Category: Ask Kelly questions and answers
Having PVCs?
Ask Kelly Question:
I am a 59 year old female. About 30 years ago I was diagnosed with PVC's and told not to worry about them. Ever since then, I've had them off and on.
the dentist and antibiotics
Ask Kelly Question:
I am a 55 year old women with a murmur. Should I be taking antibiotics before going to the dentist?
I think my heart skips a beat
Ask Kelly Question:
I am a healthy 45 year old with good cholesterol etc. However, both my parents died of heart disease in their 50's and 60's. I have had SVT's in the past but have found them hard to record. Just recently I did a heart calcium scoring(which was 0) and a cardiac monitor. This was because I can feel my heart doing something at times but thought maybe it was my SVT's. Now however, I am beginning to narrow down that when I feel the big flutter in my chest it is an actual heart beat I skip. Is this serious and is there a different test I should ask for? It is very uncomfortable when it happens.
Looking for someone to take the time with me
Ask Kelly question:
Hi,
14 years ago I had a spontaneous dissection of the LAD descending. August 23rd of this year I had horrible building pain in my upper back. Shortness of breath, nausea and sweating. I thought it was just my back. Before I got upstairs to lie down my chest started hurting. So, I took an aspirin, because that happens often. However, in several minutes ALL pain was gone. I was shocked because the back pain had me in tears, I had taken a T3 two hours earlier to no effect. I have pain in my back daily now and an aspirin usually takes care of it. My cardiologist wants me to get a CT scan, but I am not insurable because of my first attack. I am, female and 55 years old. It seems my symptoms indicate a dissection of the aorta, is this possible? What exactly does it mean? My doctor was too busy berating me for not quitting smoking and not having insurance to explain. Also, I am under stress because my husband has a few mental illnesses with BIG control issues. Thank you.
Does drinking caffine affect my calcium scoring?
Ask Kelly question:
Hi Kelly,
In early August this year, I had a calcium sreen. I am 49. The results came back very good. My question is the effect caffine would have had on the results. The appointment was late morning, and I had a diet cola before hand. My wife thinks that's cheating, and it probably skewed the results. Did it??
Thank you.
Ask Kelly answer:
Taking Aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke
Taking aspirin (ASA) to prevent heart attack and stroke. Should I do it? Here is an "Ask Kelly" question. The answer refers to the most recent guidelines, specific to women, to prevent cardiovascular disease.
Can red yeast rice lower my cholesterol?
So you don't want to have to take a medication for your high cholesterol? What are the alternatives? Of course, you can watch what you eat and start to exercise, that will be very helpful. What about nutiritonal supplements? Let's talk a little bit about red yeast rice.
Ask Kelly question about back pain and aortic dissection
Ask Kelly question:
Hi, 14 years ago I had a spontaneous dissection of the LAD descending. August 23rd of this year I had horrible building pain in my upper back. Shortness of breath, nausea and sweating. I thought it was just my back. Before I got upstairs to lie down my chest started hurting. So, I took an aspirin, because that happens often. However, in several minutes ALL pain was gone. I was shocked because the back pain had me in tears, I had taken a T3 two hours earlier to no effect. I have pain in my back daily now and an aspirin usually takes care of it.
My cardiologist wants me to get a CT scan, but I am not insurable because of my first attack. I am, female and 55 years old. It seems my symptoms indicate a dissection of the aorta, is this possible?
What exactly does it mean?
My doctor was too busy berating me for not quitting smoking and not having insurance to explain. Also, I am under stress because my husband has a few mental illnesses with BIG control issues. Thank you.
Mitral Valve Repair: How long is it good for?
Ask Kelly Question:
I have had a mitral valve repaired about 6 years ago or more . My question for you, is how many years before you have to have that valve replaced?
Question about a heart murmur in a child
Question:
My son is 2 years old and has a slight heart murmur. Should I be concerned about it with him?
Question: Should I be concerned about Atrial Fibrillation?
Question:
I had Atrial Fibrillation about 3 years ago. I was put on coumadin for 1 week and was back to normal. I have been taking Metoprolol Tartrate 50 mg, 2 times a day and I also take blood pressure medications. I had a problem with my heart beat a couple of days ago: was all over the place and it lasted about 3 hrs. Settled down after I took my medication. I am 70 years old. My cardiologist has scheduled me to wear an event recorder for 30 days. Should I be concerned and can this become serious?
Walk for 30 minutes or exercise for heart rate goal?
Question:
Is better to walk for 30 minutes daily or walk for heart rate?
I am a male of 43 years young, 225 pounds, high blood presure (taking meds for it).
My wife is 40 years young,187 pounds, high pressure in the family, she doesn't have high blood pressure though.
Question: Chest pain not from the heart?
Question:
For quite some time now I have been experiancing pain in my chest, it is right under the sternum, when I cough or sneeze it is very painful, the pain spreads across my chest and straight into my back. I have been to the hospital and had a chest xray but they couldn't find anything wrong. I know something is wrong- this is not normal.
Is there anything you can tell me? I would like to find out what the problem is.
If I lower my cholesterol....
Question:
If someone starts with high cholesterol and they work on it and bring it down drastically, what happens to the cholesterol that was there? Does it dissolve, does it pass through normal waste system, what happens to it??
Question about plaque build-up
Question:
If I have had plaque build up in the past is there a way to reduce the amount of it in my vascular system?
