rc1975
10-23-2007, 04:53 PM
had an echo done today and in the middle of it the tech asked if i smoked? i guess she saw something not good for her to ask that during the middle of the test? i never smoked before
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bmwboy2844
10-23-2007, 07:30 PM
That is normal during an echo to ask that type of question; they asked me, and my heart was fine.
poslisa
10-23-2007, 09:10 PM
I'm actually an echo tech and a lot of the time we ask that if we have difficulty getting clear heart images. With people that smoke we sometimes have difficulty getting clear images because of their lungs. There are many reasons why we sometimes have difficulty, but smoking and body habitus are usually our main culprits.
rc1975
10-23-2007, 09:39 PM
whats body habitus ? and could blocked arteries be the reason why u cant get clear images?
poslisa
10-24-2007, 12:21 AM
Body habitus is referring to the person's body size/structure. Sometimes with men they will have what we consider a barrel chest which makes it a little bit difficult to get great images. Typically very thin patients and obese patients are difficult to get images, but with that said I have had patient who were 400+ pounds and had wonderful images and have also had 90 pound patients with beautiful images.
When doing echoes we cannot see blocked arteries. We are looking at the structure of the heart, the valves, the ejection fraction (pumping ability) among other things. When we do stress echocardiograms we take pictures of the heart at rest and then images again when the heart rate is at peak. We cannot actually see blocked arteries, but we can see if there is any change in wall motion that is seen with blocked arteries.
Hope this helps a little.
When doing echoes we cannot see blocked arteries. We are looking at the structure of the heart, the valves, the ejection fraction (pumping ability) among other things. When we do stress echocardiograms we take pictures of the heart at rest and then images again when the heart rate is at peak. We cannot actually see blocked arteries, but we can see if there is any change in wall motion that is seen with blocked arteries.
Hope this helps a little.
started04
10-24-2007, 01:44 PM
double post
claflamme
10-24-2007, 01:53 PM
I am actually scheduled for my 2nd echo tomorrow, My cardiologist scheduled it because my 1st done a few months ago showed myocarditis and my ef was 35-40%. Down from 60-65 in april 2007.
I am 26 years old with a family history of heart disease. My cardio. hasn't said what it is or what is even going on he did put me on lisinopril once every other day for a few months I guess to see if my function improves. He said I had reduced blood flow.
The thing is when I had an echo in april of this year I was a little overweight and has symptoms (shortness of breath, felt like a brick on my chest, I do have mild asthma,)
But since then I was working out and went from 142 lbs down to 120 with no symptoms. I thought that when you are more active and losing weight your ef goes up.
I do not smoke either I did for about 6 years but quit about 4 years ago.
If anyone has any insight.
He said the myocarditis may have been from a virus. He also said if the myocarditis I believe doesn't go away then I will need more testing.
The last virus I had was a few months before the myocarditis was discovered,Can it last that long?
Thanks
I am 26 years old with a family history of heart disease. My cardio. hasn't said what it is or what is even going on he did put me on lisinopril once every other day for a few months I guess to see if my function improves. He said I had reduced blood flow.
The thing is when I had an echo in april of this year I was a little overweight and has symptoms (shortness of breath, felt like a brick on my chest, I do have mild asthma,)
But since then I was working out and went from 142 lbs down to 120 with no symptoms. I thought that when you are more active and losing weight your ef goes up.
I do not smoke either I did for about 6 years but quit about 4 years ago.
If anyone has any insight.
He said the myocarditis may have been from a virus. He also said if the myocarditis I believe doesn't go away then I will need more testing.
The last virus I had was a few months before the myocarditis was discovered,Can it last that long?
Thanks
started04
10-25-2007, 03:02 PM
Originally Posted by poslisa
Body habitus is referring to the person's body size/structure. Sometimes with men they will have what we consider a barrel chest which makes it a little bit difficult to get great images. Typically very thin patients and obese patients are difficult to get images, but with that said I have had patient who were 400+ pounds and had wonderful images and have also had 90 pound patients with beautiful images.
When doing echoes we cannot see blocked arteries. We are looking at the structure of the heart, the valves, the ejection fraction (pumping ability) among other things. When we do stress echocardiograms we take pictures of the heart at rest and then images again when the heart rate is at peak. We cannot actually see blocked arteries, but we can see if there is any change in wall motion that is seen with blocked arteries.
Hope this helps a little.
________________________________________ ____
Hi Poslisa,
Rest and peak images provide the dimensions of the left ventricle chamber to determine capacity. The EF is the volume fraction of blood pumped with each stroke.
My question is what/how is the calculation for volume of blood pumped into circulation with each stroke if there is mitral valve regurgitation? My EF is 60% with moderate MVR?!
