Heartburn an indicator of problems?

Preston Crawford said:

The only reason I think this is because the story I heard
of Tommy Lasorda where he thought he had really bad
heartburn and it turned out to be a heart attack. I'm not
having any other typical symptoms. My only recent
complaint is that I used to weight 250 and now I'm up to
268 after a pretty rough year

Uh-oh.

Quoted message said:

where I didn't exercise as much as I'd like to normally.

More likely is that the stress drove you to eat more.

Quoted message said:

Lately, though I've had pretty bad heartburn. And I had
that sleep study recently with the PVCs. My doctor says
I'm okay, but I'm an anxiety patient so.... I'm prone to
asking questions when stuff like this pops up.

Preston

Would suggest you inform your doctor about your
worsening symptoms.

Servant to the humblest person in the universe,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

**
Who is the humblest person in the universe?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

What is all this about?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

Is this spam?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

Preston Crawford said:

The only reason I think this is because the story I heard
of Tommy Lasorda where he thought he had really bad
heartburn and it turned out to be a heart attack. I'm not
having any other typical symptoms. My only recent
complaint is that I used to weight 250 and now I'm up to
268 after a pretty rough year where I didn't exercise as
much as I'd like to normally.

Lately, though I've had pretty bad heartburn. And I had
that sleep study recently with the PVCs. My doctor says
I'm okay, but I'm an anxiety patient so.... I'm prone to
asking questions when stuff like this pops up.

Preston

Don't wait for the symptom to turn into full blown angina ;
268 is too heavy and probably means your arteries are at
risk if not constricted. Start reading about diets and
habits to keep your cardiovascular system supple and
healthy. Switch to the "Mediterranean diet" (Google / "de
Lorgeril" ). Exercise gently half an hour twice a day or the
equivalent. Meditate (Zazen, for example). Don't smoke.
Don't fuss. Don't worry.

Oh yes, watch for side effects if you are ever given a
prescription for fancy schmancy medecines that cost $$$,
statins, specifically.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Preston Crawford said:

The only reason I think this is because the story I heard
of Tommy Lasorda where he thought he had really bad
heartburn and it turned out to be a heart attack. I'm not
having any other typical symptoms.

Yes - a feeling of heart burn can be a symptom of heart
problems. I had a burning at the base of my esophagus (where
the colar bones come together at the top of the rib cage)
that wouldn't go away with antacids. I also had a deep ache
in my left arm that came and went and I attributed to just
sore muscles for two weeks. Went to the hospital one
afternoon after getting dizzy from a short and not overly
strenuous walk
- had a 95% blockage in my right coronary artery.

Other than the left arm pain (though mine was more of an
ache) I never experienced the more common warning signs of
the feeling of an elephant on your chest, sweating, and
trouble breathing.

Preston Crawford <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

----------snip--------------

Quoted message said:

Lately, though I've had pretty bad heartburn.

Preston

Salut Preston

Are you taking a statin? Statins can cause heartburn, acid
reflux, hiatial hernia, pancreatitis, gall bladder disease,
helicobactor pylori ulcer and other gastrointestinal
disorders.

Ask your pharmacist to copy appropriate pages from the
product monograph for you and take them to your doctor. Also
ask your doctor to check his/her Physician's Desk Reference.
These side effects are listed there.

In my experience using meds like prepulsid and antacids does
not handle the problem if caused by a statin. You may need
to change lipid-lowering medications, or stop taking them
altogether. They all have a similar side-effect profile.
Bile acid sequestrants cause gi problems too, but not as
serious ones.

Zee

(Zee) said:

Preston Crawford <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

----------snip--------------

Quoted message said:

Lately, though I've had pretty bad heartburn.

Preston

Salut Preston

Are you taking a statin? Statins can cause heartburn, acid
reflux, hiatial hernia, pancreatitis, gall bladder disease,
helicobactor pylori ulcer and other gastrointestinal
disorders.

Ask your pharmacist to copy appropriate pages from the
product monograph for you and take them to your doctor.
Also ask your doctor to check his/her Physician's Desk
Reference. These side effects are listed there.

In my experience using meds like prepulsid and antacids
does not handle the problem if caused by a statin. You may
need to change lipid-lowering medications, or stop taking
them altogether. They all have a similar side-effect
profile. Bile acid sequestrants cause gi problems too, but
not as serious ones.

