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What Causes Loss Of Appetite, Smoking, Stress And Rapid Heart Rate?
Question: What is wrong with a person that smokes eats very little, always stressed but heart rate increases then passes completely out. By the time EMS arrives all checks out normal
Brief Answer:
Syncope
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I am assuming the person you are describing is a 35 year old male.
If this person has no other medical problems that are known, the symptoms may be due to hypoglycemia (blood sugar problem), anxiety, but may also be due to more concerning problems such as an arrhythmia (heart rhythm problem).
The things the EMS do are not a thorough evaluation. An arrhythmia can be intermittent and not show up at one point in time. For that reason, we do 24 hour holter monitors (where a patient wears a device that records heart rhythm for 24 hours) and exercise-stress tests to help see if there may be a rhythm problem.
He should also have a thorough physical and blood work to fully evaluate for syncope (fainting).
Severe anxiety can also cause the symptoms you described.
But being ok when the EMS arrives does not mean that there is no underlying problem.
In addition to being evaluated for syncopal events, I recommend he seek help for quitting smoking, as that cannot do one's body any good. There are medications such as Zyban (bupropion) which can decrease the urge to smoke, and nicotine patches which can help with nicotine withdrawal. Quit smoking groups can provide support and strategies for quitting and staying off of cigarettes.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Syncope
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I am assuming the person you are describing is a 35 year old male.
If this person has no other medical problems that are known, the symptoms may be due to hypoglycemia (blood sugar problem), anxiety, but may also be due to more concerning problems such as an arrhythmia (heart rhythm problem).
The things the EMS do are not a thorough evaluation. An arrhythmia can be intermittent and not show up at one point in time. For that reason, we do 24 hour holter monitors (where a patient wears a device that records heart rhythm for 24 hours) and exercise-stress tests to help see if there may be a rhythm problem.
He should also have a thorough physical and blood work to fully evaluate for syncope (fainting).
Severe anxiety can also cause the symptoms you described.
But being ok when the EMS arrives does not mean that there is no underlying problem.
In addition to being evaluated for syncopal events, I recommend he seek help for quitting smoking, as that cannot do one's body any good. There are medications such as Zyban (bupropion) which can decrease the urge to smoke, and nicotine patches which can help with nicotine withdrawal. Quit smoking groups can provide support and strategies for quitting and staying off of cigarettes.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Blood 81. Pressure 132/80. 77 heart rate drinks alcohol very stressed sleeps alot
Brief Answer:
More information
Detailed Answer:
I assume these numbers were from when the EMSI came?
The alcohol, if drunken in excess could contribute to the black outs too.
Best to go in for a physical and evaluation of the black out events.
More information
Detailed Answer:
I assume these numbers were from when the EMSI came?
The alcohol, if drunken in excess could contribute to the black outs too.
Best to go in for a physical and evaluation of the black out events.
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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