heart and circulation

[Ken Fretwell]

My heart misses a beat at very irregular intervals,I have had ECG checks but was told I was OK.However,I also sometimes get very weak and feel as though I will collapse, so I have to sit or lie down quickly.I feel very week and ill ,no pain,but generally just wacked.This has become more common over the past 12 months,but I have had similar episodes in the past when I feel I may die!! I am 70 yrs old and a non smoker.

[Dr_Brody_DC]

My heart misses a beat at very irregular intervals,I have had ECG checks but was told I was OK.However,I also sometimes get very weak and feel as though I will collapse, so I have to sit or lie down quickly.I feel very week and ill ,no pain,but generally just wacked.This has become more common over the past 12 months,but I have had similar episodes in the past when I feel I may die!! I am 70 yrs old and a non smoker.

Dear Ken,

Ask your doctor if s/he would be willing to prescribe a 24-hour monitoring device that you wear constantly. It records your heart activity and you make notes whenever your symptoms occur. Another option is to have your carotid, subclavian, and vertebro-basilar arteries imaged, to rule out occlusion or emboli. A lipids profile and thyroid function should be checked as well. Mitral valve prolapse (usually benign) can precipitate panic attacks (that dying feeling), but only shows up on an echocardiogram. Finally, it may not be cardiac at all; you may have a blood sugar problem or simply be chronically dehydrated. Until you can get all this testing processed through the health system, you might be extra careful with your food and fluid intake and see if that helps.