Zee

Zee,

well, statins can have side effects including GI problems,
however, I never heard about statin induced hiatal hernia (
which is a "mechanical problem" of the body causing GERD).
Maybe you have some references about this.

Michael

"Zee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Preston Crawford <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

----------snip--------------

Quoted message said:

Lately, though I've had pretty bad heartburn.

Preston

Salut Preston

Are you taking a statin? Statins can cause heartburn, acid
reflux, hiatial hernia, pancreatitis, gall bladder
disease, helicobactor pylori ulcer and other
gastrointestinal disorders.

Where in the world do you get these ideas? Can you support
any of that. Here is a definition of a hiatal hernia, for
example. From

my.webmd.com1815 50331Open ↗

How could statins cause this?

Bill

"The hiatus is an opening in the diaphragm -- the muscular
wall separating the chest cavity from the abdomen. Normally,
the esophagus (food pipe) goes through the hiatus and
attaches to the stomach. In a hiatal hernia (also called
hiatus hernia) the stomach bulges up into the chest through
that opening. "

Quoted message said:

Ask your pharmacist to copy appropriate pages from the
product monograph for you and take them to your doctor.
Also ask your doctor to check his/her Physician's Desk
Reference. These side effects are listed there.

In my experience using meds like prepulsid and antacids
does not handle the problem if caused by a statin. You may
need to change lipid-lowering medications, or stop taking
them altogether. They all have a similar side-effect
profile. Bile acid sequestrants cause gi problems too, but
not as serious ones.

Zee

Owen Lowe said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Preston Crawford said:

The only reason I think this is because the story I heard
of Tommy Lasorda where he thought he had really bad
heartburn and it turned out to be a heart attack. I'm not
having any other typical symptoms.

Yes - a feeling of heart burn can be a symptom of heart
problems. I had a burning at the base of my esophagus
(where the colar bones come together at the top of the rib
cage) that wouldn't go away with antacids. I also had a
deep ache in my left arm that came and went and I
attributed to just sore muscles for two weeks. Went to the
hospital one afternoon after getting dizzy from a short
and not overly strenuous walk
- had a 95% blockage in my right coronary artery.

Other than the left arm pain (though mine was more of an
ache) I never experienced the more common warning signs of
the feeling of an elephant on your chest, sweating, and
trouble breathing.

How did they eventually diagnose you? Because as someone who
also has anxiety, I've been tested, believe me. I've had
several EKGs. I've had a treadmill stress test and another
stress test where you lie down and they put stuff into your
bloodstream. Both turned up fine. I get my cholesterol
checked regularly (it's usually around 120) and I am
generally thinner and fitter due to lots of cycling and
eating right. It's only been the last few months that I've
put on weight and only the last few days that I've had
really bad heartburn. So I don't know what to think. But the
anxiety patient in me is thinking the worst, you know.

Preston

"liaM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Preston Crawford wrote:

Switch to the "Mediterranean diet" (Google / "de

Quoted message said:

Lorgeril" ). Exercise gently half an hour twice a day or
the equivalent. Meditate (Zazen, for example). Don't
smoke. Don't fuss. Don't worry.

I agree wholeheartedly about switching to a Mediterranean
diet. An Asian diet is also very cardioprotective. A
combination of a Mediterranean diet and an Asian diet,
called a "MediterrAsian" diet, is another a healthy option.

Trudy Thelander mediterrasian.commediterrasian.comOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Are you taking a statin? Statins can cause heartburn,
acid reflux, hiatial hernia, pancreatitis, gall bladder
disease, helicobactor pylori ulcer and other
gastrointestinal disorders.

Where in the world do you get these ideas? Can you support
any of that. Here is a definition of a hiatal hernia, for
example. From

my.webmd.com1815 50331Open ↗

How could statins cause this?

Bill

Zee is very emotional in my opinion based on her posting
history here on scm; and she has a strong one-sided tendency
to blame prescription drugs only for some people´s med
problems and/or symptoms.

Michael

Michael F. Poellot <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

On 23 Jun 2004 00:36:51 -0700, [email hidden]

(Zee) said:

Preston Crawford <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:<[email hidden]>...

----------snip--------------

Quoted message said:

Lately, though I've had pretty bad heartburn.

Preston

Salut Preston

Are you taking a statin? Statins can cause heartburn,
acid reflux, hiatial hernia, pancreatitis, gall bladder
disease, helicobactor pylori ulcer and other
gastrointestinal disorders.

