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What Causes Irregular Thuds In The Middle Of The Chest?
Question: I am getting random regular/irregular 'thuds' in the middle of my chest, just above the mid-sternal notch. My family has a history of heart disease. I am a 63yo slender white female with several chronic illnesses. I am not an active person and don't see my doctor very often.
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Your symptoms could be related to a cardiac arrhythmia.
Other possible causes to consider would be anxiety, chronic anemia, an electrolyte imbalance or thyroid dysfunction.
For this reason, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician for a careful physical exam and some tests:
- a chest X ray study
- a resting ECG and cardiac ultrasound in order to examine your heart function and structure
- an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring would help examine your heart rate for a prolonged period of time and investigate for possible cardiac arrhythmia
- complete blood count for anemia
- blood electrolytes for possible electrolyte imbalance
- thyroid hormone levels for thyroid dysfunction .
You should discuss with your doctor on the above tests.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Your symptoms could be related to a cardiac arrhythmia.
Other possible causes to consider would be anxiety, chronic anemia, an electrolyte imbalance or thyroid dysfunction.
For this reason, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician for a careful physical exam and some tests:
- a chest X ray study
- a resting ECG and cardiac ultrasound in order to examine your heart function and structure
- an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring would help examine your heart rate for a prolonged period of time and investigate for possible cardiac arrhythmia
- complete blood count for anemia
- blood electrolytes for possible electrolyte imbalance
- thyroid hormone levels for thyroid dysfunction .
You should discuss with your doctor on the above tests.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Dr Shaka,
Thank you for your thorough and expedient reply. I suffer with Agoraphobia and find it extremely difficult to get to my physician. However, having received and reviewed your response, I will make every effort to do so.
This service that you provide is especially helpful for individuals like myself. It's reassuring to be able to reach out for qualified medical advice, in these situations.
Once again, many thanks.
Yours truly,
XXXX
Thank you for your thorough and expedient reply. I suffer with Agoraphobia and find it extremely difficult to get to my physician. However, having received and reviewed your response, I will make every effort to do so.
This service that you provide is especially helpful for individuals like myself. It's reassuring to be able to reach out for qualified medical advice, in these situations.
Once again, many thanks.
Yours truly,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
My answer as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,
I can understand how you feel!
Anxiety can also mimic all this clinical scenario.
But, it is important performing the above mentioned tests, in order to exclude the above mentioned possible causes, before concluding that it is all pure anxiety.
I am glad to have online patients like you, who appreciate my answers!
Let me know about everything!
Wishing good health,
Dr. Iliri
My answer as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,
I can understand how you feel!
Anxiety can also mimic all this clinical scenario.
But, it is important performing the above mentioned tests, in order to exclude the above mentioned possible causes, before concluding that it is all pure anxiety.
I am glad to have online patients like you, who appreciate my answers!
Let me know about everything!
Wishing good health,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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