Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast
Results 16 to 30 of 31

Thread: Any Heart Doctors in the house?

  1. #16
    Belinda...Glenn please.

    I hope this doesn't stop you from posting...I think it was just a moment and it's been corrected.

    Welcome to SMC...
    Glenn Clabo
    Michigan

  2. #17
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Conway, Arkansas
    Posts
    13,181
    Quote Originally Posted by Belinda Williamson
    Mr Clabo,

    Thank you for so beautifully defending my position. I surely did not mean to stir the pot quite so effectively. I'm really glad I didn't check this thread for follow up last night, else I would have missed out on all that beauty rest I so desperately need.

    Respectfully,

    Belinda
    I still say Thank You Belinda. As a cardiac patient. The more I learn about this stuff, the better I begin to understand my own condition.

    Have a hearty Welcome to SMC!!!!
    Thanks & Happy Wood Chips,
    Dennis -
    Get the Benefits of Being an SMC Contributor..!
    ....DEBT is nothing more than yesterday's spending taken from tomorrow's income.

  3. #18
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Savannah, GA
    Posts
    4,422

    False Statement

    Rick,

    I agree with you that questions regarding medical care should be directed to a physician. I did not recommend any medication, procedure, etc. for treatment of any condition. I simply attempted to make the case that blood pressure is not controlled by the heart. I am curious as to the basis for your claim that my statement regarding the relationship between the kidneys and blood pressure is "patently false". Can you explain to me how blood pressure is regulated?

    Belinda

    Seeking enlightenment

  4. #19
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Brentwood & Altamont, TN
    Posts
    2,334
    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Williams
    but the statement that the kidneys regulate BP is patently false. The concept of seeking medical advice from amateurs on a wood working forum is not a very wise choice. If you have questions, ask your cardiologist. They spent a lot of money and time acquiring the knowledge.
    Rick,

    The renin/angiotensin system (which is part of the hypothalamic-adrenal axis) is the single major controller of BP (renal regulation). So, like Belinda, if you have info to refute that I would like to see it. The remainder of your post is something I agree with.

  5. #20
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Lewiston, Idaho
    Posts
    28,504
    Belinda....Welcome to the Creek! We are generally a more friendly group than this thread would indicate.
    Ken

    So much to learn, so little time.....

  6. #21
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Omaha, NE
    Posts
    58
    Quote Originally Posted by Joe Pelonio
    I'm not asking for e-mail diagnosis, but just any information about this
    recent problem with my son.

    Josh (19 years-old) passed his EMT test, and was hired by a local ambulance company. In the pre-hire testing process he has to do some physical performance tests, and his blood pressure was borderline high, not
    dangerous but higher than their limits to let him do the test. He went to his regular doctor and they did EKG and blood tests, and told him that one side of his heart was working harder than the other, but gave him a work release saying that he could take the test, while awaiting the test results.

    He went back to the job test today and the test involves treadmill and measuring heart rate at various stages. His rate was already above the passing limit, so again he couldn't take it. As bad as that is for his job, he (and my wife and I) are getting very concerned about his health.

    My wife is on hypertension medication and the doctor already said it's probably a hereditary thing. Josh wants to be a paramedic, it looks like he may have to go onto some kind of medication/diet program before he can pass this test. His plan was to work two years as an EMT to while going to college so that he will have the experience he needs to apply for the paramedic program.
    Hi Joe,

    I want to start off by saying I don't want to debate anything about kidneys. I can say that I was in a similar situation, but I was applying for the fire department (Here, you have to have your EMT-B to get hired on). I had what doctors called marginally high blood pressure. The good thing for me was that I knew about it about 4 months before testing. The physical test for our fire department is strenuous, and usually is for all departments across the board.

    The doctor offered medication, especially as heart disease and high blood pressure run in my family, but I elected to try the diet and exercise alone routine first. To make a long story short, after cleaning up my diet and seriously hitting the gym, I was in great health 3 months later. My bp dropped to 110/70 and my resting heart rate was about 64 bpm.

