how to establish one has block in heart arteries?
488471
There are several ways:\n\n1.  Patient presents with symptoms of chest tightness and shortness of breath with activity and/or emotion upset\n\n2.  A stress test is administered which simulates physical activity at a prescribed rate and incline with changes happening every three minutes.  The test is concluded when the patient reaches exhaustion, there are indicative EKG changes, or the patient needs to stop for other reasons - knee pain, chest pain, etc.  There are advanced versions of this test that take images of the heart.  There also are chemical versions to simulate the exercise.\n\n3.  A specialized CT exam could be performed focusing on the coronary arteries.\n\n4.  An angiogram could be performed where radio-opaque dye is infused into the arteries and a real time xray is taken to observe the flow through the arteries.\n\nI mentioned the EKG, if certain changes are present, can tell you certain things that are reasonably accurate.  A person who is not having symptoms however would not likely demonstrate an abnormal EKG indicative of clogged arteries.\n\nGood luck.
1178202
Yikes, quick ask a doctor!  Sorry, but tightness in the chest is a serious symptom so don't look for an amateur explanation.
1128142
You need to see a doctor, and they will probably either:\n1)Put a 24-hour heart monitor on you if it happens daily.\n2)Put an event recorder on you that you can keep for up to one month to capture the fast heartrate and see what it looks like.\n\nIf you do not have any symptoms such as shortness of breath, low blood pressure, or dizziness during it, that's good.  Still need to find out what it is.\n\nI would see a cardiologist or electrophysiologist, who specializes in abnormal heart rhythms.  They are experts in this stuff.
184481
I found information about this on this site. I hope this helps. The diet and rules are clearly set out. \n\nhttp://www.cartercountymarket.com/html/cardiac.html
1095777
Vitamin E, plenty of water, and quit smoking if you do. The E is good for circulation, the water will help with the cramps, the smoking is obvious.
109168
The rule of thumb is this...If you have chest pain, get to a doctor or hospital for EKG and blood tests immediately.  If it is not heart problems....GRRREAT!  If it is, you need to be treated quickly.  Anxiety can cause similar symptons as an MI and if you blow off your discomfort as nothing but anxiety....it may be the last thing you do.  A heart attack does damage to your heart...you only have one heart, do NOT diagnose your own problem!
705936
Go to a well qualified doctor.  My heart did that for years and was never cuaght on EKG.  Then one time I was able to get to the er when it was doing it.  I ended up having to get a cathader ablation done.  Were they go in your blood vessals with a fiber optic thing and zap some nerves in the heart.  it took two times but I have been fine ever since.
232077
heart block is used to describe a situation where the electrical signals that make the chambers of your heart beat (first the atria then the ventricles, the main pumping chambers) are not getting through the Atrio-ventricular node (a kind of electrical junction box in your heart). This could mean that the coordination between atria and ventricles is not present. It usually also means that there are missed beats or a slow heart beat. Heart block can be benign, ranging from the occasional dropped beat to quite dangerous with episodic loss of consciousness.\nThe term intermittent means that it is not happening all the time, only some of the time.\nIt is usually possible to tell whether any specific treatment is required based on ECG, a 24h heart rhythm recording, and the presence of symptoms. In some people, a permanent pacemaker is required to restore the normal electrical coordination in the heart. \n\nHope this helps
321435
insufficient blood flow, try to move them to regenerate circulation (a bit painful though)
561397
Hi, I've had PVCs for many years and they come and go.  At first, I was scared to death and thought that something was seriously wrong with my heart.  After visiting the cardiologist and having a bunch of tests, I learned that my PVCs are totally harmless and most likely the result of stress.  I'm not a doctor, but I've had PVCs off and on for over 10 years and I can tell you that in the absence of other symptoms they're considered totally harmless.  Mine tend to come at night, right around bedtime, if at all.  Like you, I take vitamins (including all the ones you mentioned).  I would suggest you try taking some Magnesium, that seems to have helped me a great deal.  The other thing that helps is exercise -- cardio, and lots of it.  Oh, and by the way -- everyone gets skipped heartbeats, but not everyone notices them.  I think you can relax about your PVCs.  Mention them to your doctor at your next regular checkup, or if they return and suddenly get worse then by all means make that appointment sooner rather than later.  However, your PVCs are most likely just a nuisance.
