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Are there any channel blockers that won’t cause serious side effects to gums?

Unfortunately, the literature shows that gingival hyperplasia is associated with all calcium channel blockers. This is a well know side...

Are my daughter’s symptoms from arrhythmias, new medicine, or something else?

Hi DeAnne, It’s important to make sure that your daughter was having symptoms while wearing the monitors. If not, then...

How is the heart stopped during open heart surgery?

The surgeon infuses a chemical agent (cardioplegia) which stops the heart’s function. The solution contains potassium ion which has a...

Can you explain if/when junctional rhythm is a serious issue?

A Junctional rhythm can happen either due to the sinus node slowing down or the AV node speeding up. It...

Though I no longer have palpitations, should I have a repeat of my cardiac tests since I formerly had NSVT?

Not all the tests perhaps, but I usually repeat ECG, stress test and echo every few years.

What treatment options are there for one who has long q-t syndrome and narcolepsy?

The first thing is to establish a diagnosis of the arrhythmia. This could be accomplished by heart rhythm monitoring of...

Does high altitude affect atrial fibrillation?

The answer is it may. It depends on many variables like age, hypertension, COPD, fitness level, whether you live at...

If I had a serious heart condition, would my 30 day MCOT be abnormal?

Yes, frequent extra beats, especially if every other beat is a PVC, can have a negative impact on the function...

Does Texas Heart Institute use stem cell therapies for treating heart disease?

Dear Flavio, We are moving forward with stem cell research at THI. We are currently treating patients with heart failure...

Is it safe for someone with paroxysmal atrial fib (PAF) to take Aspirin 81 mg and Coumadin 5 mg?

It’s not at all unusual to take both aspirin (e.g., for CAD) and Coumadin (for afib). Adjusting one’s Coumadin dose...

Is it normal to have two beats together (since mine are not ‘skipped’ beats) ?

Probably what the doctor noted were PVC (premature ventricular beats) in a bigeminal pattern (one normal one premature, one normal...

Should I have the Lariat procedure or Watchman device?

Hi David. First, let me be clear. I have a vested interest in SentreHeart and the Lariat, as I invented...