1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

Radiation-Induced Heart Disease (RIHD)

Posted by sosser @sosser, Oct 26 5:19pm

I'm a 71 year old woman (28 year breast cancer survivor) recently diagnosed with Grade 1 diastolic dysfunction. The diagnosis came after an EKG, an echocardiogram, and a 72 hour holter monitor test. I was then prescribed 25mg of metoprolol once a day. I'm 30 pounds overweight, but otherwise have no underlying conditions (high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.) and no family history of heart disease. 28 years ago, I was treated for left breast cancer, and underwent 4 rounds of chemotherapy and 6 + weeks of radiation. While researching heart disease, I've found that decade laters people can develop radiation-induced heart disease due to radiation to their left chest area. Has anyone been diagnosed with RIHD? What were your symptoms? Treatment? I'm presently in an HMO, so limited to seeing a specialist in RIHD.

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linsie | @linsie | Oct 27 6:07am

76 yr old woman….yes, I developed a fib after 14 rounds of radiation…..supposed to have 30 rounds but quit because side effects did me in…….this week I had cardioversion( they shock the heart…in hospital)……worked, normal rhythm now…..in Ontario, Canada

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sosser | @sosser | Oct 27 6:47am

So glad it worked, and you're in normal rhythm! Thanks for sharing.

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gloaming | @gloaming | Oct 28 11:39am

Hello. Sorry about your recent developments. About all I can say is that the weight you are carrying 'could be' the progenitor of your heart's woes. Unfortunately, as we age, we often do poorly with sleep, and that's a recipe for weight gain due to increased blood cortisol and insulin overuse. With that weight gain, we deposit more visceral fat than normally, or at least than in years long past, and some of that gets deposited around the heart. It can make the heart cranky. Your 'pipes' are clean, apparently? An angiogram or echo showed no stenoses? No mitral valve prolapse? Ejection fraction is nominal?

It is quite common for people to present to an ER with an arrythmia, at which, with tests confirming nothing else untoward, no electrolyte deficiencies or overabundances, etc, they'll offer to cardiovert. Often, that works well, first shock, and the patient is soon on his/her way back home. Unfortunately for me, none of the four I had worked for more than a few hours. Soon I was back in AF, but it's another long story. Happy to say that I am now in NSR after other interventions.

Please do consider losing at least 15 pounds. It can't help but do you some good, and may reduce deposits that are making your heart cranky. It's an idea, just a suggestion from a layman. If you could stand a pointed suggestion, please do consider reducing your carbohydrate consumption, of all kinds, all food and drink, to less than 150 grams per day, even lower if it isn't too much of a bother for you. This will keep your insulin response to a minimum, which means less storage of unused calories.

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1 reply
sosser | @sosser | Oct 29 9:59am
In reply to @gloaming "Hello. Sorry about your recent developments. About all I can say is that the weight you..." + (show)
@gloaming

Hello. Sorry about your recent developments. About all I can say is that the weight you are carrying 'could be' the progenitor of your heart's woes. Unfortunately, as we age, we often do poorly with sleep, and that's a recipe for weight gain due to increased blood cortisol and insulin overuse. With that weight gain, we deposit more visceral fat than normally, or at least than in years long past, and some of that gets deposited around the heart. It can make the heart cranky. Your 'pipes' are clean, apparently? An angiogram or echo showed no stenoses? No mitral valve prolapse? Ejection fraction is nominal?

It is quite common for people to present to an ER with an arrythmia, at which, with tests confirming nothing else untoward, no electrolyte deficiencies or overabundances, etc, they'll offer to cardiovert. Often, that works well, first shock, and the patient is soon on his/her way back home. Unfortunately for me, none of the four I had worked for more than a few hours. Soon I was back in AF, but it's another long story. Happy to say that I am now in NSR after other interventions.

Please do consider losing at least 15 pounds. It can't help but do you some good, and may reduce deposits that are making your heart cranky. It's an idea, just a suggestion from a layman. If you could stand a pointed suggestion, please do consider reducing your carbohydrate consumption, of all kinds, all food and drink, to less than 150 grams per day, even lower if it isn't too much of a bother for you. This will keep your insulin response to a minimum, which means less storage of unused calories.

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Thank you for your response. Weight loss is always important and a work in progress. Happy you're in NSR.

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