Ask your pharmacist to copy appropriate pages from the
product monograph for you and take them to your doctor.
Also ask your doctor to check his/her Physician's Desk
Reference. These side effects are listed there.

In my experience using meds like prepulsid and antacids
does not handle the problem if caused by a statin. You
may need to change lipid-lowering medications, or stop
taking them altogether. They all have a similar side-
effect profile. Bile acid sequestrants cause gi problems
too, but not as serious ones.

Zee

Zee,

well, statins can have side effects including GI problems,
however, I never heard about statin induced hiatal hernia
( which is a "mechanical problem" of the body causing
GERD). Maybe you have some references about this.

Michael

statins=acid reflux=destruction of tissue+weakening of
muscle=hiatial hernia.

that was the reasoning I was given. I refused surgery,
stopped lipitor and haven't had that problem to any
degree since.

but I have had all the problems listed. "In my experience".

Zee

In article <[email hidden]>,

Preston Crawford said:

How did they eventually diagnose you? Because as someone
who also has anxiety, I've been tested, believe me. I've
had several EKGs. I've had a treadmill stress test and
another stress test where you lie down and they put stuff
into your bloodstream. Both turned up fine. I get my
cholesterol checked regularly (it's usually around 120)
and I am generally thinner and fitter due to lots of
cycling and eating right. It's only been the last few
months that I've put on weight and only the last few days
that I've had really bad heartburn. So I don't know what
to think. But the anxiety patient in me is thinking the
worst, you know.

Hospital ER really doubted I was having any heart problems
at 42 years old and no classic symptoms... until they got
the results of the blood enzyme (or was it proteins?- I
can't recall the details). These tests indicate heart damage
and were the only things that kept me overnight - in the
ICU, no less. Next day I was transferred to another hospital
for angiogram, plasty and stent placement - that's where the
95% blockage was observed.

I don't believe the EKG's that were being monitored during
my stay ever showed problems, but that could just be my
faulty memory or lack of asking.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Preston Crawford said:

It's only been the last few months that I've put on
weight and only the last few days that I've had really
bad heartburn. So I don't know what to think. But the
anxiety patient in me is thinking the worst, you know.

I forgot to comment on this part, so here goes:

Does the heartburn feeling go away with antacids? Does it
get better or worse with exercise? Does it wake you up? Is
there any pattern that you can discern?

Trudy T said:

"liaM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:cbac83$5av$1@news-
reader5.wanadoo.fr...

Quoted message said:

Preston Crawford wrote:

Switch to the "Mediterranean diet" (Google / "de

Quoted message said:

Lorgeril" ). Exercise gently half an hour twice a day or
the equivalent. Meditate (Zazen, for example). Don't
smoke. Don't fuss. Don't worry.

I agree wholeheartedly about switching to a
Mediterranean diet. An Asian diet is also very
cardioprotective. A combination of a Mediterranean diet
and an Asian diet, called a "MediterrAsian" diet, is
another a healthy option.

Ime, all such options should be dovetailed with the 2PD
approach if weight loss is desired:

heartmdphd.comwtloss.aspOpen ↗

Because this works, ime, doctor supervision is required.

Servant to the humblest person in the universe,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

**
Who is the humblest person in the universe?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

What is all this about?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

Is this spam?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

Michael F. Poellot said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Are you taking a statin? Statins can cause heartburn,
acid reflux, hiatial hernia, pancreatitis, gall bladder
disease, helicobactor pylori ulcer and other
gastrointestinal disorders.

Where in the world do you get these ideas? Can you support
any of that. Here is a definition of a hiatal hernia, for
example. From

my.webmd.com1815 50331Open ↗

How could statins cause this?

Bill

Zee is very emotional in my opinion based on her posting
history here on scm; and she has a strong one-sided
tendency to blame prescription drugs only for some people´s
med problems and/or symptoms.

Michael

I'm no longer surprised by anything Zee states. A while back
I read a study that showed that "...The use of statins for
at least five years was associated with a 51% reduction in
the risk of colorectal cancer." When I asked Zee wouldn't it
be a wonderful thing if statins were shown to lower the risk
of some cancers her answer was "no".

L.

Owen Lowe said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Preston Crawford said:

How did they eventually diagnose you? Because as someone
who also has anxiety, I've been tested, believe me. I've
had several EKGs. I've had a treadmill stress test and
another stress test where you lie down and they put stuff
into your bloodstream. Both turned up fine. I get my
cholesterol checked regularly (it's usually around 120)
and I am generally thinner and fitter due to lots of
cycling and eating right. It's only been the last few
months that I've put on weight and only the last few days
that I've had really bad heartburn. So I don't know what
to think. But the anxiety patient in me is thinking the
worst, you know.

