My wife seems to have a heart problem. Can anyone advise?

Question

She comes from a family where just about everyone has high blood pressure and dies from either myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure.

She has been having (once or twice a week) what she describes as a fluttering in her chest, accompanied by an irregular pulse and breathlessness. She knows how to take a pulse cos her mum was a nurse.

She went to see the district nurse for a checkup. Her BP was 115 over 82 - nice and low for her.

The nurse said the fluttering/breathlessness was nothing to worry about, but I'm not so sure.

Any medically qualified people, or people with similar problems, got any advice?

Should have said my wife is 51 and otherwise in good health.

Answer 1

Hi, I agree you are right to be cautious and I don't think the nurse had enough information to reassure her.

She needs to see her GP for a full check up, I hope she is a lifelong non smoker! She needs a cholesterol check, if she has not had one, and a 24 hour ECG monitor or cardio-memo to see what the rhythm problem is.

Answer 2

Ha, that nurse shouldn't be working anymore. With a history of deaths from MI and CHF, the nurse should have checked much more then the BP for sure. I'm agreeing wtih you. Both tachycardia (flutter) and the abnormal breathing are symptoms of an MI.

Why did she only check the blood pressure? Blood pressure CAN remain normal during an MI...

If you still get no help, either find a new doc office, or try some Bayer low-dose or other asprin (~81mg). Asprin can help prevent CV problems. Make sure you read the box because some common problems (ulcers, diabetes, etc.) may prevent her from starting an aspirin regimen.

Answer 3

Hmm...this is not normal.
I know a few people said it can just be nothing to worry about...but then, what if it isn't? I have a congenital heart disease, and I have times recently where my heart pounds for a few beats, then quits, breathlessness and such. I wore a Holter moniter, as someone suggested. It showed nothing. I had a stress test...I quit sooner than normal people, but other than that, nothing odd. My BP was oddly low for me.
Everyone said, oh, its to be expected w/ your condition...but I said NO! I forced the doctors to figure out what was wrong with me, made them give me an MRI on my heart, and I am actually scheduled for a cath...and they said that, after results of everything, it looks like I have to have heart surgery again, and soon.
So, my point is, if your wife seriously feels like something is wrong, something probably is. Even if everyone just shrugs it off, your wife needs to make a racket to get noticed...thats what I did, and the doctors were like, "Oh, well, you're right, you DO need surgery."
So, doctors are sometimes wrong, and you need to insist on every test available until you are at ease and feel like everything really is okay.

I hope everything goes well, and hope its nothing serious.

Answer 4

It sounds like she has cardiac arrhythmia, which is an irregular heart beat/ rhythm. Her blood pressure is normal, however she needs to go to the doctor so it can be diagnosed and she will require an ECG test inorder to monitor her heart rate accurately.

Many arrhythmias do not require any treatment. For serious arrhythmias, treating the underlying heart disease sometimes controls the arrhythmia.

There are a few precautions she could take to reduce the signs and symptoms, such as avoiding caffeine, alcohol, decongestants, and cigarettes.

Hope this helps, but the most important thing to do is speak to your GP inorder to gain the best possible treatment.

Answer 5

My advise would be to go with your wife for a check up and tell the doctor that you feel your wife may have a hereditary cardiac problem and let the doctor tell you what her current condition is and if in fact she has a familial cardiac problem. And finally since you seem concerned about your wife's heart health I suggest you accompany her on every visit to the nurse or doctor so you will have all the current information and you and your wife will feel more comfortable about the whole situation.

Answer 6

I do think that a medical opinion should be sought at which she should mention her family history & ask for investigations such as a 24 hour ecg for starters & then the irregular heartbeat that you mention could be isolated & studied to see what type of arrhythmia she has. All being well, it would be benign & nothing to worry about but it could be something that requires treatment. In the meantime, good idea to cut down on caffeine intake & try to isolate foods that might make her more prone to these.

Answer 7

Good Lord why would the "Nurse" have offered you such advice, especially given family history....unless she knows something I don't know! You state her BP was "nice and low for her"...which indicates to me an unusual BP for her...also perhaps indicitive of a problem. Get your wife to a qualified Cardiologist ASAP, and if she ever feels poorly at home {chest pain, short of breath, pale, dizzy, weak, nauseas} during these episodes you lie or sit her down and call 911 immediately. Good luck now, I'm sre the MD's can assist her.

Answer 8

sometimes palpitations are caused by stress, caffeine and anxiety attacks.. Just let your wife relax and have adequate rest. Maybe she's going into panic that's why she has episodes of breathlessness..
Just to be sure, Have your wife submit herself for a general check-up. This includes treadmill stress test, 2D echocardiogram and ECG. She can also have some blood test taken for her uric acid level, lipid profile and serum creatinine to check if everything is fine..These tests determine if there is something wrong with her heart and kidneys and her blood circulation

Answer 9

Have her GP prescribe wearing a Holter monitor. It's like a EKG machine that you wear for a few days. It tracks the heart's performance and catches any irregularities. Of course the only sure tests are angiograms, maybe echo cardiograms, scans, mri's, etc. The angiogram is the best for seeing blockages. Don't just sit there waiting for the worst.

Answer 10

From what you mentioned , it looks like arrhythmia (irregular heart beats) and breathlessness. With the family history I would be worried about heart disease, other possibility is thyroid gland involvement (Hyperthyroidism), which has other symptoms like loss of weight and feeling hot all the time.The blood pressure is normal.
I would suggest an appointment with your GP , for your peace of mind.