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Can Digestive Issues Trigger Heart Palpitations?
Question: Dear Doctor,
My wife is having palpitation and she says she feels as if the heart is beating very fast. She has been complaining this since beginning of October. Based on general physician and one cardiac doctor, we had conducted ECG, Echo cardiogram, Thyroid , Hemoglobin, Sugar/Cholostral tests and the results are normal as per the doctor. An ECG also was taken yesterday and that also is normal. When this happens, she feels very drowsy as also she has too much of gastric problem. She also feels like a stomach upset and often goes for motion more than 3 times. All these from October only. Till that earlier she never had any problem. Even the stools were passed only once a day. Both the doctors have said that this does not look like any heart ailment. The general physician treated her saying this could be due to amebia. I thought of putting this to the experts at healthcare magic. Kindly advise.
My wife is having palpitation and she says she feels as if the heart is beating very fast. She has been complaining this since beginning of October. Based on general physician and one cardiac doctor, we had conducted ECG, Echo cardiogram, Thyroid , Hemoglobin, Sugar/Cholostral tests and the results are normal as per the doctor. An ECG also was taken yesterday and that also is normal. When this happens, she feels very drowsy as also she has too much of gastric problem. She also feels like a stomach upset and often goes for motion more than 3 times. All these from October only. Till that earlier she never had any problem. Even the stools were passed only once a day. Both the doctors have said that this does not look like any heart ailment. The general physician treated her saying this could be due to amebia. I thought of putting this to the experts at healthcare magic. Kindly advise.
Brief Answer:
Needs more investigations...
Detailed Answer:
Hi friend
Welcome to Health Care Magic
The lab tests show LDL cholesterol is a bit higher / HDL-C is on the lower side / Mild anaemia (Haemoglobin lower side). Otherwise all are well
There are no clues in ECG or ECHO. Absence of proof is no proof of absence! She needs a second opinion and a few more investigations to conclude…
The heartbeats need to be DOCUMENTED by ElectroCardioGram (EKG). Standard ECG records the electrical activity of the heart, for a few seconds. It can detect the arrhythmia occurring during that time only. If the episode occurs randomly or is precipitated by a specific activity like exercise - one needs Holter or event monitor. Holter records for days; Event Monitor for weeks… Holter records continuously; Event Monitor only at certain times
At this age (50+), Treadmill exercise ECG is necessary to evaluate ischemia (reduced blood flow / Coronary Artery Disease) . It is the ideal non-invasive way to evaluate ischemia / to assess the PHYSIOLOGY (flow function)
If both these are negative, she needs to be investigated by the gastroenterologist…
One does not exclude the other…
One may be the consequence of the other – some abdominal issues can cause heart rate and some heart complaints can cause stomach symptoms…
Both can be due to a common cause! – like pain, Anxiety / excess adrenaline (as in Pheochromocytoma)
I would suggest a second opinion in a multi-speciality tertiary hospital – for further assessment and assistance. Prognosis is generally excellent in such situations
Good luck
God bless you
Needs more investigations...
Detailed Answer:
Hi friend
Welcome to Health Care Magic
The lab tests show LDL cholesterol is a bit higher / HDL-C is on the lower side / Mild anaemia (Haemoglobin lower side). Otherwise all are well
There are no clues in ECG or ECHO. Absence of proof is no proof of absence! She needs a second opinion and a few more investigations to conclude…
The heartbeats need to be DOCUMENTED by ElectroCardioGram (EKG). Standard ECG records the electrical activity of the heart, for a few seconds. It can detect the arrhythmia occurring during that time only. If the episode occurs randomly or is precipitated by a specific activity like exercise - one needs Holter or event monitor. Holter records for days; Event Monitor for weeks… Holter records continuously; Event Monitor only at certain times
At this age (50+), Treadmill exercise ECG is necessary to evaluate ischemia (reduced blood flow / Coronary Artery Disease) . It is the ideal non-invasive way to evaluate ischemia / to assess the PHYSIOLOGY (flow function)
If both these are negative, she needs to be investigated by the gastroenterologist…
One does not exclude the other…
One may be the consequence of the other – some abdominal issues can cause heart rate and some heart complaints can cause stomach symptoms…
Both can be due to a common cause! – like pain, Anxiety / excess adrenaline (as in Pheochromocytoma)
I would suggest a second opinion in a multi-speciality tertiary hospital – for further assessment and assistance. Prognosis is generally excellent in such situations
Good luck
God bless you
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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