Expert Advice on Health and Fitness - heart palpitations; irritable bowel syndrome; shin splints - Brief Article

Ebony, Dec, 2000

`Sometimes [my husband's] heart starts racing and is not beating right.'

HEART PALPITATIONS

Q My husband is 48 years old, very active and he tries to eat a balanced diet. His problem is that sometimes his heart starts racing and is not beating right. There is nothing specific that seems to contribute to the fluttering sensation. How common are heart palpitations, what causes this condition and how serious is this considered to be? P.M., Washington, D.C.

A The first thing that your husband should do is to visit his physician, who can determine the exact condition of his heart. He shouldn't hesitate to make an appointment because he could be experiencing a serious abnormality.

Usually, people don't notice the beating of their heart, but under certain circumstances (exercising strenuously or experiencing dramatic emotion) even healthy people may become aware of the their heart's activity--beating forcefully, rapidly or irregularly. When there is an unusual heartbeat, which can occur in people of all ages, doctors say there are several things that have to be considered to determine if it is abnormal--whether anything seems to prompt the palpitations, whether they started suddenly or gradually, the speed that the heart beats and to what extent the heart seems to beat irregularly.

Physicians say palpitations that occur in association with other symptoms--such as shortness of breath, fainting, weakness and fatigue, and pain--are more likely to result from an abnormal heart rhythm or a serious underlying disease.

Most palpitations, doctors say, don't interfere with the pumping action of the heart, so they pose little or no risk. But your husband shouldn't rely on a self-diagnosis! It's too dangerous!

IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME

Q I am a 31-year-old mother of two sons who keep me on my toes. When I'm under a lot of pressure and stress, I'm often bothered by gas, bloating and stomach pains. I have not taken time to see my doctor, but could I be experiencing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome? My mother has the same symptoms. L.M., Atlanta

A You are experiencing symptoms that are associated with irritable bowel syndrome and some other abdominal ailments. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which affects women three times more often than men, is a disorder of the entire gastrointestinal tract and produces abdominal pain, bloating, constipation or diarrhea.

When experiencing IBS, doctors say the gastrointestinal tract is very sensitive to a variety of stimuli, including stress, diet, hormones and drugs that may cause the tract to contract abnormally.

The cause of the syndrome is not known and there's no current cure. Doctors describe it as a functional disorder because there is no sign of disease when the colon is examined. Although IBS can cause a great deal of discomfort and distress, doctors say it apparently does not cause permanent damage to the intestines and does not cause intestinal bleeding of the bowel or lead to a serious disease such as cancer.

TREATMENT FOR SHIN SPLINTS

Q My friend and I run regularly, about 35 miles each week. I'm 36 years old, and I take time to warm up before I begin to run. But lately I have been getting terrible pain in the area of my shins. I have tried to run less and on different surfaces, but the pain won't subside. What do you suggest? K.G., Cincinnati

A It appears that you could be suffering from shin splints, pain resulting from damage to the muscles along the shin. To allow shin splints to heal, runners are urged to stop running temporarily and do other kinds of exercises, particularly those that stretch the calf muscles. Running shoes with rigid heels and special arch supports can prevent the foot from rolling in. Also avoid running on banked surfaces to help prevent shin splints from recurring.