All aspects of cardiovascular diseases

We hear all the time about high blood pressure and it’s dangers.  But
little is said about low blood pressure. What are the numbers for blood
pressure that are considered too low?

I searched the net, but couldn’t find an answer.  Just curious.

Help, please

What is the "bridging" ?

Many thanks, Alexandra, Lisbon – Portugal

test

I’m searching for successful joint ventures between a for-profit
medical practice and a not-for-profit hospital for the development and
management of cardiac services.

Any leads would be much appreciated.

Frank Schmuck

My father (59 years old) has recently had angioplasty done about two
months ago.  The original symptoms were chest pains, weakness, shortness
of breath, and dull ache in the back of the head.  The catheter tests
confirmed blockage in three of the major arteries (sorry, don’t
remember the names).  The baloon procedure then cleaned out the
arteries, placing stents in two of them.  My father remained in the
hospital for 5 days waiting for the oral blood thinning medication to
start being effective.  Since checking out of the hospital, he’s
changed his diet quite dramatically and has been feeling generally fine,
although he’s had to have the blood-thinning medication dosage increased
several times.

About four days ago, he started having some of the similar symptoms he
had earlier, namely weakness and some chest pain.  His cardiologist was
unable to see anything wrong after a routine examination.  In his
opinion, the treadmill stress test was to risky, and he want to perform
the catheter test again.  Although his doctor makes the procedure sound
almost routine, my father understandably doesn’t really want to go
through it again–especially so soon.  Are there any other methods for
determining what may be going on?  On your page you mention the nuclear
medicine stress test.  What is that and what are the
advantages/disadvantages?  Are there other tests that could be performed
to research what may be wrong?

Thank you in advance.  Sincerely–

Alex Zeltser

Hi folks,

I wonder if anyone can give me experiences about how you can diagnose
heart rhythm only from echo. E.g. diagnoses of sinusrhythm is possible
with my eye. Today I noticed that in the two chamber view the apex
moves in a typical way when the atrium contracts. Routinely I can see
different forms of av-block. I watched that in narrow complex tachycardia
you can distinguish atrial flutter from av-node-reentry tachycardia
from a special movement of the intraatrial septum in the four chamber
view, so that it really flutters when the atrium flutters.
Ok, only some observations.
I would be delighted hearing from your experiences.

Sincerely, Rainer

My mother had a blood clot in the deep femoral vein 45 years ago, during
pregnancy.  This left her leg veins damaged (ie. swollen, statis
dermatitis at times etc. but with careful management able to live with
it.  Ten years ago a doctor injected the vein with a sclerosing agent? to
cure the problem not knowing the medical history and with out patient
consent.  Now at age 75 but she is in vigorous health having survived a
recent DVT of the deep femoral vein–heparin IV then Coumadin.  

My question is: besides trying to bring down her weight and lower blood
pressure–What else should she be doing?  Also, what is the possibility
of her getting of Isoptin–Calcium Channel Blocker–after using it for
ten years.  She takes Vasotec and Isoptin and Hydrochlorothiazde daily.  
She has asthma and had taken off Inderal.  Isoptin 240 mg. had to be
reduced due to severe swelling and constipation to 120 mg daily.  

Thank you any comments would be appreciated.

To anyone who might know….

In the ER a patient is diagnosed with an acute MI.  Streptokinase is
begun via a peripheral IV being kept open with normal saline at a keep
vein open rate, 40 cc an hour.  The strepto was prepared in 100cc normal
saline and placed on a pump to infuse in 45 minutes.  After the strepto
is infused, the nurse notices the IV site is infiltrated to the extent
there is a large edematous area distal to the IV site.  She checked the
IV 20 min into the transfusion and thought it was okay, but now is not
sure.  Bottom line is, nobody knows how much strepto the pt received.  
He’s still complaining of excruciating chest pain (in spite of a
nitroglycerin drip) and his ST segment shows no change.  Furthermore, at
this particular facility, there is no angioplasty.  NOW how do you plan
to treat the patient, given he may or may not have received some or any
thrombolytic?

If anyone has any ideas, I would be very interested in hearing what they
are.

Thanks,
Christopher Binder, RN

For the past month or two, I’ve been getting PAC’s and occasional
superventricular tachycardia.  Oddly enough, it happens only when I drink
any liquid.  Following a 24 hour holter monitor, my doctor said that
these symptoms are benign.  However, he offered to put me on a beta
blocker.  I declined for the time being, as long as the symptoms are
benign.  I’m not anxious to start medication unless absolutely necessary.

I’d be interested in feedback about the situation and other suggestions
for treatment.

-Mark-

Does anyone have any text on the nature or treatment of Premature Atrial
Contractions?