Healthy Living Panic vs. Heart Attacks MEDICAL HELP
How can you tell a heart problem from a panic attack? — Evelyn K., Aiken, S.C.
Many patients come to me with chest pain and
describe a stressful event. They are certain that they strained their chest wall, but an evaluation often reveals heart disease. Sometimes it can be very diffi cult to separate heart pain from pain associated with other physical or emotional conditions such as panic, and this is particularly true among women. Even experienced physicians must rely on suffi cient testing to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. Chest pain must
ASK DOCTOR HIBBERD
BY PETER HIBBERD, M.D.
always be taken seriously and diagnosed promptly to avoid serious damage to the heart or worse — a heart attack and premature death. If you experience chest symptoms, get evaluated at a chest pain center in a
local hospital emergency department, as these are equipped to do in-depth testing.
What causes hemochromatosis, and how can it be treated?
— George B., Visalia, Calif. I’ve seen people experience premature organ
failure and strokes as a result of untreated hemochromatosis, a condition that develops when iron accumulates in our bodies. Most often, it is inherited and for anyone
with a family history of hemochromatosis, I recommend getting a blood test to check for the
ABOUT DR. HIBBERD: Peter Hibberd is a doctor of medicine whose advice is based on over 28 years of outpatient and hospital- inpatient experience. He is an experienced emergency medicine physician, surgeon, and consultant. He is certi ed by the American Board of Emergency Medicine.
112 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE / SEPTEMBER 2011
disorder, which is treatable. There is no cure, but organ damage can be prevented or reduced with phlebotomy, where a half-liter of blood is removed each week until iron levels are normal, followed by less frequent treatment to maintain normal levels. At the same time, reduce iron
intake by avoiding iron in dietary supplements and not eating cereals that are fortifi ed with iron (check ingredient labels on packages).
I have been told that I need a stent because I have a blocked artery. How effective are stents? — Shelley Y., San Antonio, Texas
In my experience, the effectiveness of stents largely depends upon when they are used.
If you have a partially blocked blood vessel, I recommend getting the procedure before the artery becomes completely blocked off. Once blocked off, the rates of stent failure and repeated blockage are greatly increased, even in the best of medical hands. I’ve rarely seen stents collapse as they
are generally made of an expandable mesh material that resists compression, and many are drug eluting, slowly releasing medication to prevent clots while the blood-vessel lining (the endothelium) repairs itself. When failure occurs, it is most often because
clots have formed after a blood-thinning medication was discontinued too soon, or there has been a narrowing of an adjoining section of the artery. In the cases of large blocked arteries, surgery is sometimes a better option. If in doubt, you can always get a second opinion, and then take action.
NOTE: All information presented in “Ask Dr. Hibberd” is for informational purposes only. It is not speci c medical advice for any individual. You should take no action solely on the basis of this publication’s contents. Readers are advised to consult a health professional about any issue regarding their health and well-being.
QUESTIONS FOR DR. HIBBERD? E-mail
askhibberd@newsmax.com and write “Ask Dr. Hibberd” in the subject line.
WOMAN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/GETTY IMAGES
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