Dr. Gott: 17-year-old not too young for angina
Dear Dr. Gott: I read with interest the letter from the wife of a gentleman who developed pain in his jaw area while exercising. You were so concerned that you called the writer, fearing it might be angina pectoris.
My 17-year-old daughter and I were hiking recently. She jogged ahead of me while I walked. I eventually caught up to her, and she was standing there not looking quite right. Her color was off, and she said she had a headache and that her jaw hurt. Because I had read your column, I asked her if this had occurred before, and she said it happens every time she runs, uses a treadmill or dances. Nothing has been detected by her physician during her regular check-ups, but I am still concerned. Is she too young to have heart problems? Should she see a cardiologist? Please help out this concerned mother.
Dear Reader: Angina pectoris is usually caused by a lack of blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. This pain generally occurs during exercise, emotional stress, extreme temperature variations, etc. During these times, the heart rate increases but is under strain because it isn’t getting enough nutrients to maintain its workload. The most common reason the heart doesn’t receive enough blood is that the vessels and arteries are narrowed or constricted, often due to plaque buildup or coronary-artery spasm. Rarely, it can be caused by a blood clot.
The most common symptom of angina is chest pain or pressure. Others include arm, neck, back, throat or jaw/tooth pain. Symptoms of angina do not occur above the ears or below the belly button. Testing and checkups may not reveal a problem unless an attack is in progress.
Despite your daughter’s youth and good health, she fits the symptoms of angina. I urge you to take her to a cardiologist for testing. This will most likely include a stress test that will analyze her heart function during exertion and should provide the answer to whether her heart is the problem.
The good news is that angina is treatable with lifestyle modifications, medications and more. Start with her family doctor, who can recommend an appropriate cardiologist or may even be able to order the testing.
To give you related information, I am sending you copies of my Health Reports “Coronary Artery Disease” and “Medical Specialists.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped No. 10 envelope and $2 (per report) to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title(s).
Dear Dr. Gott: My husband had a really bad case of shingles awhile back. It was so bad that he couldn’t sleep in bed, so he slept in our lounge chair. When I told a friend about this, she told me to crush a regular-strength aspirin, mix it into some Vaseline Intensive Care lotion and then apply a very small amount to each sore. After the first “treatment,” he had his first good night of sleep in days. We used it a few more times, and the sores started to heal.
Dear Reader: I am unsure how mixing aspirin and skin lotion can treat the nerve pain of shingles, but it appears to have worked for your husband and a handful of other patients. Some people have had dismal results. If you are allergic to aspirin, don’t try this.