Dr. Peter Karpawich
Pediatric Cardiology
Detroit, MI
48 years experience male
Locations
Section of Pediatric Cardiology
About
Bio
Tell us about your background, specialties, interests...
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Pediatric Cardiology
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
62 Answers
0 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Can be cardiac: What is you current heart condition? Difficulty breathing when lying down flat can be a symptom of developing heart failure. Discuss this with your do... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Depends: Do you have a heart condition or strong family history of early heart disease? You can expect a detailed medical history discussion with emphasis on h... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 56-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
50/50: Idiopathic hypertrophic subaortioc stenosis, now more commonly called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, is an inherited condition of abnormal heart muscle.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Any age: By the term heart attack, i assume you mean coronary artery problems. There is no age limit. Infants born with abnormal coronary arteries can have hea... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Many: The heart is a pump. If the pump starts to fail, then effective blood flow will decrease and the cardiovascular system will back up . So warning signs... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Possibly: What kind of alcohol? Wine, beer, spirits? How much alcohol? Are you taking any medications? Any health issues? Tannins in wine can cause heart rate c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Depends: Will depend on the heart rate. A child's resting heart rate is faster than that of an adult. During sleep, heart rates do change. Rem sleep (rapid eye... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Probably not: Any family history of long qt syndrome? Was it actually personally read by the cardiologist or only computer-generated reading? Computer readings are ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Inside vs outside: Pleurisy is an inflammation of the inside lining of the chest and lungs. Costochrondritis is inflammation of the outside chest wall rib joints and mus... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
I certainly hope so!: Vsd (ventricular septal defetct) is a congenital defect in which there is an abnormal opening between the two lower heart chambers. It can be large an... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
No: Keep laughing, it is good for you! if pain is associated with deep breathing or movement, then the cause is typically muscular/skeletal.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Perhaps: If aortic valve replacement is required, the two options are traditional open chest surgery, on cardiopulmonary bypass, risk of infection, etc. The ot... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Possibly: Since costochondritis is caused by inflammation of bone joints, the collar bone area can be affected. If it hurts when the collar bone is pressed, the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Yes: The active ingrediant in pro-air is albuterol. There are multiple side effects associated with this drug including jitteriness and fast heart rates. D... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Muscular/skeletal: Several issues: 1. Muscle/bone pain is very common in the young, especially if active and reproduced by movement, deep breathing, etc; 2. Sharp-stabbi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Normal tone response: About 60% of teens either faint or have dizzy spells. Most are a normal autonomic nervous system response: change in position, quickly standing, stand... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 54-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Possibly: Heart sounds are created by the opening and closing of heart valve with resultant blood flow. These are often called clicks or murmurs. Depending on t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Lots of things: Irregular heartbeats can be common. They can be single or persistent and related to anxiety, caffeine, stress, medications, etc. Sinus arrhythmia (a n... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Dreaming: Falling off to sleep is associated with nervous system changes. Some jerking is experienced also some heart rate irregularities. During sleep itself ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Can be normal: Hormonal changes can cause normal variations in heart rate. However, other age-realted heart rhythm abnomalities such as atrial flutter/fibrillation s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Not necessarily: How was the BP taken? By automatic machine? These can be inaccurate. One reading or several? Correct size cuff used? Are you in otherwise good health?... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
No: Cardio improves overall heart-lung-muscle function. A leaking valve will not be damaged, per se. However, depending on the amount of valve damage and ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Normal: He is just starting to walk and trying to get his balance. This can be normal. Be sure that he has good flexion of his foot and no evidence of any ten... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