Hospital ER really doubted I was having any heart problems
at 42 years old and no classic symptoms... until they got
the results of the blood enzyme (or was it proteins?- I
can't recall the details). These tests indicate heart
damage and were the only things that kept me overnight -
in the ICU, no less. Next day I was transferred to another
hospital for angiogram, plasty and stent placement -
that's where the 95% blockage was observed.

I don't believe the EKG's that were being monitored during
my stay ever showed problems, but that could just be my
faulty memory or lack of asking.

Interesting. Because I've had every test I think one should
have when they're still considered a "non risk". From the
nuclear dye test to the treadmill stress test. Tons of EKGs.
Would the above results you mentioned show up in a standard
blood chemistry test or only in a special test?

Preston

"Zee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Michael F. Poellot <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On 23 Jun 2004 00:36:51 -0700, [email hidden] (Zee)

Quoted message said:

Preston Crawford <[email hidden]> wrote in
message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

----------snip--------------

> Lately, though I've had pretty bad heartburn.
>
> Preston

Salut Preston

Are you taking a statin? Statins can cause heartburn,
acid reflux, hiatial hernia, pancreatitis, gall bladder
disease, helicobactor pylori ulcer and other
gastrointestinal disorders.

Ask your pharmacist to copy appropriate pages from the
product monograph for you and take them to your doctor.
Also ask your doctor to check his/her Physician's Desk
Reference. These side effects are listed there.

In my experience using meds like prepulsid and antacids
does not handle the problem if caused by a statin. You
may need to change lipid-lowering medications, or stop
taking them altogether. They all have a similar side-
effect profile. Bile acid sequestrants cause gi
problems too, but not as serious ones.

Zee

Zee,

well, statins can have side effects including GI
problems, however, I never heard about statin induced
hiatal hernia ( which is a "mechanical problem" of the
body causing GERD). Maybe you have some references
about this.

Michael

statins=acid reflux=destruction of tissue+weakening of
muscle=hiatial hernia.

that was the reasoning I was given. I refused surgery,
stopped lipitor and haven't had that problem to any
degree since.

but I have had all the problems listed. "In my
experience".

Zee

But you said these were in the PDR. Do you have a reference
for that? Also is acid reflux listed as one of the side
effects of Lipitor in particular? How do you know these
effects have anything to do with statins in your case? The
reference I provided challanges any link between hiatal
hernia and GERD.

Bill

Owen Lowe said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Preston Crawford said:

It's only been the last few months that I've put on
weight and only the last few days that I've had really
bad heartburn. So I don't know what to think. But the
anxiety patient in me is thinking the worst, you know.

I forgot to comment on this part, so here goes:

Does the heartburn feeling go away with antacids? Does it
get better or worse with exercise? Does it wake you up? Is
there any pattern that you can discern?

Not really. It's actually usually under control. It's just
gotten really bad lately.

Preston

[email hidden] (listener) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 09:50:35 GMT, Michael F. Poellot
<[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

I'm no longer surprised by anything Zee states. A while
back I read a study that showed that "...The use of
statins for at least five years was associated with a 51%
reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer." When I asked
Zee wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if statins were shown
to lower the risk of some cancers her answer was "no".

L.

Listener

Here is my part of the exchange to which you refer, and the
google url for the complete exchange.

Be well. Zee

ostate+cancer+zee+group:sci.med.cardiology&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-
8&group=sci.med.cardiology&selm=e5f4a9c2.0406142044.714dace-
c%40posting.google.com&rnum=1

"But I think both letter and study are opinion. This article
says "suggested" that statins "may"... .and we don't know if
the numbers given are absolute or relative.

'Wouldn't it be fantastic if statins are shown to lower
*some* forms of cancers?' No. I won't trade my statin-
decreased risk of breast cancer for your statin-increased
risk of prostate cancer.

Who would *not* want to see that? You.

And me.

Zee"

In article <[email hidden]>,

Preston Crawford said:

Would the above results you mentioned show up in a
standard blood chemistry test or only in a special test?

I don't know for sure, but I believe it's a test done when a
recent or current heart attack is suspected. In other words,
it's not done routinely but as a diagnostic tool.