How can pressure in the chest and dizziness be treated?
Patient: My daughter is 15 and suffering from chest pressure/tightness and dizziness. We have seen a peds cardiologist and EKG showed an AV block and mitrovalve regurgitate, we are trying to figure out what is causing this. They have started her on a salt/potassium supplement and lots of water. She is currently wearing a heart monitor. BUT, what do we do for her symptoms in the meantime, she’s miserable! How serious is this?! Doctor: Hi,    I am sorry your daughter is suffering so. I am sure it is difficult for you to help her. As a cardiologist the physician she has been seen by specializes in conditions that affect the heart.   As chest symptoms and dizziness can be due to heart problems, the heart specialist is evaluating your adolescent for these possibilities. An EKG will show AV block and a cardiac arrhythmia.     An ultrasound of the heart will find mitral valve prolapse(or regurgitation). Not all young people with AV block and mitral valve regurgitation have chest pain or discomfort.    The heart monitor will look for a cardiac arrhythmia over a much longer period of time that the few seconds it takes to perform an EKG. Salt supplementation and extra fluids are treatments for patients who faint and are felt to be dehydrated.   Other possibilities of dizziness:   -anaemia -drugs(SOME antibiotics), alcohol, and aspirin -heat exhaustion.   Still, another condition is hyperventilation syndrome. This usually occurs during adolescence, for both boys and girls.   Symptoms of hyperventilation syndrome include dizziness, headache, chest pain, fast breathing, difficulty breathing, fainting, along with panic attacks.    Panic attacks are sudden episodes of fear, screaming, weeping, hyperventilation, chest pain, dizziness, and memory difficulties.  Attacks are about 20 minutes in duration.  Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.  Regards, Dr Arnold Zedd, Pediatrician