CO=SVxHR: Cardiac output is the result of heart rate and volume pumped per heart beat (stroke volume). If volume goes down like in bleeding, heart rate goes up ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Possibly: Costochondritis is inflammation of the chest wall and ribs. So deep inspiration can cause pain. Regular breathing should not be as painful. However, r... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Physical and Echo: A cardiac echo (ultrasound) combined with doppler flow signal analysis can be very reliable to diagnose atrial (ASD) as well as ventricular septal def... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Adrenaline: Anytime the heart is not functioning normally, the body can react by having excessive responses from the nervous and endocrine systems. As a result, f... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Low for age: Her current weight is below the 5% for age, but she has a cyanotic heart condition (blue baby) which can cause growth delay. The glenn shunt is usuall... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 16-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Probable lymph node: The lymph system helps drain body tissue. Scalp problems sometimes cause a lymph node to enlarge. As the scalp problem disappears, the node gets small... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A male asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Study: I congratulate you on your decision. Keep an open mind and study. Medicine is both a science and art. You still have many years to make choices. Look ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
CO = HR x SV: Cardiac output (co) is the volume of blood pumped per minute, and related to heart rate (hr) and stroke volume (sv) (volume per heart beat). It can be... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Infection: Rheumatic fever is caused by a bacteria and usually from a strept throat. Some people are more prone to get such an infection. Poor dental care as wel... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Multiple: What is your weight? Body condition? Do you exercise regularly? Any recent illness, infections, fevers? Can you lie down flat without problems? Do you... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Exercise: Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome symptoms can be helped by staying well hydrated, increase salt and exercise, expecially rowing-type erxecise... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Rare: A large vsd which causes an 'overflow' blood pattern can lead to overcirculation heart failure. That will typically be picked up in childhood. A tiny ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
No: Rheumatic fever (rf) is casued by a bacterial infection (streptococcus) and can cause heart valve problems. Asthma is a condition of the lungs and air... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Looks good: Blood pressure readings can vary daily, also the proper equipment must be used. Systolic should be less than 140mmhg. Check family history for any hig... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Depends: Annuloplasty does help to spare and preserve the intrinsic valve. So that is a benefit. Alternative procedures include total valve replacement. There ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 17-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
No: Brain or spinal cord pacemakers are useful to help control involuntary nerve/muscle spasms in some people. They emit small electric impulses that help... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Different organs: The pericardium is a membrane that surrounds and protects the heart. When it is inflammed, for example by infection, the condition is called 'pericard... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Perhaps: Green coffee beans are coffee beans that have not yet been roasted and contain a higher amount of the chemical chlorogenic acid which may have health ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Diuretics: Heart failure indicates the "pump" is no longer finctioning propertly. Lasix (furosemide) is just one of several types of medications used to treat th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Yes: A partial avsd can be associated with a murmur and yet the patient may have no symptoms. It may not require surgery. It wil depend on the size of the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Congenital heart specialists: As a infant/child/teenager, patients with congenital heart are typcially cared for by pediatric cardiologists/cardiovascualrr surgeons. A new field of... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Inflammation: All of the conditions are caused by inflammation. That means there is irritation of nerve endings leading to pain. Pleurisy is also called pleuritis. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Autonomic system: Abnormal activity of the autonomic nervous system can cause dizziness, palpitaitons, chronic fatigue. It typically is not a priamry heart proble. Anot... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
If too fast: The heart rate increses in exercise as part of a normal Adrenalin increase, normally 190-200bpm in healthy younger people at peak exercise. As exercis... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Not too serious: Usually the only treatment is an figure of 8 shoulder bandage to support the collar bone. Avoid excessive activity of the shoulder while the bone heal... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Beat blockade: Drugs with beta blockade effect (inderal, atenolol, etc) can be useful for pat as well as migraines and heart issues.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:
Dr. Peter Karpawichanswered
48 years experience
Chest wall: Congenital heart surgery often results in some distortion of the chest wall. Also inside the chest wall lining there are adhesions. Both can cause p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
93
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Karpawich is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Karpawich is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! thank you for your awesome answer. i am very appreciated.
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Thank you so much, Doctor! I'm so relieved!
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! Your response is very helpful. Thank u.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Hahnemann Medical
Graduated 1975MD
Medical/Graduate school
Hahnemann Medical College, PA
Graduated 1975MD
Residency
Type in hospital
Awards
Top Pediatric Cardiologist, Third Place, National - Summer
2013
Publications
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
Answer emailed
in 24 hours or less