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Suggest Treatment For Irregular Heart Beats

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Posted on Thu, 4 Dec 2014
Question: After catherization and ultra sound two days ago, my cardiologist find two blockages in my heart plus leaking valve. He find irregular heart beat before . He want to see me next week in his office. I feel good, exercising ( weights, swimming, running, sauna) do not feel any problems. I am 68, 250 lbs, 5.11" high . taking blood thinner now (eliquis 5 mg). Please tell me what are my best options in your opinion.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
You need folow up / there are several options

Detailed Answer:
Dear friend,
Welcome to Health Care Magic

WEIGHT
Your Body Mass Index BMI is 34.9 = OBESE
Normal BMI: 18.5 - 24.9 / Overweight: 25 - 29.9 / Obese
You should start to lose / 70 pounds at the least, up to 120, over a period of time.
Weight is like bank account – reduces by withdrawing more (physical work) and/or deposit less (eat less). Consult a dietician - reduce the quantity of your food and change the quality too. You need regular exercise. There is no officially approved medicine to reduce weight; more side effects than effects.
Slow and steady reduction – 3 to 4 pounds in a week, is safe.

IRREGULAR BEATS
You must continue the blood thinner Apixaban (Eliquis).
You have not mentioned the nature of irregular beats (arrhythmia).
It is probably Atrial Fibrillation – the most common condition to prescribe blood thinner
The drug remarkably reduces the incidence of stroke in such cases.

BLOCKAGES
The approach to the block depends on the severity – modified by the location and associated morbidity.
Block 70% or more need intervention – like dilatation (angioplasty) and placement of the stent

LEAKAGE
It is probably the Aortic valve, that is leaking? – most common at this age.
The decision depends on the severity and the anatomy
If it is severe, a valve replacement may be necessary.
Since you are otherwise alright, it is unlikely to be severe – may just need follow up

If nothing needs to be done for the valve, angioplasty is done for the block.
At the same time Electro Physiological Studies (EPS) may be done to evaluate the cause of irregular beats.., with a view for ablation of accessory pathways…
If the valve needs replacement, Open Coronary Artery Bypass is done at the same sitting, if the block is significant.

It is reassuring that you do not have symptom. However, symptoms have no direct and proportional relation to the underlying severity. Procedures are needed – proactive – to prevent complications and arrest progression. For example, leak leads to more leak…

SUMMARY
To sum up, one needs the whole and exact picture…correlating clinical and investigation findings. The treating doctor is better placed to suggest further based on his assessment of the situation. One should not treat the investigations – but modify the treatment based on them… The patient as a whole is addressed, not individual reports.

Take care
Good luck
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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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Anantharamakrishnan

Cardiologist

Practicing since :1966

Answered : 4505 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Irregular Heart Beats

Brief Answer: You need folow up / there are several options Detailed Answer: Dear friend, Welcome to Health Care Magic WEIGHT Your Body Mass Index BMI is 34.9 = OBESE Normal BMI: 18.5 - 24.9 / Overweight: 25 - 29.9 / Obese You should start to lose / 70 pounds at the least, up to 120, over a period of time. Weight is like bank account – reduces by withdrawing more (physical work) and/or deposit less (eat less). Consult a dietician - reduce the quantity of your food and change the quality too. You need regular exercise. There is no officially approved medicine to reduce weight; more side effects than effects. Slow and steady reduction – 3 to 4 pounds in a week, is safe. IRREGULAR BEATS You must continue the blood thinner Apixaban (Eliquis). You have not mentioned the nature of irregular beats (arrhythmia). It is probably Atrial Fibrillation – the most common condition to prescribe blood thinner The drug remarkably reduces the incidence of stroke in such cases. BLOCKAGES The approach to the block depends on the severity – modified by the location and associated morbidity. Block 70% or more need intervention – like dilatation (angioplasty) and placement of the stent LEAKAGE It is probably the Aortic valve, that is leaking? – most common at this age. The decision depends on the severity and the anatomy If it is severe, a valve replacement may be necessary. Since you are otherwise alright, it is unlikely to be severe – may just need follow up If nothing needs to be done for the valve, angioplasty is done for the block. At the same time Electro Physiological Studies (EPS) may be done to evaluate the cause of irregular beats.., with a view for ablation of accessory pathways… If the valve needs replacement, Open Coronary Artery Bypass is done at the same sitting, if the block is significant. It is reassuring that you do not have symptom. However, symptoms have no direct and proportional relation to the underlying severity. Procedures are needed – proactive – to prevent complications and arrest progression. For example, leak leads to more leak… SUMMARY To sum up, one needs the whole and exact picture…correlating clinical and investigation findings. The treating doctor is better placed to suggest further based on his assessment of the situation. One should not treat the investigations – but modify the treatment based on them… The patient as a whole is addressed, not individual reports. Take care Good luck