EXPERT
Jonathan C. Pitts Crick
Cardiologist
Dr. Jonathan Pitts Crick is a cardiologist practicing in Bristol, City of Bristol. Dr. Pitts Crick specializes in diagnosing, monitoring, and treating diseases or conditions of the heart and blood vessels and the cardiovascular system. These conditions include heart attacks, heart murmurs, coronary heart disease, and hypertension. Dr. Pitts Crick also practices preventative medicine, helping patients maintain a heart-healthy life.
Jonathan C. Pitts Crick
- Bristol, City of Bristol
- Medicine
- Accepting new patients
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Will my stress cause me to have a heart attack?
Probably not in the short term, but you should treat the hypertension whatever the cause. Regular exercise can be very helpful in reducing work-related stress and giving you a READ MORE
Probably not in the short term, but you should treat the hypertension whatever the cause. Regular exercise can be very helpful in reducing work-related stress and giving you a good night's sleep. Challenging stress is good, oppressive stress is bad.
Why do I have high cholesterol after my bypass surgery?
It could be a temporary reaction to the (physical) stress of the surgery, random variation or that your statin dose has been changed. There is no immediate worry but recheck it READ MORE
It could be a temporary reaction to the (physical) stress of the surgery, random variation or that your statin dose has been changed. There is no immediate worry but recheck it in two months.
When I'm stressed, my heart rate increases and I feel my hands trembling. What could this mean?
These are the symptoms of your body producing adrenaline (to cope with a potential "fight or flight" need). It can be helped by taking some vigorous exercise to use the adrenaline READ MORE
These are the symptoms of your body producing adrenaline (to cope with a potential "fight or flight" need). It can be helped by taking some vigorous exercise to use the adrenaline in a positive way.
Does my weight cause pressure on my heart?
Being overweight means that your body has to do a lot more work doing anything physical (except maybe swimming). It can also restrict the volume of your lungs, especially when READ MORE
Being overweight means that your body has to do a lot more work doing anything physical (except maybe swimming). It can also restrict the volume of your lungs, especially when stooping. Both of these will make you feel breathless even if your heart is fine.
But being overweight definitely increases your risk of a heart attack or heart failure and even more so if you become diabetic. So it's really urgent to get your weight down and if you have tried everything else it's worth considering bariatric surgery.
But being overweight definitely increases your risk of a heart attack or heart failure and even more so if you become diabetic. So it's really urgent to get your weight down and if you have tried everything else it's worth considering bariatric surgery.
Are there super foods one should have for a healthy heart?
None. Just avoid too much obvious junk food and keep your weight down. Enough vitamins are important especially B1 (thiamine).
What is the normal resting heart rate for a 78 year old elderly person?
That is borderline fast. It is worth checking that the rhythm is normal with an ECG – if it is atrial fibrillation she may need to be on anti-coagulation to prevent a stroke.
I do not eat oily food at all and do yoga everyday. I still have a block in my heart. Why?
The risk is mainly genetic, but you can guard against it by:
1) checking that your blood pressure is normal or low (less than 125/80) and treating it if not
2) taking a statin READ MORE
The risk is mainly genetic, but you can guard against it by:
1) checking that your blood pressure is normal or low (less than 125/80) and treating it if not
2) taking a statin regularly
3) obviously, not smoking
Oily foods do NOT increase the risk; regular moderate exercise (but not just yoga) does reduce it. You have to remember that it is quite natural to die of coronary disease and if you're over 40, evolution is "not interested in" keeping you alive. So, unnatural drug treatment is worthwhile if you want to live to a ripe old age.
1) checking that your blood pressure is normal or low (less than 125/80) and treating it if not
2) taking a statin regularly
3) obviously, not smoking
Oily foods do NOT increase the risk; regular moderate exercise (but not just yoga) does reduce it. You have to remember that it is quite natural to die of coronary disease and if you're over 40, evolution is "not interested in" keeping you alive. So, unnatural drug treatment is worthwhile if you want to live to a ripe old age.
Is a hypertension patient more prone to cardiac arrests?
Yes – and if your BP is still high you are not taking enough medication. When you have got it under control (average home reading less than 125/80) your risk will return to near-normal READ MORE
Yes – and if your BP is still high you are not taking enough medication. When you have got it under control (average home reading less than 125/80) your risk will return to near-normal
How can diabetes affect my heart?
Yes, high glucose levels seem to damage the lining of your arteries. It is important to get good glucose control by adjustment of your diet and treatment. If you have type-2 (non-insulin-dependent) READ MORE
Yes, high glucose levels seem to damage the lining of your arteries. It is important to get good glucose control by adjustment of your diet and treatment.
If you have type-2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes it is also genetically linked to high blood pressure, which damages the arteries more – so worth checking.
