Possible Heart Disease Symptoms Are Written Off Due to Weight

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’ve been experiencing pain in my chest, dizziness and shortness of breath on exertion. The chest pain lasts for a few hours. At one point, it was so bad that I couldn’t walk a hundred feet, had to use a cane and severely limit my physical activity. I’ve been to the doctor about this before. They take an EKG, which comes back normal, so they chalk it up to anxiety, then tell me I’m fat. (I am not unaware that I’m fat, but even when I was doing intense martial arts twice a week, I couldn’t lose the weight. And my physical therapist told me not to do yoga.)

If it makes a difference, I’m also a Type 2 diabetic and have fibromyalgia as well as PTSD. This is not the only issue that doctors have refused to treat because they decide to blame it all on my weight. My diabetes went unchecked for a while because my doctor only told me to lose weight, instead of ordering blood tests when I complained about the symptoms. When these symptoms happen, my friends tell me to go to the doctor, but they don’t do anything to change the situation. Why should I pay over $1,000 and waste a few hours for an urgent care visit and an EKG only to get told that I’m fat and anxious, when I can cover my chest with stickers, play on my phone and tell myself I’m fat at home for free? Who’s right, me or my friends? -- S.T.

ANSWER: I am very sorry to hear how poorly you are being treated. I have heard from many people that doctors do not take symptoms seriously in people who are overweight or obese. (There is strong evidence that this is true, and that women and people of color are also treated worse systemically. People with any mental health issue, such as anxiety or PTSD, are often disbelieved.)

While I understand that you are frustrated, your symptoms are very concerning. Particularly if you are over 50, they are highly suggestive of heart disease -- especially in a person with diabetes, which increases risk of heart disease. Given your poor experience, how much you are paying and your PTSD, I can absolutely understand why you are reluctant to go. However, you deserve to get good care, and I believe you will be able to find a doctor who can treat you well and not automatically write off any complaint due to your weight and anxiety. I’d recommend you be completely honest about your concerns.

When I have a patient with multiple ER or acute care visits for possible heart disease, I often recommend a more definitive test than an EKG and blood testing, which is the usual acute care evaluation when looking for damage to the heart muscle. This may be a coronary CT angiogram, which is highly sensitive and specific. (The weight limit for this test depends on the scanner, but is typically 450 pounds.)

If you have blockages in your heart causing your recurrent symptoms, it needs to be treated to prevent a heart attack. If blockages aren’t the cause, the EKGs usually aren’t helpful, and you’ll need a different type of evaluation to find out where these symptoms are coming from.

*** Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.

© 2023 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved

Cold Medicine Ingredients Can Raise Your Blood Pressure

(NAPSI)—There’s a reason it’s called the “common” cold: Adults have an average two to three colds per year and children even more, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Problem

Most people recover from a cold within a week to 10 days. But decongestants may raise blood pressure or interfere with the effectiveness of some prescribed blood pressure medications, according to the American Heart Association.

Read The Label

Be sure to read labels on over-the-counter (OTC) medications, especially if you have high blood pressure (HBP). Some contain decongestants such as oxymetazoline, phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine.

You should also look for warnings related to high blood pressure or HBP medication and talk to your health care professional before taking OTC medications or supplements.And don’t stop taking prescribed medications without talking to your doctor.

Some OTCs are also high in sodium, which can raise blood pressure. So look at the active and inactive ingredients lists for the words “sodium” or “soda.” If you have high blood pressure, you should consume less than 1,500 mg of sodium a day from all sources—and one dose of some OTCs can contain more than a whole day’s allowance.

Be Careful With Supplements Or Natural (Naturopathic) Remedies Special pills, vitamins or drinks don’t substitute for prescription medications and lifestyle modifications. Talk to your health care provider before taking any OTC drug or supplement that claims to lower your blood pressure. They may not work as advertised and may interfere with other medications. Some, like natural licorice and diet pills, can even raise your blood pressure.

What Else To Watch For

Other drugs and substances that can raise your blood pressure include:

• Alcohol

• Amphetamines

• Antidepressants

• Atypical Antipsychotics (such as clozapine and olanzapine)

• Caffeine

• Oral Contraceptives

• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs: ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, for example)

• Illicit Drugs

• Systemic Corticosteroids (for example, prednisone and methylprednisolone)

Learn More: For more information about keeping your heart healthy, go to www. heart.org/hbp. The maker of Coricidin HBP, Bayer Healthcare LLC, is a proud sponsor of the American Heart Association’s High Blood Pressure Effort.

585-226-8111

1471 Route 15 Avon, NY 14414

Disrespectful kids

When I was walking my dogs, these kids had a loud speaker playing rude music on max volume.Then they started to shout disrespectful comments to me and my dogs. Where are these kids’ parents?!

Shame on man who cussed out preschool child

On Saturday afternoon, 6/17/23, shame on the man who abruptly stopped his blue 4 door sedan in [a parking lot] across from [fast food restaurant] to cuss out a child. The man exited his car, opened the driver side rear door to shout obscenities at what appeared to be a pre-schooler strapped into a car seat in the back. The man then grabbed the child’s drink and threw it on the ground. Then he called the child a disgusting name, slammed the door, and proceeded to take off in the car at about 50 mph in the mall lot. Shame on you as an adult to act like that to anyone, much less a child. Still shocked by this unacceptable behavior! :O

Ridiculously Rough Railroad Tracks

Who’s responsible for repairing rough railroad tracks… the railroad, the town, the county? This well traveled rural road has tracks in front of the railroad and you have to just about stop to TRY to save your vehicle from the wear and tear. Recently, other tracks around this area were repaired and they’re smooth sailing now. Somehow this set was skipped over, and in my opinion, these were worse than the others. Anybody know whose responsibility it is for the repair?

• Buy the right bikes. Take time to research different brands of bicycles and what they offer. Some bikes are ideal for streets or paved trails, while others are better for rustic roads and trails. A qualified bike retailer can help shoppers find the right bike for themandtheirfamilies,ensuring everyone in the family is riding the right size bike and the one commensurate with their skill level.

• Limit the distance. Children won’t be able to put in as many miles as their parents or older

Going for a bike ride is one of the best ways for people to exercise in fresh air. Cycling is not only earth-conscious and convenient, but it also is a fun & popular activity that families can enjoy. siblings. Limit cycling excursions to a reasonable amount of time so youngsters’ health is not compromised.

• Focus on fun. Consider what kids will get out of the trip and gear the afternoon around that. Choose a path that circles a scenic lake or leads to an ice cream stand. Make your cycling excursion more of an afternoon out than a marathon biking session.

• Take frequent breaks. Little legs may not be able to keep up, and adults will need to anticipate stopping along the way.

• Know the terrain. Stick to routes you have ridden before. Leave the more intense courses that include extreme climbs and dips for those times when kids are not in tow. Stick to lightly trafficked routes, or travel during off-peak hours. Consult with trail guidesandreadreviewsaswell.

Cycling as a family can be an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon & get some exercise.