Dear Dr. Stoll:
I'm a writer who often puts more on his plate than he should. I sometimes rush around trying to several things at once, and I sometimes push to the point where I begin to feel pressure in my chest. It seems to get worse at night when I'm trying to get to sleep. I've also noticed in my pulse at times that my heart will skip a beat and/or there's a quick follow-up beat.
However, my pressure is on the low side -- 100/70, sometimes less and my pulse is usually in the low 50's. I'm fairly fit for my age, 51, and jog or do aerobic machines and sports like basketball. Very strenuous exercise seems to relieve the pressure in my chest, so I'm thinking that perhaps it's not a problem with my heart. Could a magnesium supplement help?
Tom
Follow Ups:
Re: chest pressure, irregular heartbeat (NEED DIAGNOSIS!)
Posted by Walt Stoll on February 24, 1999 at 11:39:35:
In Reply to: chest pressure, irregular heartbeat posted by Tom Calarco on February 23, 1999 at 07:36:58:
Dear Tom.
First, you need to get a good conventional diagnosis. I agree with your assessment, as far as it goes, but that is not good enough. You need a stress EKG and a cardiac workup first. This is most likely costochondritis with an intracellular magnesium deficiency.
However, an intracellular magnesium deficiency is one of the most commonly missed contributing factor to coranaries too. Costochondritis does not cause PVCs but low magnesium can contribute to both.
Once you have the best diagnosis conventional medicine has to offer, share it with us & I may have suggestions for you.
Walt