Pain might be angina

Saturday Evening Post, March-April, 2008 by Douglas P. Zipes

Q: I turned 79 on Jan. 2, but no one can believe it. I've been having neck pain behind my left ear that at times runs down my neck, shoulder, arm, chest, and back. My heart flutters and quivers. The pains come and go. I also have mild PAD in both legs and run a low-grade fever. I sweat terribly and never feel clean, although I take a bath every night and sometimes twice a day. Please help!

The fact that you are 79 and "no one can believe it" tells me you are doing pretty well. However, the pain you are having may be angina, and should be evaluated by a cardiologist. Often, coronary artery disease is present in patients who also have peripheral vascular disease. Heart "flutters" can be due to several different rhythms, and some sort of ECG recording should uncover the cause. Finally, the sweating and fever you describe might be related to an overactive thyroid and can be evaluated with a simple blood test.

ABOUT THE EXPERT

Internationally acclaimed car dialogist, distinguished professor, author and inventor Dr. Douglas P. Zipes is an authority on what is called pacing and electrophysiology (rhythms of the heart).