Symptoms of heart disease

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Freedom! self reliance : One Thread

Brother, age 47, went to ER last week with his throat hurting, and having difficulty breathing. Doc diagnosed strep and sent him home with prescription. Two days later, in with same symptoms, gets different doctor, who informs him he is having "classic symptoms" of heart disease. Kept him overnight for tests, and sure enough half of his heart is basically blocked. He had apparently had a heart attack previously without realizing it. He told me he had experienced this problem off and on for a couple of weeks, but nothing like pain in the chest or anything that made him think he was having a heart attack. Thanks to the miracle of modern medicine, he had a stint put in, through the artery, without even opening his chest, and heart is clear again. Will have a few weeks recovery time on surgery sight.(And endless cholesteral lowering pills.) He has always taken care of himself, being career navy, and there was no history of early onset heart disease to my knowledge. Wanted to pass on to you all the (second) doctor's observation that heart disease can show up in the throat as well as in the arm. Difficulty breathing was following exertion. And keep having your cholesteral checked regularly; might save your life.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), May 23, 2001

Answers

Angina can also cause jaw pain and/or pain in the arms, especially the left arm. It can also cause symptoms like indigestion so always have any unusual pain checked out. Sounds like that first dr. was not very thorough!

-- Barb (barbaraj@mis.net), May 24, 2001.

hi !! I have been having a lack of sensation in the palm or back of my left hand. Sometimes there is a tingling sensation (like tiny pin pricks). I have no prior history of cardiac disease and basic tests like cholestrol etc are all OK. Still this feeling that left hand has become less sensitive than the right hand persists. Does anyone have any idea what it is? If yes, kindly mail me and oblige. Thanks in advance. trehan

-- kc trehan (kctrehan@powersurfer.net), July 17, 2001.

I was havin a lot of trouble with my stomach. Thought it was indigestion and took lots of anti-acid to releve it. After moderate exercise the arteries in my neck would hurt. Outside of left hand and arm would be sorta numb. Six way bypass fixed that mess and I'm chompin at the bit now--for about 2 hours of easy work. Nap time is essential because, although you're alive, you're not as good as new after the "chest crackin" ordeal. ole hoot. Matt.24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), July 17, 2001.

Feb. 2000, my husband was coughing more than I thought he should. I nagged him into going to see the Dr. She did EKG, compared it with an earlier one and promptly sent him to hospital. He had had heart attack and didn't even know it! Had a stent placed and has done fine since. He is almost 71, has always been active, never overweight, no alcohol, never smoked. His only risk factor was family history. A year before the heart attack, he finally saw this same doctor because he got out of breath easily. His heartbeat was 180 per minute. Couldn't convert it with medicine (atrial fib), so they stopped his heart and shocked him. Heart was regular for about 6 weeks. This time medicine converted it and he was put on pills to regulate heart. This have done fine. Can you imagine a heart rate of 180 (that's FAST, folks!) and not know it? Had probably been that way for several days. Many days more, and it's cardiac arrest. Anyway, don't depend on the classic symptoms for heart attack. Some people never experience them.

-- ruth in se illinois (bobtravous@email.com), July 17, 2001.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