    Just food for thought-I was working on doing nearly the same thing Josh is. I thought I'd get my basic first and then spend a couple years in school and go through the medic program. What I didn't realize was that I could go through nursing school in that same amount of time, with a better paying career at the end of it. On top of that, there is an RN-to-EMT-P certification that only takes about 2 (Intensive) weeks for certification as a Paramedic, as well as having a Bachelor's in Nursing. And the bachelor's degree provides much more appeal to hiring agencies, on top of the pay raise. To top it all off, if and when he gets hired by a FD or ambulance company, he could also work as a nurse.

    FWIW,
    Owen

  7. #22
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Omaha, Nebraska
    Posts
    191
    Quote Originally Posted by Owen Gregg
    Hi Joe,

    I want to start off by saying I don't want to debate anything about kidneys. I can say that I was in a similar situation, but I was applying for the fire department (Here, you have to have your EMT-B to get hired on). I had what doctors called marginally high blood pressure. The good thing for me was that I knew about it about 4 months before testing. The physical test for our fire department is strenuous, and usually is for all departments across the board.

    The doctor offered medication, especially as heart disease and high blood pressure run in my family, but I elected to try the diet and exercise alone routine first. To make a long story short, after cleaning up my diet and seriously hitting the gym, I was in great health 3 months later. My bp dropped to 110/70 and my resting heart rate was about 64 bpm.

    Just food for thought-I was working on doing nearly the same thing Josh is. I thought I'd get my basic first and then spend a couple years in school and go through the medic program. What I didn't realize was that I could go through nursing school in that same amount of time, with a better paying career at the end of it. On top of that, there is an RN-to-EMT-P certification that only takes about 2 (Intensive) weeks for certification as a Paramedic, as well as having a Bachelor's in Nursing. And the bachelor's degree provides much more appeal to hiring agencies, on top of the pay raise. To top it all off, if and when he gets hired by a FD or ambulance company, he could also work as a nurse.

    FWIW,
    Owen
    Well, hopefully I can help out here.

    The kidney's renin-angiotensin system is only one part in the collective total that your body uses to maintain and control its blood pressure. While it plays a key part in the process, it is by no means "the most important" part of the system and should never be labeled as such. Furthermore, other organ systems contribute to the renin-angiotensin mechanism; and this further complicates the issue. Simplistically, only one of the body's pressure regulatory "centers" is necessary to increase blood pressure and hold it there. Heredity and acquired etiologies can, and are, responsible for such changes from the prescribed "norm" as supplied by the American Heart Association.

    That said, high blood pressure is not only an affliction of the middle-aged and elderly demographic. Many young people suffer from high blood pressure and a very high percentage are not treated. Therein lies a potential destructive process that can cause many health problems down the road. High blood pressure doesn't usually cause any health problems to the young adult that they can "sense". The issue with high blood pressure it that over time it leads to premature problems with blood vessels and organ systems. Such diseases as stroke, heart disease, heart failure, visual acuity, and especially kidney disease have all been shown to been associated with long-term untreated high-blood pressure.

    So I guess my take home message is this: take your child to a specialist and get their blood pressure in the recommended target range by whatever means necessary, including medication. It does sound like your son is being diagnosed with famous "white coat" high blood pressure syndrome!

    EDIT: ....and of course, as other posters have suggested...... Smoking, caffeine, stress are the big causes for high blood pressure that are easily controlled without the help of a doctor. But you want a trained professional to look things over to make sure it's not something more serious.
    Last edited by John Hain; 02-16-2007 at 10:21 AM.

  8. #23
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Brentwood & Altamont, TN
    Posts
    2,334
    So John, are you in disagreement with the concept that the RA system provides the greatest degree of physiologic control of BP?

  9. #24
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Sammamish, WA
    Posts
    7,630
    Quote Originally Posted by Owen Gregg
    Hi Joe,
    Just food for thought-I was working on doing nearly the same thing Josh is. I thought I'd get my basic first and then spend a couple years in school and go through the medic program. What I didn't realize was that I could go through nursing school in that same amount of time, with a better paying career at the end of it. On top of that, there is an RN-to-EMT-P certification that only takes about 2 (Intensive) weeks for certification as a Paramedic, as well as having a Bachelor's in Nursing. And the bachelor's degree provides much more appeal to hiring agencies, on top of the pay raise. To top it all off, if and when he gets hired by a FD or ambulance company, he could also work as a nurse.

    FWIW,
    Owen
    I don't kno what kind of certifications are required or given here, what he has is an EMT certificate from the state that allows him to work for the fire department or ambulance firm.

