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Suggest Treatment For Shortness Of Breath And High Heart Rate
Question: My wife is having a bit of SOB, is tired and has a heartrate of 98 and a BP of 96/68. Should we go to an ER?
Brief Answer:
Take her to Emergency
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thank you for using Healthcare Magic. The pericardial effusion may have increased. This can cause an increased heart rate, drop in blood pressure, and SOB. If the effusion gets large enough, it can interfere with proper heart function. This can be life threatening.
Since she has already been found to have a small pericardial effusion with similar symptoms just 3 weeks ago, it is critical that a reoccurrence or increase in its size be diagnosed promptly. If there is too much fluid, a procedure can be done to remove the excess fluid, which should give her prompt relief. They might also be able to diagnose the cause, and treat that so it doesn't continue to happen.
So get her to ER now. Hope this answers your query. If you have further questions, I would be happy to answer them.
Take her to Emergency
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thank you for using Healthcare Magic. The pericardial effusion may have increased. This can cause an increased heart rate, drop in blood pressure, and SOB. If the effusion gets large enough, it can interfere with proper heart function. This can be life threatening.
Since she has already been found to have a small pericardial effusion with similar symptoms just 3 weeks ago, it is critical that a reoccurrence or increase in its size be diagnosed promptly. If there is too much fluid, a procedure can be done to remove the excess fluid, which should give her prompt relief. They might also be able to diagnose the cause, and treat that so it doesn't continue to happen.
So get her to ER now. Hope this answers your query. If you have further questions, I would be happy to answer them.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
The strange thing is we saw her cardiologist for a follow up yesterday, he listened to her heart, heard nothing abnormal and my wife felt fine. Can an effusion come back or get larger overnight after 3 weeks of feeling better?
Brief Answer:
Possibly, depending on the underlying cause.
Detailed Answer:
Because of her history, I think an increased effusion needs to be ruled out. It's possible it got suddenly bigger, depending on what caused it in the first place. For instance, if it was initially due to a little bleeding into the pericardial sac, for whatever reason, a bigger bleed could cause a sudden larger effusion.
The condition that caused the effusion in the first place may also have affected the heart muscle itself. For instance, if she had pericarditis from a viral infection, it could also have caused direct damage to the heart muscle which is just beginning to manifest itself after the 3 weeks. An effusion or damage to the heart muscle is not easily detected during a simple exam. Further studies are necessary, as she had before.
Contact your cardiologist and inform him of what's going on. Since he knows her situation best, he could give the most accurate advice on what to do immediately. If you can't get hold of him pretty quickly, don't take any chances. Get her to Emergency. Better safe than sorry. Let me know what happens. Hope this helps.
Possibly, depending on the underlying cause.
Detailed Answer:
Because of her history, I think an increased effusion needs to be ruled out. It's possible it got suddenly bigger, depending on what caused it in the first place. For instance, if it was initially due to a little bleeding into the pericardial sac, for whatever reason, a bigger bleed could cause a sudden larger effusion.
The condition that caused the effusion in the first place may also have affected the heart muscle itself. For instance, if she had pericarditis from a viral infection, it could also have caused direct damage to the heart muscle which is just beginning to manifest itself after the 3 weeks. An effusion or damage to the heart muscle is not easily detected during a simple exam. Further studies are necessary, as she had before.
Contact your cardiologist and inform him of what's going on. Since he knows her situation best, he could give the most accurate advice on what to do immediately. If you can't get hold of him pretty quickly, don't take any chances. Get her to Emergency. Better safe than sorry. Let me know what happens. Hope this helps.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks, the ER is around the corner from us and we will go there now, as we have great insurance. Thank you!!!!
Brief Answer:
Glad to hear you are going to ER
Detailed Answer:
Good. As I said, better safe than sorry. Best wishes. Let me know how she does.
Glad to hear you are going to ER
Detailed Answer:
Good. As I said, better safe than sorry. Best wishes. Let me know how she does.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Dr. Steinberg, we were at the ER and they ran plenty of heart related tests. my wife was severly dehydrated (what might have caused the new symptoms) but no new effusion or any heart damage (they did ECG, cardiac blood panel, X-rays etc.) Wife got infusion and is feeling much better today. Thanks again!!!
Brief Answer:
Thanks for the follow up
Detailed Answer:
I am so glad she is feeling better and everything turned out all right. Best regards.
Thanks for the follow up
Detailed Answer:
I am so glad she is feeling better and everything turned out all right. Best regards.
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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