Questions about heart disease... - Heart Disorders Message Board

jess25 · 08-11-2006, 12:33 PM

I am a 27 yo female with a strong family history of heart disease. My father died at 52, sister died at 42, brother died at 34, just this June actually. I have started having all kinds of symptoms over the last 2 years. I had a stress echo done 2 years ago, numerous EKG's, blood work for lipid profile, LDL 76, HDL 33, tryglicerides 315, but was not a fasting so I think the last one is not accurate and a total cholesterol of 176. I am over weight and I do smoke. I have started having a numbness in my left hand in the pinky and ring finger that is pretty constant. I have pain in my left jaw and also numbness. I have started to have like a tingling sensation, usually at night, that fells like it kinda starts deep in my stomach and will move up into my chest, fells kinda like a wave washing up and it will last for a few minutes and then go away. When it happens I get really scared, my heart will beat fast and I will get really dizzy. Does this sound as if it might be heart disease? On my echo 2 years ago, I had an ef of 55% and it also showed slight Mitral Valve regurge, but I am worried about Coronary Artery disease. With my family history it really scares me, but then people tell me with Cholesterol like mine it is very unlikely. All of my family members that passed away had extremely high Cholesterol. Any info would be great. Oh and some times it feels as if my heart is fluttering like it can't beat properly. I sometimes have episodes where I feel it skip, get real dizzy like I am going to faint and then it will thump really hard and skip again, thump hard and then it speeds up really fast but a few seconds later other than still being shaky i am ok.
TYIA

started04 · 08-11-2006, 09:34 PM

Hi jess,

You have the classic symptoms of a cardiovascular disorder. Given your family history, low normal EF, some MVG, diet, smoking, etc. you should get another exam.

Lenin · 08-12-2006, 05:43 AM

jess,

I'm going to weigh in on the side of heart disease not likely. THat pinky numbness is SO charachteristic of a nerve impingement either in your wrist, shoulder or spinal nerve. Same goes for that pain and numbness in the jaw, but there I'll go with probably TMJ syndrome...you might be a teeth clencher while you sleep.

BUT you do have what can only be called perhaps the worst possible familial risk factors for heart disease. I assume all three direct relatives died of heart disease?

Your cholesterol is pretty good (with great LDL's) but quite uncommon and first thing I'd get a retest to see the real picture after fasting to get the triglycerides in line. Your HDL's are also low and present a risk factor separate in itself.

But before talking up ways to lower your risk, get that fasting blood test done. You might also ask the doctor to run an Lp(a) on you if your insurance company is okay with that. Most are, some aren't. If you need a pre-cert for it, all your doctor has to do is reiterate that family history and your low HDL.

(And we'll see you back in a couple weeks

!)

arvc · 08-12-2006, 07:24 PM

jess25,
I would get another exam if I were you just like others have said. I know you probably worry with such a family history of deaths,with good reason. If you believe more is going on trust your body. Insist on more tests if you still have the fluttering and especially with the dizziness. I wish you all the best!