Expert advise on Heart Attacks and related problems?

Question

As a pre-caution and prevention to future possibilities of heart complications, what are the regular yearly or half-yearly tests one can recommend for a 40 year old as the theory of "prevention is better than cure". Is EKG or ECG twice a year enough?

Would appreciate answers from personnels of the medical profession.

Answer 1

Given that heart disease is the number one killer in the United States, your interest in prevention is laudable. An annual or semi-annual ECG will not really help. Having a single "baseline" ECG in your medical record may be helpful, but beyond that an ECG will identify problems when they occur - too late for prevention.

In order to prevent heart disease you need to control the modifiable risk factors. The risk factors for heart disease that you can modify are high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes. As to how to control each of these:

Smoking: if you do it quit. There are a number of medicines both nicotine containing and non-nicotine containing that can help you.

Cholesterol: Your fasting lipid profile (FLP) should be checked at least once every five years. If a problem is discovered and you are on a treatment regimen, even if that regimen is diet the FLP should be checked more frequently. In general the two values that are looked at are the LDL (bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol. The lower the LDL cholesterol and the higher your HDL cholesterol the lower your heart disease risk. A diet low in fat can help. Additionally the fat in the diet should be the "good" unsatuarteated fat (examples olive oil, fatty cold water fish like salmon, nuts like almonds). Beyond that exercise raises the HDL cholesterol and weight loss lowers the LDL cholesterol.

Blood pressure: Get it checked at least yearly. If it is high medicine should be used to control it. I would treat a blood pressure of 140/90 or higher with medicine. Diet (less sodium), exercise and weight loss may help. I would suggest using meds and then after someone has lost weight, chnaged the diet, etc. cutting back on or eliminating medicine.

Diabetes: Get checked for it. If the blood sugar levels are high control them. Just like with increased BP I would use medicine. Weight loss and dietary changes (reducing carbohydrates and eliminating simple sugars) can help. Again I would favor beginning treatment with medicine and then cutting back or eliminating it if the lifestyle changes are effective.

I hope this answer helps you.

Answer 2

First of all you are 16. The chances of you having a heart attack are almost non existent. You admitted to have a panic disorder. Anxiety and panic causes your heart to beat fast. You get scared, adrenaline pumps through your body because you think something is wrong, and your body responds by preparing itself for something bad to happen, but something bad never happens and you are left wired and high strung. A heart attack is when the blood vessels of your heart become blocked, and parts of your heart are deprived of oxygen. The chest pain people feel during a heart attack is a result of cardiac tissue slowly dying. Not because they are panicking but because the cardiac tissue is being destroyed. It not just your heart "beating really really fast". Yes you can also feel chest pains during a panic attack, but this is not because your heart is dying. You are too young to have a heart attack, plain and simple. Yes, people your age can have heart attacks but this is usually from unhealthy living (not 7 cigarettes a day but drug use) sever over exertion (football practice during 100 degree weather) etc. A HEALTHY 16 YEAR OLD KID LYING IN BED OR TYPING ON HIS COMPUTER DOES NOT HAVE A HEART ATTACK, PERIOD. You first mistake was coming here and asking opinions from people who don't know what to do other than call 911, so now you're probably even more scared than before. Tell your parents about your anxiety and have them make an appointment with a psychiatrist. Relax, breathe slowly, and keep calm. If you feel REALLY bad that you can't take it anymore have someone drive you to the hospital so they can give you a sedative. No one has ever died of a panic attack. You really need to relax and make an appointment with a therapist.

Answer 3

Sorry, but you are looking for a lot of wrong advise on this forum.
Some of the answers you receive will be correct and well meaning but please speak to a doctor.

Answer 4

Hello -- My advice is go to WEBMD.COM they would be able
to help you there.