Stress test ok, but have low blood pressure, slow pulse, fainting - Heart Disorders Message Board

Meagan312 · 06-18-2004, 06:13 PM

I'm a 43 yo female who was very healthy until some 3 months ago when I had a bad viral infection & bronchitis. I always had low blood pressure, but it never affected me in a negative way. In recent months, however, I've been having an awful lot of very strange symptoms, such as weakness, shortness of breath, anxiety attacks, a slow heartbeat (around 50), ringing in my ears, and repeated fainting episodes.

My doctor sent me to a cardiologist for an echo/stress test, and that went well. Can I assume that rules out heart problems? (I have no other risk factors.) What else (other than stress) could cause these symptoms?

Thanks!

Sara Dancer · 06-18-2004, 06:18 PM

Have you taken a tilt table test yet?

hummingbirdkiss · 06-18-2004, 07:00 PM

message deleted

Meagan312 · 06-18-2004, 08:54 PM

I have a lot of the symptoms hummingbirdkiss mentioned, such as the heart racing if go up a flight of stairs, or even if I stand up! And doctors also blame my symptoms on anxiety, even though I have no history of anxiety.

I just read up on pericarditis and a lot of symptoms match. But the doctor listened to my heart many times, and I had the echochardiogram. Wouldn't they have detected it by now? If not, what tests should they do? My sed rate was high for quite a while, but it's back to normal now. If it is pericarditis, can it just go away by itself?

As for the tilt table test, my doctor mentioned it but didn't seem to want to do it. What does it indicate?

Thanks for your feedback.

abbygirl2 · 06-19-2004, 02:56 AM

The tilt table is usually given to those who faint. However your Dr may have his own reasons to believe it would be inconclusive at this point. Having the stress test and echo may be all that was needed, and I believe an echo can rule out pericarditis.
You said you have anxiety attacks, and that you have a low heartrate(50). Does your heart race during an attack? How low is your BP? When you passout is it right after standing or after you have been on your feet for a while(standing still).

Have you had a chest xray to look at your lungs?

If you get the opportunity, I would take the tilt table test. These symptoms may or may not be related. I don't know if ringing in the ears would have anything to do with your heart. Just keep pushing for tests and don't let them tell you its anxiety if you feel its not. Let us know what turns up.

Take care
Abby