I'm a 21yr old female and was diagnosed about 3 years ago with having tachycardia.  My doctor ran some tests and said that I should not worry about it, that everything looked alright. But my grandpa died of congestive heart failure at 67 and had diabetes, and I worry about that happening to me. What should I do to find out if there is anything to help slow my heart rate down so it does not develop into anything more serious?
199899
You really need to discuss your options with your doctor.\n\nHowever from experience, my mother was diagnosed with it as well when she was 40.  She started taking Lenoxin and has been taking it ever since.  She's 73 now...and still well and "kickin'."
230137
90/60 is considered Low. If it is consitently running that low, then it could be a problem. However, just happening once, it is probably nothing to worry about and is why the Dr. wasn't too concerned. You can check it at home with an auto cuff from the drug store if you are worried, and let the Dr. know if it stays low.\nHowever, if you faint again and it is low and your Dr. still does not seem worried.. GET A SECOND opinion. It could be a sign of something more serious.
366678
yes honey thats fine... if thats normal for you.. im female and 21 and mine is like 98/59  some of us just run a lil lower than others.. nothing to worry about... my mom is 52 and hers is really low too...  just make sure especially as u get older when u go to the dr if your blood pressure is alot higher than that.. but still considered in the normal range.... tell your dr that your normal is 109/61...\n\nnothing to worry about!
657750
Don't drink! 1st off\n\nYour heart isn't going to stop. you need to go to the doctor and have it checked out and then you will feel better. Are you taking your pulse yourself or have you been told by a doctor that you have a slow heart beat??\n\nWell my heart beats too fast and I get freaked out thinking I'm going to have a heart attack and after all these years I'm still here.\nSo unless you have been told by a doctor you have slow heart rate I wouldn't worry about it.\nJust chill and don't drink. Good lord you wouldn't be able to relax for feeling your heart...:)\nThat was suppose to be funnnny. \nReally I wouldn't drink!\n:)
342368
You are not clear as to what your question is.  You don't say how old you are.  Death is something that we all face and that you are ill is very sad.  I am sorry.\n\nDepending on your ages, good communication with your husband is vital.  I say this because different generations handle communication differently.  If you have good communication, it's important that you find a way, perhaps with a counselor, to talk about your fears.\n\nThe fact is that we all die.  When faced with this type of thing it's just more in our faces than when we age normally.\n\nFor your own fears, I suggest that you find a book called The Book by Alan Watts.  It may give you some insights which you may put into practice.  \n\nYou don't have to face this alone.  Dealing with the reality that you are facing will take courage.  Finding someone to talk to and a knowledgable person to speak with will help.  \n\nCommunicate your feelings to your husband, if you can and take care of your own needs, too.  \n\nBe brave.  Breathe deeply.
75634
try giving more feedback as to your mental development so he's not in the dark, and question the effect your grandfather's death has on YOU and what preventive measures he might have. if he starts opening up, don't interrupt but really listen for clues. then use them to help.
570279
age and weight are ok, you do need to see a doctor about the heart rate it is too high. It may not be a "heart condition" per se, do you get anxiety attacks, and chronically check your pulse? Either way, you need to be seen by a doctor. Normal pulse rate is around 80 bpm.
152832
I have the feeling sometimes that my heart "skips" a beat.  It's like thump, thump, thump......thump.  I asked my doctor about it, he checked things out with an EKG, etc...and said that it is most likely just normal for me.  It can be brought on by periods of anxiety or stress...try decreasing caffeine.  BUT MOST IMPORTATNLY, IF YOU HAVEN'T CHECKED WITH A DOCTOR YET...DO SO, MAKE SURE ITS NORMAL FOR YOU.
185211
Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor\n\nFirst of all the bipolar disorder should have no impact on your lifespan, unless you get suicidal.\n\nThe only thing that would concern me is being diabetic, since it effects so many parts of your body. Having Heart bypass surgery only prolongs your lifespan. My grandmother had a triple bypass and lived to just shy of 90.\n\nWith the advances in medicine, I'd say your chances of being alive ten years from now are rather good.\n\nThat said, healthy or not, live everyday like it's your last.
10550
I dealt with a similar thing in college.  My heart irregularly papitated and it really disturbed me.  It would race up for no reason.  \n\nThings I did to reverse the problem:\n\n-Reduced my caffeine intake (caffeine has the potential to make your heart race)\n-I had an EKG study on my heart...it was normal\n-I got plenty of sleep at night\n-Realizing that the majority of my irregular heartbeats were contributed from Anxiety. \n-I began to pray for wisdom with this problem.\n\nAs for feeling your heartbeat after you eat, you will.  When you eat, your body has a lot of gas exchange during the whole digestive process.  The same gas that will make you belch or fart "pass gas" after a meal.  I noticed a lot of pressure in my heart area and discovered that the problem wasn't my heart, it was gas.  I suggest taking a TUMs or some kind of anti-acid to help reduce the gas, which should reduce the pressure around your heart after meals.  Lots of soft drinks, carbohydrates, junk food will bring on gas.  Try to stay away from those foods....I know, that's a hard thing to do if you're in college.  Junk food was everywhere when I was in college.  \n\nAbove all, if you have health insurance, use it.  Go see your doctor and ask him what's best.  He'll be able to tell you what anti-acid medicine you should take.  \n\nDo you have a lot of acid reflux?  \n\nI hope my advice helps ease things a little better.  \n\nGood luck and remember...I'm not an expert.  What I say is just a suggestion from past experiences.  If you're that worried about the heart beats, go see a doctor.
