Human Heart Problems, Palpitations and New Research - The Tall Street Journal

I wrote a little piece on exe…

2010-06-26T22:58:09.416Z

I wrote a little piece on exercises based on what I was hearing from the sports doctor and PT I visit. I am not a medical type, so use caution. I do get a lot of exercise though...

http://www.thetallstreetjournal.com/profiles/blogs/exercises-for-tall-people

My family and extended family are not tall, I'm the exception by a good margin. We do have a lot of heart disease and everyone is rail thin. For the heart disease I don't know how much of that is hereditary and how much is bad eating, but my doctor told me that taller people should be careful with their hearts and have good eating and exercise habits. She also stresses good posture and exercise to prevent back problems later in life. I've become pretty religious about this and practice a Mediterranean vegetarian (not vegan) diet.

I have heard some rules of thumb for heights above which there are a variety of problems. There are also studies that look at breast cancer and skin melanoma issues due to excessive growth hormone. I've read through some of them and some are in conflict with others.

There are some very tall people here who probably have some good knowledge. Cheyenne and Dave Rasmussen for example.

I have not done this, but one approach would be to get in contact with researchers in hospitals who study pituitary issues as well as Marfan's. They may have connections with doctors who are used to issues of tallness.

This is really interesting Ch…

2010-06-24T17:06:06.971Z

This is really interesting Cheyenne. I wonder if it makes sense to ask our doctors if there are informal ways they can talk to other doctors. Really tall people, like you - I'm not that tall, are pretty rare and most doctors never see any. If they could compare notes and compile data it would be good. Maybe a good place to start is with doctors who happen to be tall.

I go to a sport medicine doctor and PT when I am injured from my running and they do tell me things to do and not do given my height. I will ask where they learned this and how they communicate.

My family is not tall, but some heart conditions are common, so I was advised to change my diet and exercise. It was stressed particularly because I am tall. but I don't know if they have good reasons to suggest that for tall people.

I keep looking. It is kind of…

2010-06-22T15:00:33.149Z

I keep looking. It is kind of shocking that it isn't immediately apparent, and I even work in medical education.

I noticed that Manute Bol (7'7") Former NBA Player passed away this week of a kidney disease. He was 47, no idea if height played a role, but I would like to know.

My dad is 6'5 and had a heart…

2009-03-31T16:55:45.742Z

My dad is 6'5 and had a heart attack around 50 or so I guess. I'm not very close with him.

I really wish I could find a "tall" doctor, like a doctor that specializes in "tallness". Hopefully one day we will get a doctor on here that specializes in this sort of thing. I think it would be awesome and if they were within a few hours of Atlanta, I'd change doctors immediately and drive the distance every year or so for a physical.

This is interesting. Last tim…

2009-03-26T21:36:14.726Z

This is interesting. Last time I had a full medical the doctor was telling me my heart sounded irregular and he wanted me to wear a heart monitor for 24 hours. I never did that but my grandpa did have a couple of heart attacks. Has anyone in your family had heart attacks?

I had palpitations all my lif…

2009-03-02T22:33:22.736Z

I had palpitations all my life. It got to the point that i was taking all the meds they could give me and it still happened. Then would have to go to the ER and get flat-lined and re-started. Not fun.
Finally I went and had cardiac ablation. Thats when they go in thru the leg and kill part of the heart with RF (radio frequency). It was an uncomfortable procedure, but it was absalutely life changing. I am so glad I did it. no more palpitations at all!

The 5 stents I have are a different story.......