Question 1

I've been experiencing this weird irregular and thumping heartbeat but there's no chest pain. It's just this uncomfortable feeling in my chest, especially when I drink water or eat. It makes it hard to take a deep breath. I went to the doctor and they suggested an ECG, which came out normal. It went away for a couple of days but now it's back again. What could be causing this?

Accepted Answer

It sounds like you may be experiencing symptoms of palpitations and difficulty breathing. These symptoms can be caused by various factors such as anxiety, dehydration, caffeine intake, or underlying heart conditions like arrhythmias. Since your ECG results were normal, it is important to rule out other possible causes. I recommend you to try to stay hydrated, avoid excessive caffeine intake, and manage stress levels. Additionally, you can take a beta-blocker like Metoprolol 25mg once daily to help regulate your heartbeat and reduce palpitations. If symptoms persist or worsen, further evaluation by a cardiologist may be necessary.

Question 2

I've got some concerns about my cholesterol levels and was wondering if I should start taking statins. My total cholesterol is 196, LDL is 130, HDL is 35, and triglycerides are 101. I weigh 60 kg, my height is 169 cm, and I exercise regularly while sticking to an oil-free diet. I'm on Thyronorm 50 for hypothyroidism. I don't usually feel bad, but I get breathless climbing 2 or 3 floors. All my tests like ECG, 2D echo, and TMT have come back normal. Should I be worried about starting medication?

Accepted Answer

Based on your total cholesterol of 196, LDL of 130, HDL of 35, and triglycerides of 101, along with your symptoms of feeling breathless when climbing 2 to 3 floors, you may benefit from taking a statin drug to help lower your LDL cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of cardiovascular events. Since you are already taking Thyronorm 50 for hypothyroidism, it is important to consider any potential drug interactions with statins. I recommend discussing with your doctor about starting a statin medication such as Atorvastatin 20mg once daily to help improve your cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of heart disease. Remember to continue your regular exercise and oil-free diet for overall heart health.

Question 3

So my dad had CABG surgery on March 9, 2017, and everything seemed fine while he was in the hospital and ICU, even when we got home. But during a routine check-up on March 22, some of his meds were stopped. A couple of days later, he developed a fever around 99-100. We told our doctor, and he suggested blood and urine cultures. The urine culture came back positive with two bacteria, and one was really resistant to antibiotics. The surgeon prescribed Linospan 600 and Furadantin 200, twice and thrice daily, but the fever didn't go away. Another culture at the hospital showed negative for infection in his urine, yet his fever continued around 99-99.5. After a week, another urine culture was still negative. We tried stopping his Combiflame, and the fever went away for a couple of days, but then it returned, and we had to start Combiflame again. Why is his fever persisting despite all these medications and negative test results? Could it be something other than an infection, or are we missing something important? Any advice on what we should do next?

Accepted Answer

It seems like your dad is experiencing recurrent fever despite antibiotic treatment for a positive urine culture. Since the urine culture has come back negative on subsequent tests, it is important to consider other possible causes for the fever. One common cause could be a post-operative infection related to the CABG surgery. In such cases, broad-spectrum antibiotics may be needed. I would recommend discussing with your doctor about the possibility of adding a different antibiotic to cover for other potential infections. In the meantime, to help manage the fever, you can continue giving Combiflam as prescribed by your doctor. Additionally, make sure your dad stays well-hydrated and gets plenty of rest. If the fever persists or worsens, further evaluation may be needed to determine the underlying cause.

More Cardiology Health Queries

Health Articles for you

Is Low Blood Pressure After Angioplasty Normal?

Family History Of Heart Disease: Risks Factors And Prevention

Pulmonary Heart Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Relation of Heart Disease to Heredity

Inflammatory Heart Disease: A Comprehensive Guide