    Josh is also a volunteer EMT with the local fire department, he just can't drive until he's 21. We have spoken to him about the nursing route, as did the doctors on duty at the ER when he worked a night at Harborview Hospital during his EMT training. He so much wants to be a paramedic that he wouldn't consider it. On the other hand, during his ambulance driving training they showed a movie on what happens when an inattentive driver ignores or doesn't hear the sirens and t-bones an ambulance in an intersection, and that gave him a good scare. So we'll see. I'll share your
    story with him.



    Sammamish, WA

    Epilog Legend 24TT 45W, had a sign business for 17 years, now just doing laser work on the side.

    "One only needs two tools in life: WD-40 to make things go, and duct tape to make them stop." G. Weilacher

    "The handyman's secret weapon - Duct Tape" R. Green

  10. #25
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Omaha, Nebraska
    Posts
    191
    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Barton
    So John, are you in disagreement with the concept that the RA system provides the greatest degree of physiologic control of BP?
    Chris, I entered this thread to give some information where I thought a couple concepts needed to be clarified; no more, no less.

  11. #26
    Quote Originally Posted by John Hain
    Chris, I entered this thread to give some information where I thought a couple concepts needed to be clarified; no more, no less.
    Okay Docs...go to your neutral corners and come out fighting.

    I was actually looking forward to a discussion...I'm married to a researcher and I love it when she discusses these things...
    Glenn Clabo
    Michigan

  12. #27
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Omaha, Nebraska
    Posts
    191
    Quote Originally Posted by Glenn Clabo
    Okay Docs...go to your neutral corners and come out fighting.

    I was actually looking forward to a discussion...I'm married to a researcher and I love it when she discusses these things...
    Well, that's precisely the reason I thought twice (err...three times) about posting. It seems I shouldn't have posted in this thread if will only lead to arguments that don't help the actual poster.

  13. #28
    Don't take it wrong John...I thought it was a good thing that you posted.
    Glenn Clabo
    Michigan

  14. #29
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Savannah, GA
    Posts
    4,422

    Educating Others Through Your Expertise

    Dennis Peacock said it best "As a cardiac patient. The more I learn about this stuff, the better I begin to understand my own condition."

    Okay, so this isn't a medical forum, but at least a few of us are leaving here a little more informed. Who would've thunk you would have a debate over the controlling mechanism of blood pressure on a woodworker's forum? I for one would be very interested in reading your opposing views. I THINK we are all adult enough to keep our emotions in check and debate the issue in a "gentlemanly" fashion. If not, I've enjoyed the match so far.

    Onward . . .

    “Life is not so short but that there is always time enough for courtesy and chivalry.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

    Everybody knows what to do with the devil but them that has him. My Grandmother
    I had a guardian angel at one time, but my little devil got him drunk, tattooed, and left him penniless at a strip club. I have not had another angel assigned to me yet.
    I didn't change my mind, my mind changed me.
    Bella Terra

  15. #30
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Brentwood & Altamont, TN
    Posts
    2,334
    Quote Originally Posted by Glenn Clabo
    Okay Docs...go to your neutral corners and come out fighting.

    I was actually looking forward to a discussion...I'm married to a researcher and I love it when she discusses these things...
    No fighting here my friend. I base my statement on what has been the fundamental support of scientific research for more than a century. John appears to be speaking to potential causes and contributing factors in the development of hypertension while I am refering to the actual physiological control system (at least that's what I'm coming to believe).

Similar Threads

  1. ASHRAE filter test?
    By Robert Witter in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 111
    Last Post: 10-28-2006, 1:30 PM
  2. O.T. Are Attic Fans Effective?
    By Derek Arita in forum Off Topic Forum
    Replies: 24
    Last Post: 08-11-2006, 4:35 PM
  3. New House...Missing in Action...Lack of Turning
    By John Hart in forum Turner's Forum
    Replies: 45
    Last Post: 08-01-2006, 9:47 AM
  4. Heart Attacks
    By Shelley Bolster in forum Off Topic Forum
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 07-06-2006, 8:12 PM
  5. Update on My move to Arizona, Sold house in California
    By Don Baer in forum Off Topic Forum
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 06-15-2006, 3:04 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •