Genetic Heart Problem

my son was recently diagnosed with HCM another heart condition that is inherited. I have been incontact with american heart association and met a couple others in my community that have children with heart conditons. Check the website American heart association and type in Long Q-T syndrom. Two of the ladies i met have this.It was discovered one one of the sisters son's fainted, they took him to er and the dr said it was a fluke thing and sent him home, he was swimming when it happened, The very next time he was swimming it happened again, he was taken to the hospital and Careflighted to Cooks, He was then diagonosed with Long Q-T syndrom. The entire family was tested. Both sister's have 2 children, one tested to have it and one did not have it, in both families, both sisters hace it and their mom as well. It is very important for all family members to be tested. One of these children that have it has a defibulator, the other does not. They both take beta blockers to slow the rate. Below is from the AHA website. Hopethis helps.

disorder of the heart's electrical rhythm that can occur in otherwise healthy people. It usually affects children or young adults.
When the heart contracts, it emits an electrical signal. This signal can be recorded on an electrocardiogram (ECG) and produces a characteristic waveform. The different parts of this waveform are designated by letters — P, Q, R, S and T. The Q-T interval represents the time for electrical activation and inactivation of the ventricles, the lower chambers of the heart. A doctor can measure the time it takes for the Q-T interval to occur (in fractions of a second), and can tell if it occurs in a normal amount of time. If it takes longer than normal, it's called a prolonged Q-T interval.

What are the symptoms of LQTS?
People with LQTS may not have any symptoms. People who do have symptoms often exhibit fainting (syncope) and abnormal rate and/or rhythm of the heartbeat (arrhythmia). People with this syndrome may show prolongation of the Q-T interval during physical exercise, intense emotion (such as fright, anger or pain) or when startled by a noise. Some arrhythmias are potentially fatal, causing sudden death. In one type of inherited LQTS, the person may also become deaf.

Studies of otherwise healthy people with LQTS indicate that they had at least one episode of fainting by the age of 10. The majority also had a family member with a long Q-T interval. People with LQTS don't necessarily have a prolonged Q-T interval all the time. At the time that they have an electrocardiogram (such as during a routine physical examination), the Q-T interval may actually be normal.

I don't know about this heart problem in particular, but by all means go get yourself checked out! I know heart problems can be scary, but it really is amazing what they can do to help you out these days once they figure out what is going on. My daughter was born with a congenital heart defect and had to have open heart surgery when she was 6 months old. I would not wish that experience on any mom, certainly, but it's also AMAZING what they were able to do--my little girl is now completely physically normal, albeit with a scar on her chest (and a couple of parents still paying off medical bills, but that's okay! she's more than worth everything we have, and she's fixed!). So please, instead of worrying, go to a cardiologist, get the EKG, and do what you need to do to keep yourself healthy for your family!

Please see your primary care physician and tell them your family history as far as you know it. Your doctor should be able to give you information on how to handle this family history.

J.

I know a thing or two about heart conditions, but I got lost in your explination. I realize the information you received is extremely overwhelming and terrifying. Exactly what condition did he diaganosis your sister with? Was it with prolonged QT syndrome? By torsades, I assume you are referring to torsades de point, which is a type of ventricular tachycardia, most often caused by a magnesium deficiency. Coronary artery disease (CAD) can be nasty and is often infuenced by genetics as is prolonged QT syndrome. Talk to your sister about what she was told. Get as many specifics as you can. Discuss it with your daughter's peditrician. That will allow him to monitor her more closely for symptoms of cardiac problems. You also need to discuss it with your physican and make sure that you are following up with all of your recommended screening tests. The more information you can give your doctor, the better they can decide what tests need to be routine for you. Ask them for what symptoms you may have if you were to begin having problems. Don't be afraid to inform yourself by looking at internet resources, just make sure they are reliable, for instance the American Heart Association and the World Health Organization. Take it a day at a time. You will probably feel better once you have discussed it with your health care providers.

Go see your family doctor and tell him or her about your family history. Ask to be referred to a cardiologist. You need to take special care of your heart, eat a heart healthy diet and reduce stress in your life.

I don't know about the heart problem itself, but my step-dad has had heart issues for the last 20 years and now has only one artery that is not clogged in his heart. He got a pacemaker/difibulator last year and it has saved his life on at least three occasions. From what I understand, if his heart stops completely it won't shock his heart. But, if the beats are irregular and dangerously out of whack, it will shock him and get it back on track until he can get to the hospital. Getting shocked is not a fun thing to endure, but it has saved him. If I were you, I would make an appointment with a highly-recommended cardiologist and just see what they have to say. Maybe there is a non-invasive test they can do, or bloodwork that will tell them something.

I don't at all blame you for being concerned, but ya know, God is in control of it all. Try to see the positives in that you have been given a gift of this information. If you don't have insurance, get some befor you see the doctor. You will be able to be honest on the application in that you don't have any personal history of this. But, once you go to the doctor (hopefully not, but) and get diagnosed, that will be on your health record and could effect whether or not you get insurance. I hate to bring up the practical, but it is something to consider. Hugs.

A chunk of what you're typing reads like Long QT syndrome - but it can show up in childhood, as well - often as sudden death on surprise. It's treated with a pacemaker, and it's not related to CAD... the seizures typically originate in the mind, but there is a syndrome of increased risk of sudden death after seizures - and some people think it might be due to electrical abnormality in the brain fooling with the heart.

Were I you, I'd get a resting EKG and follow up with a good cardiologist. Furthermore - the one big thing I would NOT do is worry about it. If you have it - there's surgery to correct it. If you don't have it - you'll die of something anyway. Everyone does, eventually. Either way, stressing doesn't do any good.

S.