Question 1

I've been dealing with chest pain for the past three months that comes and goes, and it often spreads to my left shoulder, arm, and even my jaw. Sometimes I get dizzy too. I had COVID before, and now I'm also experiencing some breathing issues since last week. I saw a cardiologist, and the ECG, trop test, and chest X-ray all showed nothing unusual. I had an echo and a TMT done today. Can you help me understand what's going on? What could be causing my symptoms if all these tests are normal?

Accepted Answer

Based on your symptoms and the tests you have undergone, it seems like you may be experiencing symptoms of angina or coronary artery disease. Since your ECG, troponin test, chest X-ray, echo, and TMT are normal, it is important to continue monitoring your symptoms and follow up with your cardiologist for further evaluation. In the meantime, you can take medications like Aspirin 75mg once daily to help reduce the risk of heart attack, and medications like Atorvastatin 20mg once daily to manage cholesterol levels. Additionally, Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets can be taken as needed for chest pain relief. It is also important to make lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, quitting smoking (if applicable), and managing stress to improve your overall heart health. If your symptoms persist or worsen, please consult your cardiologist for further evaluation and management.

Question 2

I'm really concerned about my health right now. My ECG showed sinus arrhythmia, but my other tests like the 2D echo and blood work came back normal. I have some heart blocks, but I've been trying to manage them with diet control. The issue is, I feel breathless whenever I walk, even though I don't have any other symptoms. Could you give me some advice on what steps I should take next?

Accepted Answer

Sinus arrhythmia is a common condition where the heart's rhythm varies with breathing. Since your 2D echo and blood tests are normal, it's a good sign. For managing heart blocks and breathlessness, you can take a beta-blocker medication like Metoprolol (25-50mg) once daily. This will help in controlling your heart rate and symptoms. Additionally, continue with your diet control and regular exercise routine. If breathlessness persists, you can use a bronchodilator like Salbutamol inhaler as needed.

Question 3

I've had two stents placed and been on heart and BP meds for about a year now. After surgery, my dietitian said to avoid juices and dry fruits and limit myself to one fruit a day. Now that it's been a while, I'm wondering what kind of diet I should be following can I relax these restrictions or should I stick to them? What's safe for someone like me?

Accepted Answer

Limit the amount of saturated fat you eat. It is not just about the total fat content of the diet, but also the type of fat in the diet. Try to avoid eating foods that are high in saturated fat. Foods that are high in saturated fat include meat pies, sausages, butter, cream, hard cheese, cakes, biscuits and foods that contain coconut or palm oil. Eating foods that are high in unsaturated fat can help to reduce your cholesterol level. Foods high in unsaturated fat include oily fish (such as herring, mackerel, sardine, salmon), avocados, nuts and seeds, sunflower, rapeseed and olive oil. Reduce you salt intake. Many foods contain hidden salt. Lowering your salt intake can reduce your risk of another MI and also other cardiovascular diseases

Why do I feel nervous and anxious all the time? My heart's always thumping really hard, and I can actually feel it when I touch my chest. It's making me really uneasy. What could be causing this?

See a specialist for accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment.

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