476858
I believe thats a tad above average.  Anyway to lower it exercise alot, lift weights and get plenty of cardiovascular exercise (jog, walk, run).  \n\nI personally wouldnt worry about it, I believe a lot of people tend to worry about their hearts a lot more than they should, the cardiovascular system is actually very durable and although there is a lot of diseases and conditions that involves this system, most people should be well in the clear.\n\nyou may want to look into valerian root, kava kava (84% extract), and eating healthier and sleeping a solid sleep cycle of about 8-10 hours.  restrict your diet to fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, fish, and take CoQ10 and ginkgo biloba.   do all that for optimum (heart) health but you are actually fine like you are doing.
315418
Some things you can do are: Protect yourself from the cold, avoid excessive emotional stress, don't use vibrating tools.  \n\nFor more severe cases that require medication, your doctor might prescribe drugs which keep your blood vessels from narrowing and help them dilate (expand), such as nifedipine, diltiazem, or nitroglycerin. Some of these medications may have side effects which you should discuss with your physician before taking.\n\nFor non-medical treatment - Biofeedback has been demonstrated to be safe and effective for some individuals. This is a technique designed to help a person gain control over involuntary body functions, such as skin temperature, heart rate, or blood pressure. Biofeedback training is necessary and several methods are available.
208402
Also known as SVTs, it describes a very rapid heart rate. It would be helpful to know the underlying rhythm (ie: atrial flutter, atrial tachycardia, etc...) If you find out, post this question again. It would be helpful to know a few other things about you, so I'll have to give a broad answer. The heart is unique tissue that beats when it receives electrical impulses (you may have seen actors who pose as "dead patients" on t.v. get "shocked" in the ER with electricity to help their hearts beat again). With SVTs, a part of your heart gets "excited" and starts to shoot off it's own electrical impulses, which can cause the heart to beat out of rhythm, and very fast. You should see a cardiologist and have a few tests such as a 12-Lead EKG, 2d echo, holter monitor, blood & thyroid tests, and possibly a stress test. Many young females get SVTs, which is usually harmless and do not cause any longterm problems. These cases can be treated with simple lifestyle modifications that can minimize attacks (such as sleeping better, reducing stress and eliminating caffeine products). Patients can do Valsalva manuevers to stop SVTs. As far as alternative, homeopathic, etc... there are no products that have shown evidence in successfully treating SVTs. If you ever find that your SVTs won't stop, you may get dizzy, get chest pain and your cardiac output will fall and you can pass out. Have someone dip your face/head in a bucket of ice-cold water (the mammalian diving reflex) and call 911. Medications, ablation, cardioversion, etc... are reserved for advanced cases. These patients may be older or have other cardiac issues going on. Or they can get SVTs before or after a heart attack due to changes that occurs in a part of the heart called the "Atrium". I hope I was able to answer some of your questions...
472837
My Dr. and I just discusses this last week. Not all people who go through that are going through it due to being lazy. I have limited things i can do as of exercise as i was a passenger in a car accident that almost broke my neck. My feet are bad and i can't walk much or use a tread mill.\n\nDr. talked about this due to trying to help me lower my blood pressure, diabetes, high cholestrol, ect.\n\n I will review all the info here and all the sites you listed and talk to my Dr. again. Thank you Ziggy for your information.
329514
I am just curious about the diagnosis of the doctor about your grandfather. What are the symptoms aside from the back pain that you are expriencing at present? You see there are alot of causes of back pain and the best thing is that you should consult a specialist about it. In that way it will ease your anxieties. It is never too late than never...
22791
you need a stress test/ekg\nA Holter monitor is a good thing also.\ntalk to you doctor because it sounds like you may have a defect of some type
587772
Reducing you cholesterol levels can reduces your risks in you not developing heart blockages but there are a lot of of factors that your doctor will consider to weigh your risks. Your general health and weight, diabetes, family history are just a few of the factors that doctors use to access your cardiac health.\n\nAs for finding blockages they do a procedure called a cardiac catheterzation.  They make a small incision in your groin area, where your femoral artery is and feed a wire up through your arterial system into your heart.  Once there the inject a radio active dye and take a "real time" x-ray.  Where the dye does not pass through easily or at all is where you have blockages.\n\nAfter a "cardiac cath" a Cardiologist will best assess which of the treatment options are best for you.  They can range from lifestyle changes to medication to different types of surgery.  Some surgery involves stents while others like your mother, can not be treated with them and need other interventions.\n\nThe only person who can help you assess you Cardiac Risk Factors is you doctor.  He or she may refer you to a Cardiologist for further assessment. \n\nIt's far better to have your risks factors evaluated now then waiting until you have chest pains, a heart attack or a stroke.  Being proactive might just save your life.