answer. A decrease in stroke volume will cause left sided failure, dilatation may lead to MR and decreased forward flow, or increased filling pressure may increase SV by the Starling mechanism (probably only within the physiologic range)
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Q
: 8
02/17/2008 |
Does CHF always progress to end stage? Can you improve from a stage 3 to a stage 1? Does CHF always imply a reduced life expectancy?
The course of heart failure is variable. About one third of people with new non-ischemic cardiomyopathy will normalize their heart function. It is not possible in advance to know, so good medical treatment is essential. while heart failure can progress, it also can improve.
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Q
: 9
06/05/2007 |
I was told that gum disease untreated can cause heart disease. Is this a fact?
There are some data associating gum disease and heart disease. However, there is no proof that gum disease causes heart disease.
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Q
: 10
10/11/2006 |
How do alpha and beta blockers act on the heart to reduce hypertension?
They work very differently. Alpha blockers open up arteries, which reduces pressure. They have not been shown to be as effective as beta (adrenergic) blockers, which have numerous beneficial effects on the heart muscle (decreasing oxygen use), arrhythmias, and blood vessels.
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Q
: 11
05/19/2006 |
I was diagnosed with diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle, last September. I have been a Type 2 diabetic for 12 years. I exercise on treadmill for 30 minutes, three times a day, about 3 miles per hour. I take Lotensin for high blood pressure, and I was taking Norvasc. Now my cardiologist says to go off Norvasc, because it is not good with this condition, add a beta blocker, and also take Lasix, twice a day. Do you agree with this treatment? When should I take my next echo to compare the first one which was done in September 2005?
The most important treatment with diastolic dysfunction is to control blood pressure and volume. Hopefully, this willl control any symptoms. No treatments have been proven to change the course of this disease.
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Q
: 12
04/05/2006 |
If someone has hypertension can he take caotopril by sublingual rout of adminstration in emergency cases?
I know of no reason to believe that captopril would be more effective when given sublingually.
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Q
: 13
03/06/2006 |
My husband suffers from "dilated cardiomyopathy" that was diagnosed in 1999. He takes a lot of drugs everyday and I was wondering if there was any new treatment for this illness? Do you know about this? Or can only a transplantation save him?
There are many treatments for this disorder. I do not know what medicines your husband is on, but treatments for heart failure can be very helpful.
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Q
: 14
12/29/2005 |
What causes blood to build up around the heart? If it is cancer what kind and what are the treatments?
There are many things (infections, cancer, kidney disease, trauma, etc) that can cause a bloody build up around the heart.
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Q
: 15
12/11/2005 |
What is the recommended treatment for patients suffering from both clinical depression and congestive heart disease? What drug interactions should be considered?
Patients with depression and heart failure should be treated for their depression. Most drugs commonly in use today can be given to patients with heart failure.
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