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Suggest Treatment For Congestive Heart Failure
Question: I am a 54 female. I am a non smoker, don't drink, weigh 127, height is 5 ft 6. I have a history of SVT and have been taking Tenormin, 50 mg, but only take about 1/4 of that at bedtime, unless I have an episode of SVT. I have been on it since age 22. I also take Celexa, 10 mg at bedtime, and Clonazepam, 1 mg at bedtime for the anxiety if I should have the SVT. I also have MVP and some PVC's, and PAC.s. I have a yearly echo with my heart dr. and just got thru having one about two weeks ago. I asked a dr a question on here about some issues I was having and she mentioned me having congestive heart failure and that alarmed me quite a bit, being my heart dr has never, ever, mentioned that I have that. I have some swelling in my lower legs, and at times my feet sweel a bit on top, but not much. I have mentioned this to the heart dr, but he doesn't ever seem concerned and doesn't really say anything. I have thought maybe it was due to some vein issues, not that you can see any bulging veins on my legs, but thought maybe they were bad on the inside and not working right to make the blood go back up to my heart and pooling in my legs. I would really like to know if I do have congestive heart failure, or cardiac edema which the dr on here also mentioned. How can I find this out, being my heart dr has never mentioned this?
Brief Answer:
Need more information
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mrs,
If you have heart failure you should have complains and usually there are echo changes. So I have some questions;
1. Do you have breathlessness during physical activity? If yes I would like to know how many stairs or flights can you climb.
2. Whether you have edema all over the year or it persists during summer time.
3. Do you have changes on echo such as decreased ejection fraction, valve problems or diastolic dysfunction.
4. Have you ever had heart attack, myocarditis?
Regards,
Need more information
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mrs,
If you have heart failure you should have complains and usually there are echo changes. So I have some questions;
1. Do you have breathlessness during physical activity? If yes I would like to know how many stairs or flights can you climb.
2. Whether you have edema all over the year or it persists during summer time.
3. Do you have changes on echo such as decreased ejection fraction, valve problems or diastolic dysfunction.
4. Have you ever had heart attack, myocarditis?
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
RVID cm.... 07-2.4 Syst Diast N LVID cm... 3.7-5.4 Syst 2.8 Diast 4.9 POST. WALL THICKNESS 0.8-1.1 Diast 1.0 SEPTAL WALL THICKNESS 0.7-1-2 Diast 0.8 LAID 1.9-3.8 Syst 2.8 AORTIC ROOT DIMENSION 2.0-3.7 Diast 2.7 MTRL. VLV. VEL. D.D.R. 80mm/sec-150mm/sec Diast N Comments: The patient underwent 2-D, M-Mode and doppler examination including s pulse-wave, continuous-wave and color-flow analysis; the study is technically adequate; the following is observed: AORTIC VALVE: normal; tricuspid in appearance with normal central closure. MITRAL VALVE: mitral valve prolapse. TRICUSPID VALVE: normal. PULMONIC VALVE: not well visualized. LEFT ATRIUM: normal; no intracavitary masses or clots seen. AORTIC ROOT: normal size with adequate motion. LEFT VENTRICLE: normal chanber size. Normal LV systolic function. Ejection fraction was 60%. RIGHT ATRIUM: normal. RIGHT VENTRICLE: normal size and function. PERICARDIUM: unremarkable; no evidence of effusion. DOPPLER: doppler examination of the aortic, mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonary valves and performed. This shows decreased compliance of the LV. Moderate mitral reguritation and mild tricuspid regurgitation. CONCLUSION: 1. Mitral valve prolapse. 2. Normal LV systolic function. 3. Decreased compliance of the LV. 4. Moderate mitral reguritation. 5. Mild tricuspid reguritation.
I don't have a copy machine, so I typed out what my last echo said on 9-12-13. I went today and asked for the copy. I also asked for the copy of last years, and it is identical to this one, which makes me wonder if he even looked at it this year. I find it strange that everything is identical word for word and the numbers of all. As far as the questions u asked me, I do get short of breath at times when I go walking for exercise and when I get on my elliptical. I have mentioned it to my heart dr, but he never says anything about it. At times it is worse than others. I do not have swelling all over my body that I notice, just the part of my legs, the calves and on the top of my feet, I guess part of the ankle. It is gone by mornings though. I haven't had any heart attacks that I know of. Not sure how many flights of stairs I can climb without getting out of breath. I have stairs going down my basement and go up and down them several times a day, and at times I do get a little out of breath. Hope this helps some.