ACE-inhibitor treatment seems to give some protection.
If you have type-2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes it is also genetically linked to high blood pressure, which damages the arteries more – so worth checking.
ACE-inhibitor treatment seems to give some protection.
My stress test showed a very high heart rate. Should I be worried?
It depends on how high. You should (normally) be able to reach your "age-predicted maximum," which is 220 minus your age. Even if it's slightly above that, provided you feel OK, READ MORE
It depends on how high. You should (normally) be able to reach your "age-predicted maximum," which is 220 minus your age. Even if it's slightly above that, provided you feel OK, it's probably nothing serious and the person conducting the test would have told you if the tracing showed anything to worry about.
My father suffered cardiac arrest. What should be follow up treatment?
It depends on whether the cardiac arrest was caused by a myocardial infarct or not. If it was, then the standard heart attack treatment and follow-up rehabilitation should be sufficient. READ MORE
It depends on whether the cardiac arrest was caused by a myocardial infarct or not. If it was, then the standard heart attack treatment and follow-up rehabilitation should be sufficient. If not, he should have tests to find out why it occurred, and in the mean time he should probaby have an implantable defibrillator fitted in case it happens again. Either way he can stay reasonably active but avoid extreme exertions or stresses.
What is cardiac catheterization?
Best to look at this: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronary-angiography/
It's generally very safe and almost painless (just a little numbing injection to start with).
It's generally very safe and almost painless (just a little numbing injection to start with).
Is a kidney disease likely to put pressure on my mom's heart?
CKD does increase the risk of coronary disease but only after several years. High BP is more of a problem but this can be treated.
Can gaining weight put me at risk for cardiac arrest?
Not for awhile, so you have got time to get your thyroid and diet sorted out with no immediate worries. But in the long-term, yes: an underactive thyroid and being overweight does READ MORE
Not for awhile, so you have got time to get your thyroid and diet sorted out with no immediate worries. But in the long-term, yes: an underactive thyroid and being overweight does increase the risks quite a lot, so it's worthwhile having an exercise and diet plan (as well as thyroid replacement if required).
Can BP medicines cause chest pain?
Unlikely. But it could be angina – if it's made worse by walking uphill you should see your GP urgently.
Is there any difference between heartburn and chest pain?
Heartburn (acid reflux) and angina from the heart can feel quite similar. The best clue is when it occurs: if it happens when lying down at night and is relieved by antacids, it READ MORE
Heartburn (acid reflux) and angina from the heart can feel quite similar. The best clue is when it occurs: if it happens when lying down at night and is relieved by antacids, it is probably heartburn; if it's caused by walking uphill and is relieved by stopping, it's probably angina.
Could Aspirin make me anxious?
Aspirin is not known to cause anxiety directly, but it can cause stomach discomfort especially at night, which could disturb sleep and lead to anxiety. It is much more likely that READ MORE
Aspirin is not known to cause anxiety directly, but it can cause stomach discomfort especially at night, which could disturb sleep and lead to anxiety. It is much more likely that the experience of undergoing heart surgery could cause a kind of post-traumatic stress disorder, experienced an feeling anxious –this generally settles with time and resumption of normal physical activity.
What are the earliest symptoms of heart disease?
Exercise puts demand on the heart to work harder so often the first sign of heart disease is a sustained decline in exercise capacity, despite continuing to try to be active. If READ MORE
Exercise puts demand on the heart to work harder so often the first sign of heart disease is a sustained decline in exercise capacity, despite continuing to try to be active. If you notice this, it would be helpful to undergo a stress/exercise ECG test.
Is excessive sweating sign of a weak heart?
There is a wide range in how much people sweat so you can sweat a lot more than average but still be normal. Adrenaline causes increased sweating plus it makes you go pale: if READ MORE
There is a wide range in how much people sweat so you can sweat a lot more than average but still be normal. Adrenaline causes increased sweating plus it makes you go pale: if you have a weak heart the body may produce more adrenaline to try to make the heart work harder on exercise and this would make you pale and sweaty, sometimes called a "cold sweat". This could be a bad sign and worth getting a check-up.
In the summer I seem to sweat excessively, more than I should be. Why?
You could just have a naturally higher metabolic rate so you produce more heat and sweating is how your body avoids overheating. Or, if you are overweight, the insulating effect READ MORE
You could just have a naturally higher metabolic rate so you produce more heat and sweating is how your body avoids overheating. Or, if you are overweight, the insulating effect of the fat layer may make it difficult for your body to lose heat without sweating a lot.
If this is something that has changed quite rapidly (over a year or so) it would be worthwhile having a blood test for your thyroid.
If this is something that has changed quite rapidly (over a year or so) it would be worthwhile having a blood test for your thyroid.