Body habitus is referring to the person's body size/structure. Sometimes with men they will have what we consider a barrel chest which makes it a little bit difficult to get great images. Typically very thin patients and obese patients are difficult to get images, but with that said I have had patient who were 400+ pounds and had wonderful images and have also had 90 pound patients with beautiful images.
When doing echoes we cannot see blocked arteries. We are looking at the structure of the heart, the valves, the ejection fraction (pumping ability) among other things. When we do stress echocardiograms we take pictures of the heart at rest and then images again when the heart rate is at peak. We cannot actually see blocked arteries, but we can see if there is any change in wall motion that is seen with blocked arteries.
Hope this helps a little.
________________________________________ ____
Hi Poslisa,
Rest and peak images provide the dimensions of the left ventricle chamber to determine capacity. The EF is the volume fraction of blood pumped with each stroke.
My question is what/how is the calculation for volume of blood pumped into circulation with each stroke if there is mitral valve regurgitation? My EF is 60% with moderate MVR?!
Refuge 51
10-29-2007, 11:14 PM
I had my second echo today after being diagnosed with DCM in Aug. My first was an ef of 10-15%...today it's 50% Yay!! I'm staying on my meds for at least a year, maybe for life. But it's up there again and normal is 55%
Never ever give up. :angel:
Never ever give up. :angel:
mimiof3
10-30-2007, 04:06 AM
I'm so happy for you!!!!!!!
Refuge 51
10-30-2007, 01:28 PM
Thank you:) I know if I go off the meds, I could catch a cold then my ef will plummet, so I will stay on my meds forever if need be! I told my cardiologist the only side effect was I thought the coreg was causing me to gain weight. He laughed and said "no, that's not really a side effect of coreg"
"Oh..." I answered. "Guess I'd better take up walking then" :D
"Oh..." I answered. "Guess I'd better take up walking then" :D
started04
10-31-2007, 01:17 PM
Thank you:) I know if I go off the meds, I could catch a cold then my ef will plummet, so I will stay on my meds forever if need be! I told my cardiologist the only side effect was I thought the coreg was causing me to gain weight. He laughed and said "no, that's not really a side effect of coreg"
"Oh..." I answered. "Guess I'd better take up walking then" :D
Good news, Refuge!:) Obviously your DCM was the underlying cause as there is no evidence of ischemia? Do you know the underlying cause for your LV remodelling?
"Oh..." I answered. "Guess I'd better take up walking then" :D
Good news, Refuge!:) Obviously your DCM was the underlying cause as there is no evidence of ischemia? Do you know the underlying cause for your LV remodelling?
Refuge 51
10-31-2007, 02:29 PM
Good news, Refuge!:) Obviously your DCM was the underlying cause as there is no evidence of ischemia? Do you know the underlying cause for your LV remodelling?
I am so new to this heart info...are you asking me if I had a virus? I don't know..the cardio thinks it's a possibility..I cannot say enough good things about coreg though:)
I do know my bp was always normal or normal high..but my pulse at rest was 100...now my usual resting pulse is 75 and my bp is 117/78 I don't smoke or drink, my arteries are fantastic...so I just don't know what caused it.
I am so new to this heart info...are you asking me if I had a virus? I don't know..the cardio thinks it's a possibility..I cannot say enough good things about coreg though:)
I do know my bp was always normal or normal high..but my pulse at rest was 100...now my usual resting pulse is 75 and my bp is 117/78 I don't smoke or drink, my arteries are fantastic...so I just don't know what caused it.
pistons22girl
10-31-2007, 03:32 PM
wow.. i'm not sure what mine is, but i know its low.. i developed CHF due to fluid retention from Preeclampsia in a recent pregnancy. I know you must feel 100% better, being at 50% now. I'm very happy for you, b/c i know how nerve-wrecking it can be to worry about this disease. How did you get yours back up so high? I know I should avoid sodium but its in EVERYTHING.. I hope I can take some steps to get mine built back up also. Congrats again!;)
Refuge 51
10-31-2007, 10:45 PM
wow.. i'm not sure what mine is, but i know its low.. i developed CHF due to fluid retention from Preeclampsia in a recent pregnancy. I know you must feel 100% better, being at 50% now. I'm very happy for you, b/c i know how nerve-wrecking it can be to worry about this disease. How did you get yours back up so high? I know I should avoid sodium but its in EVERYTHING.. I hope I can take some steps to get mine built back up also. Congrats again!;)
Thanks!!