Also, I wanted to tell you I take my blood pressure from time to time and it has been running in the 80's on the top and 50's on the bottom part. I haven't hardly been taking any of my tenormin, so not sure why it's so low. I have also mentioned this to my heart dr in the past, and he doesn't seem alarmed.
I have been reading, and from what I read, I have heart failure and this scares me. The dr has never mentioned this to me. He acts like it is nothing. Can u tell by what my echo says if this is the case? Do I need to have a catherization to see if I have calcium buildup which I read can cause the valve problem, or maybe result from it? Is this why I get swelling and short of breath at times?
I don't have a copy machine, so I typed out what my last echo said on 9-12-13. I went today and asked for the copy. I also asked for the copy of last years, and it is identical to this one, which makes me wonder if he even looked at it this year. I find it strange that everything is identical word for word and the numbers of all. As far as the questions u asked me, I do get short of breath at times when I go walking for exercise and when I get on my elliptical. I have mentioned it to my heart dr, but he never says anything about it. At times it is worse than others. I do not have swelling all over my body that I notice, just the part of my legs, the calves and on the top of my feet, I guess part of the ankle. It is gone by mornings though. I haven't had any heart attacks that I know of. Not sure how many flights of stairs I can climb without getting out of breath. I have stairs going down my basement and go up and down them several times a day, and at times I do get a little out of breath. Hope this helps some.
Also, I wanted to tell you I take my blood pressure from time to time and it has been running in the 80's on the top and 50's on the bottom part. I haven't hardly been taking any of my tenormin, so not sure why it's so low. I have also mentioned this to my heart dr in the past, and he doesn't seem alarmed.
I have been reading, and from what I read, I have heart failure and this scares me. The dr has never mentioned this to me. He acts like it is nothing. Can u tell by what my echo says if this is the case? Do I need to have a catherization to see if I have calcium buildup which I read can cause the valve problem, or maybe result from it? Is this why I get swelling and short of breath at times?
Brief Answer:
Nothing serious
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mrs,
Your echo report is normal except moderate mitral regurgitation and LV diastolic dysfunction which are not the case for worrying. There is no need for treatment, you should only undergo echo once a year for control.
Your heart contracts very well.
Sometimes there can be heart failure with preserved systolic function (preserved contractility), but it is not your case. You don't have constant symptoms. Your breathlessness is more likely caused by anxiety.
And for your swelling legs I would advise you to undergo duplex ultrasound of lower extremities' vessels.
Wish you good health
If you have further questions don't hesitate to ask
Regards,
Nothing serious
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mrs,
Your echo report is normal except moderate mitral regurgitation and LV diastolic dysfunction which are not the case for worrying. There is no need for treatment, you should only undergo echo once a year for control.
Your heart contracts very well.
Sometimes there can be heart failure with preserved systolic function (preserved contractility), but it is not your case. You don't have constant symptoms. Your breathlessness is more likely caused by anxiety.
And for your swelling legs I would advise you to undergo duplex ultrasound of lower extremities' vessels.
Wish you good health
If you have further questions don't hesitate to ask
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
What does the LV diastolic dysfunction mean?
Brief Answer:
Nothing serious
Detailed Answer:
After every contraction your heart muscle must relax. Lv diastolic dysfunction means that the relaxation is somehow impaired. It is quite common finding in your age group.
For the treatment you receive beta blocker (atenolol - tenormin).
Also you should follow a healthy lifestyle. As I could understand from your query you do it quite well. So, don't worry. Just repeat the echo in a year.
Take care
Regards,
Nothing serious
Detailed Answer:
After every contraction your heart muscle must relax. Lv diastolic dysfunction means that the relaxation is somehow impaired. It is quite common finding in your age group.
For the treatment you receive beta blocker (atenolol - tenormin).
Also you should follow a healthy lifestyle. As I could understand from your query you do it quite well. So, don't worry. Just repeat the echo in a year.
Take care
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
I also would like to know if should be of concern that my blood pressure is running on the top in the 80's and the bottom in the 50's, and that is with hardly any tenormin at all?
Brief Answer:
Depends on your complains
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mrs,
If you don't have complains such as dizziness and weakness you shouldn't worry.
If you have complains you should discuss with your doctor the dosage of your medication.
Regards,
Depends on your complains
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mrs,
If you don't have complains such as dizziness and weakness you shouldn't worry.
If you have complains you should discuss with your doctor the dosage of your medication.
Regards,
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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