How Soon After a CT Scan Could It Cause Cancer?
Anyone concerned about how soon after having a CT scan it could cause cancer certainly knows about the “one in 1,000” statistic.
In other words, in past studies, researchers have concluded that the odds of getting cancer from a CT scan were one in a thousand. (more…)
You Know Your Elderly Parent Might Have Alzheimer’s When…
How can you tell an elderly parent might have Alzheimer’s when forgetfulness is a normal part of aging? (more…)
All the Sounds in the Ear that TMJ Disorder Can Cause
TMJ disorder can cause tinnitus, but what does this tinnitus sound like?
Tinnitus has been described as being many different kinds of sounds that a person subjectively “hears” inside their ears. (more…)
Cause of Headaches and Swooshing Sound in Ears
One of the possible causes of new-onset headaches and a swooshing sound in the ears will really surprise you.
In fact, doctors failed to figure out what was causing these symptoms in a 14-year-old girl. Her problem could also happen to adults. (more…)
Can Sleep Apnea Mandibular Appliance Worsen TMJ Disorder?
Oral appliances for sleep apnea, namely the mandibular advancement device, can make a pre-existing TMJ problem worse.
This is ironic, because in some cases of obstructive sleep apnea, TMJ disorder is the cause. (more…)
Two Medical Conditions that Can Make TMJ Worse
There are common two medical conditions in particular that can make TMJ disorder a lot worse.
Temporomandibular joint disorder symptoms are bad enough without some other medical condition amplifying them. (more…)
Is Your Headache from TMJ or Brain Tumor? Misdiagnosis Possible
Have you been told by a dentist that your headaches are from TMJ? What has your dentist done to rule out a brain tumor?
“There are many different kinds of headaches, but TMJ headaches typically occur with other symptoms,” says Jeffrey Haddad, DDS, of Doolin Haddad Advanced Dentistry in Rochester, MI. (more…)
Lip Swelling Overnight: Causes, How to Treat and Prevent
Waking up in the morning to find that your lips have swelled up can be a pretty alarming experience.
“Lips can swell [overnight] for a number of reasons,” says Walter Gaman, MD, FABFM, board certified in family medicine and the author of several award-winning books including “Age to Perfection: How to Thrive to 100, Happy, Healthy, and Wise.”
Does Having PVC’s when Relaxed Mean a Serious Heart Problem?
You’re just sitting there relaxed before the TV, computer or reading a magazine when suddenly you get a run of PVCs.
Can a healthy heart have premature ventricular contractions at rest?
You know what these are: that unexpected extra heartbeat, or perhaps the sensation feels like a skipped beat — a scary pause in between the beats.
This may even happen for several beats in a row.
“Just about everyone has PVCs sometimes – even hundreds of PVCs per day can be normal,” says Daniel P. Morin, MD, FACC, formerly Director of both Electrophysiology Research and Cardiovascular Research for Ochsner Health System, and currently Professor of Medicine and Cardiology at University of California, San Francisco.
“PVCs can range from harmless to dangerous,” continues Dr. Morin.
“If there are few PVCs, even if they’re symptomatic, most often they’re just a nuisance.”
The symptoms would be one or more of the following.
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
“If there are more – often, many thousand per day – there can be consequences, including causing weakening of the heart’s squeezing function over time, which may be reversible with appropriate treatment,” says Dr. Morin.
When the heart’s squeezing function is weakened, this is called heart failure. The heart fails to squeeze or contract optimally.
The result is reduced blood flow throughout the body. Over time this can impair kidney and liver function because these organs are highly vascular and are sensitive to reductions in blood flow.
People with chronic heart failure may not even know they have renal insufficiency or cardiac liver disease unless they undergo testing, such the creatinine test for kidney function.
There are various causes of chronic heart failure, and untreated premature ventricular contractions is one of them.
Premature ventricular contractions are early heartbeats originating in the ventricles, and when frequent or sustained, they can disrupt normal cardiac rhythm and function.
Over time, a high burden of PVCs — especially more than 10% of total heartbeats — can lead to PVC-induced cardiomyopathy, a reversible form of heart failure.
The constant irregular contractions strain the heart, reducing its pumping efficiency and triggering structural changes.
Early detection and treatment of frequent PVCs through medication, lifestyle changes or catheter ablation can significantly reduce the risk of progression to CHF.
When the PVCs are appropriately treated, then the heart hopefully can recover, regain its normal shape and thus eventually regain an optimal squeezing with each beat.
If any “fluttering” you feel in your chest seems to be occurring way too frequently, it’s time to see a cardiologist.
Dr. Morin’s clinical interests are in device therapy for cardiac dysfunction (including cardiac resynchronization therapy) and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias with medical therapy and/or catheter ablation.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: ©Lorra Garrick
Can Prilosec Cause Heart Palpitations or PVC’s?
There’s a very logical reason why premature ventricular contractions or palpitations seem to go hand-in-hand with Prilosec.
Prilosec is commonly used in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease — commonly known as GERD or just “acid reflux.”
“Because Prilosec is a very commonly used drug, and palpitations are a very common symptom, it’s likely that palpitations can be found in Prilosec users,” says Daniel P. Morin, MD, FACC, formerly Director of both Electrophysiology Research and Cardiovascular Research for Ochsner Health System, and currently Professor of Medicine and Cardiology at University of California, San Francisco.
“One condition that Prilosec treats, acid reflux disease (a.k.a., “GERD”), can make the heartbeat more easily felt, so that may cause an apparent association between Prilosec use and the feeling of palpitations,” continues Dr. Morin.
“If a patient suspects that any drug is the cause of their palpitations, one way to test that is to stop that medication for a time (if that is OK’d by the patient’s physician), then see if the symptoms resolve, then restart the medication.”
The bottom line is that there is no evidence or even suggestions via research that point to a cause-and-effect relationship between Prilosec or similar drugs, and the onset of heart “palpitations.”
The subjective experience of a palpitations varies. To some people, this means a racing heart with a steady beat.
To others it means a feeling of a skipped beat. While others report an extra beat or a brief thumping sensation.
If you have occasional acid reflux or its more chronic counterpart, GERD, and are worried about
Prilosec or other PPI (proton pump inhibitor) drugs causing heart palpitations — then why not see if natural treatments can relieve your heartburn and other related symptoms?
Fight GERD without Prilosec and other Drugs
• Avoid eating within three hours of bedtime.
• Avoid eating a lot at once.
• Avoid fast eating.
• Cut back on known acid reflux triggers such as spicy foods, chocolate, raw onions, citrus fruits, orange juice, alcohol and caffeine.
• Work on managing anxiety, as this can also trigger acid reflux. Anxiety is also notorious for causing heart palpitations.
Dr. Morin’s clinical interests are in device therapy for cardiac dysfunction (including cardiac resynchronization therapy) and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias with medical therapy and/or catheter ablation.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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