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What Could Be Causing Shortness Of Breath, Heart Racing In A 88 Year Old?
I have an 88 year old female friend whose heart races which makes her have shortness of breath. She has to go lie down in between doing regular household chores. This has been happening for about 4 weeks. She was diagnosed with RA and had started taking an arthritis medication. She started having these symptoms after 2 weeks of taking medication. She has not taken the medication for 2 to 3 weeks but is still has the symptoms. What could be causing this? Should she see a cardiologist?
Wed, 19 Aug 2015
Hello. Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern.
The symptoms you described may be with a cardiac origin. Adding the age to the symptomatology, then we should seek for an eventual heart problem. First, I would recommend an EKG and an echocardiogram. The latter is important, because there may be age-related changes to the heart, especially reflected in the valvular function. Arrhythmias can be produced, which produce the heart racing feeling, and every improper cardiac work and suffering, is transmitted to the lungs, hence the shortness of breath. Also, a 24-hour heart rhythm monitor or an episode rhythm monitor would be in place, in order to determine what happens with the electrical system of the heart, during the phase where these symptoms arise. It is only after these tests are back, we can further recommend medical treatment or other necessary tests or procedures.
I hope I was helpful. Best regards.
Dr. Meriton
The symptoms you described may be with a cardiac origin. Adding the age to the symptomatology, then we should seek for an eventual heart problem. First, I would recommend an EKG and an echocardiogram. The latter is important, because there may be age-related changes to the heart, especially reflected in the valvular function. Arrhythmias can be produced, which produce the heart racing feeling, and every improper cardiac work and suffering, is transmitted to the lungs, hence the shortness of breath. Also, a 24-hour heart rhythm monitor or an episode rhythm monitor would be in place, in order to determine what happens with the electrical system of the heart, during the phase where these symptoms arise. It is only after these tests are back, we can further recommend medical treatment or other necessary tests or procedures.
I hope I was helpful. Best regards.
Dr. Meriton
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