263242
by cathetarization operation ,,, it's easy and done by a cardiologist , it takes between 20 - 35 mins in average and it's done by introducing a catheter into your femoral artery reaching your coronory arteries , then the cardiologist will pump a dye in the catheter so he can see in the tv screen if all artereies are ok , if he find any one blocked , he may introduce a web or ballon instantly to releive the blockage ,,, i attended one operation like this 2 weeks ago and it was just easy and nice , simple ... local anesthitization .... \n\ngood luck ..
180449
Well non-specific changes in one lead do not mean much in themselves.  In the setting of chest pain, they become a bit more worrisome.  Take comfort in the fact that you are in a facility where they will take care of you.  Many people come to this forum with no insurance...they have no benefit of "waiting for doctors to run tests on them;"  all they get is this forum (sad).  Even if you have blockages, the treatments now days are excellent.  So, wait for the tests and good luck!!
273451
There was a segment on Good Morning America last week. Dr. Tim Johnson (a candidate for the procedure himself) discussed it. A laser catheter is inserted through the thigh (like angioplasty) and the muscles above the atrium are "zapped" to prevent their irregular spasms. My cousin had it done, and it worked for her. I looked on ABC's website but I couldn't find aynthing. Talk to your cardiologist.
1098099
First I would ask for an echocardiogram with & without saline (water bubbles); this will show any & hopefully all holes in your heart. I had it done & they found I was missing a chamber and had holes on the opposite side of my heart which required them to "cath" my heart. They make a small slice in the groin area & go through a main artery in your leg up to your heart. I'm only 5' & 100 lbs & they couldn't knock me out with morphine (I watched the entire procedure & ticked off my cardiologist -lol). My personal opinion would be 1. ask questions, make a list if you have to, 2. check out the surgeons & their history, & 3. if they are as good as they check out to be the procedure will be a cakewalk for you. I was 38 when they found all of this & now I'm 43 and alive to see my baby (23) get married this coming August to a wonderful young lady. My Dad had 2 triple arterial bypasses & he lost a leg in Korea and God bless him, he'll be 79 this July. Yes, I had a good role model but it is normal to get upset when a Dr mentions a prob w/the heart & that you have to face surgery. I now know how a lobster feels having its chest cracked but thorasic & cardiac surgery is so advanced that I can promise you that you'll be fine. Try to keep a positive attitude and have faith; they told me after 3 days that if I could walk up & down a flight of stairs 4 times, I could go home..........I bolted & got my boney butt outta that hospital & back into my own home in no time. My thoughts & prayers are with you (Navy brat here) but above all : keep the faith.\nBeth
163737
Try\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiac_pacemaker
1060169
"Thickening of the walls is related to hypertension.  Systole occurs when the left ventricle of the heart is pumping the blood through the body.  Think of a water hose, when more force is applied by the water pump, more pressure is applied against the inner walls of the hose.  This is the same with the heart and arteries.  arteries are surrounded with muscles that contract and expand the artery to help maintain enough pressure to feed a sufficient quantity of blood to all of the cells of the body.\n\nJust like any muscle these muscles around the arteries get larger with increased use and increased resistance.  When these arteries thicken because of this muscle growth the inside area of the artery becomes smaller providing less of an area for the volume of blood.  this restricts the flow of blood and makes the heart beat harder and faster to deliver the required amount of oxygen containing blood to the cells.  This decrease in flow area also then allows plaque, and clotting blood to stick to the side of the artery further narrowing the flow and finally depriving blood to an area where it is needed, like the heart, and results in death of the cells of a particular organ, such as the heart.  Thus causing a "heart attack".\n\nsystole is the term used for describing the pressure against the artery wall when the heart is contracting.
588289
When you say pains in your chest do you mean a tightness like in the middle of your chest??\nSome people even though they eat a diet with potassium in it still need a suppliment that is prescribed for them.\nIf you are 18yrs you can go to a doctor on your own without your parents consent. Call the family doctor that you usually go to or ask friends for referrals. If you are still living at home under the age of 18 you need to speak to your parents. This ongoing chest pain needs to be evaluated and blowing you off by saying eat your bananas is not good enough. You could still have a low potassium level.\nPotassium if it becomes to low is a critical condition and can lead to all types of heart problems that can even be lethal and sudden.\n\nPerhaps your episodes have frightened your parents and it is a subject they are afraid to discuss.\n\nIf you still can;t get thru to them I suggest the next time you have chest pain you call 911 have the paramedics show up at your house and let them take you to the emergency room for an evaluation.\n\n\nP.S. Try to stay away from the cigarette smoke as much as possible. IT IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF ASTHMA in children and the BIGGEST trigger for an asthma attach\n\n\nall the best to you and keep us posted