I didn't avoid sodium, I lowered it. I couldn't give it up completely!:D I didn't do anything that would make my heart race, and I slowed down to just one cup of coffee. Caffeine will make your heart beat too fast and there's 200mg. in just one cup of coffee compared to 50mg. in a cup of tea. I ate lots of protein, mostly roasted chicken; I don't eat red meat. Olive oil is something I really like so I eat a lot of that, and pecans. I ate an avacado every three days too. But seriously I believe it was the three drugs: coreg, digoxin and atacand that helped me. And the other life saver was the lasix because it kept the fluid off. I don't have more energy because I don't sleep well, due to my fibromyalgia, so I'm always a little tired. But that nagging fear is gone.
Thanks!!
I didn't avoid sodium, I lowered it. I couldn't give it up completely!:D I didn't do anything that would make my heart race, and I slowed down to just one cup of coffee. Caffeine will make your heart beat too fast and there's 200mg. in just one cup of coffee compared to 50mg. in a cup of tea. I ate lots of protein, mostly roasted chicken; I don't eat red meat. Olive oil is something I really like so I eat a lot of that, and pecans. I ate an avacado every three days too. But seriously I believe it was the three drugs: coreg, digoxin and atacand that helped me. And the other life saver was the lasix because it kept the fluid off. I don't have more energy because I don't sleep well, due to my fibromyalgia, so I'm always a little tired. But that nagging fear is gone.
started04
11-01-2007, 12:51 PM
I am so new to this heart info...are you asking me if I had a virus? I don't know..the cardio thinks it's a possibility..I cannot say enough good things about coreg though:)
I do know my bp was always normal or normal high..but my pulse at rest was 100...now my usual resting pulse is 75 and my bp is 117/78 I don't smoke or drink, my arteries are fantastic...so I just don't know what caused it.
I had DCM and a fast heart rate (115 when taken to ER) to compensate for reduced blood flow caused by occluded vessels, etc.
Sometimes DCM is ideopathic (cause unknown) and heart muscle is impaired effecting cardiac output and the heart rate will increase as well as left ventricle remodeling. Apparently, then, that may be your situation and I was curious to know if the underlying cause was known.
Coreg (I take 10 mg 2X) and that does reduce the HR. My HR is 60-65 at rest. It is a beta blocker that also lowers bp, and sometimes Coreg is not recommended for an individual who has normal bp as it may decrease bp to a level that may cause a problem. But your bp is very good an evidence your vessels are healthy.
I do know my bp was always normal or normal high..but my pulse at rest was 100...now my usual resting pulse is 75 and my bp is 117/78 I don't smoke or drink, my arteries are fantastic...so I just don't know what caused it.
I had DCM and a fast heart rate (115 when taken to ER) to compensate for reduced blood flow caused by occluded vessels, etc.
Sometimes DCM is ideopathic (cause unknown) and heart muscle is impaired effecting cardiac output and the heart rate will increase as well as left ventricle remodeling. Apparently, then, that may be your situation and I was curious to know if the underlying cause was known.
Coreg (I take 10 mg 2X) and that does reduce the HR. My HR is 60-65 at rest. It is a beta blocker that also lowers bp, and sometimes Coreg is not recommended for an individual who has normal bp as it may decrease bp to a level that may cause a problem. But your bp is very good an evidence your vessels are healthy.
Refuge 51
11-01-2007, 06:11 PM
I had DCM and a fast heart rate (115 when taken to ER) to compensate for reduced blood flow caused by occluded vessels, etc.
Sometimes DCM is ideopathic (cause unknown) and heart muscle is impaired effecting cardiac output and the heart rate will increase as well as left ventricle remodeling. Apparently, then, that may be your situation and I was curious to know if the underlying cause was known.
Coreg (I take 10 mg 2X) and that does reduce the HR. My HR is 60-65 at rest. It is a beta blocker that also lowers bp, and sometimes Coreg is not recommended for an individual who has normal bp as it may decrease bp to a level that may cause a problem. But your bp is very good an evidence your vessels are healthy.
The reason I didn't stop coffee completely was I didn't want to lower my already normal bp any more than necessary as one time it was 95/65 while on Coreg. The coffee helped keep it stable as silly as that sounds..
Sometimes DCM is ideopathic (cause unknown) and heart muscle is impaired effecting cardiac output and the heart rate will increase as well as left ventricle remodeling. Apparently, then, that may be your situation and I was curious to know if the underlying cause was known.
Coreg (I take 10 mg 2X) and that does reduce the HR. My HR is 60-65 at rest. It is a beta blocker that also lowers bp, and sometimes Coreg is not recommended for an individual who has normal bp as it may decrease bp to a level that may cause a problem. But your bp is very good an evidence your vessels are healthy.
The reason I didn't stop coffee completely was I didn't want to lower my already normal bp any more than necessary as one time it was 95/65 while on Coreg. The coffee helped keep it stable as silly as that sounds..