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SIUSLAW NEWS |
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2017
TO YOUR
GOOD HEALTH
Mixed Signals on
Heart Rhythms
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a
75-year-old man who recently ex-
perienced three episodes of light-
headedness. After testing, my cardi-
ologist determined that these were
not likely to be cardiac in origin.
My concern is with the result of
my 24-hour Holter monitor, which
showed a little more than 1,000
isolated PVCs in 24 hours. I have
been told that this is either “dire”
or “not an issue.” I would appreci-
ate your comments on this and any
discussion of treatment for frequent
PVCs. -- J.G.
ANSWER: Normally in the
heart, the electrical impulse starts
at the sinoatrial node, often called
the pacemaker of the heart. The
impulse proceeds down clearly de-
fi ned pathways (think of them as
wires) to the atrioventricular node,
where it waits for the mechanics
of the heart to catch up with the
electrical system. The electrical im-
SALOME’S STARS
ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Th is
is a good time for the usually outspo-
ken Lamb to be a bit more discreet.
You still can get your point across, but
do it in a way less likely to turn off a
potential supporter.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20)
Good news: All that hard work you
put in is beginning to pay off . But you
need to watch that tendency to insist
on doing things your way or no way.
Be a bit more fl exible.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You
might want to delay making a deci-
sion on the future of a long-standing
relationship until you check out some
heretofore hidden details that are just
now beginning to emerge.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Your
reluctance to compromise on an im-
pulse then travels down the bundle
of His to the Purkinje fi bers, which
stimulate the ventricle.
Occasionally, in everybody, an
electrical impulse will come from
a different part of the heart before
the normal SA impulse. If it comes
from the atria, it is called a prema-
ture atrial contraction; and if it’s
from the much larger ventricles, a
premature ventricular contraction.
These are clearly distinguishable on
an EKG. A PAC is early and narrow
(since the impulse will go through
the AV node), while a PVC is early
and wide (since it does not, and
must travel cell to cell).
My opinion is that frequent
PVCs at your level is somewhere
between “not an issue” and “dire.”
One study showed that people who
had no known heart disease but
more than 30 PVCs an hour (720
in 24 hours) have an increased risk
of heart disease over people with
fewer than 30 per hour. The overall
increase in risk is not large in abso-
lute terms, however.
Although there is treatment that
can reduce PVCs, it’s not clear that
this reduces the risk of heart dis-
ease, and some treatments actually
increase mortality risk. I recom-
mend treatment for frequent PVCs
only if there are very bothersome
symptoms that are clearly related to
the PVCs, or in the very infrequent
event of someone with so many
PVCs that the fast heart rate dam-
ages the heart.
The booklet on abnormal heart
rhythms explains the more common
heart-rhythm disturbances in great-
er detail. Readers can obtain a copy
by writing: Dr. Roach -- No. 107W,
628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL
32803. Enclose a check or money
order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6
Canada. with the recipient’s print-
ed name and address. Please allow
four weeks for delivery.
DEAR DR. ROACH: What is
Demodex of the eyelashes? Can it
affect other parts of the body? Is it
deadly? -- Anon.
ANSWER: Demodex follicu-
lorum is a mite, a small (0.1 mm)
arthropod that lives on human skin
in hair follicles. There is debate
whether they cause disease, specifi -
cally infl ammation of the eyelids.
Most opinions I read suggest they
do not. However, there are reports
of eye symptoms in some people
with more than usual amounts of
Demodex, which can be treated
with medication. In most people,
Demodex is considered part of the
normal fl ora, like the bacteria and
fungi we carry around as well.
portant issue could backfi re without
more facts to support your position.
Weigh your options carefully before
making your next move.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) Th is is a
good time for ambitious Leos or Leo-
nas to shift from planning their next
move to actually doing it. Your com-
munication skills help persuade oth-
ers to join you.
VIRGO (August 23 to September
22) Relationships -- personal or pro-
fessional -- present new challenges.
Be careful not to let a sudden surge
of stubbornness infl uence how you
choose to deal with them.
LIBRA (September 23 to October
22) You might need more facts before
you can decide on a possible career
change. But you should have no prob-
lem making a decision about an im-
portant personal matter.
SCORPIO (October 23 to No-
vember 21) You’re respected by most
people for your direct, no-nonsense
approach to the issues. But be careful
you don’t replace honest skepticism
with stinging sarcasm.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22
to December 21) A newly emerging
situation could require a good deal of
attention and some diffi cult decision-
making. However, close friends will
help you see it through.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to
January 19) Family matters need at-
tention. Check things out carefully.
Th ere still might be unresolved ten-
sions that could hinder your eff orts to
repair damaged relationships.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to Febru-
ary 18) Of course you deserve to in-
dulge yourself in something special.
But for now, tuck that bit of mad mon-
ey away. You’ll need it to help with a
looming cash crunch.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20)
A temporary setback in your fi nancial
situation is eased by changing some of
your plans. You’ll be able to ride it out
quite well until the tide turns back in
your favor.
Siuslaw N ews
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