EXPERT
Dr. William Wallace Hammill, MD
Cardiologist (Pediatric)
Dr. William Hammill is a pediatric cardiologist practicing in Charlotte, NC. Dr. Hammill specializes in caring for fetuses, infants, children and adolescents with cardiovascular or cardiac abnormalities. Practiced in both inpatient and outpatient settings, the scope of conditions cared for by pediatric cardiologists is large and includes congenital heart defects, heart muscle disorders, rhythm disturbances and hypertension.
35 years
Experience
Dr. William Wallace Hammill, MD
- Charlotte, NC
- Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
- Accepting new patients
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14 year old with myocarditis?
She needs to see a cardiologist. Treatment can vary depending on the severity of the inflammation. Rest is certainly an important component to healing.
What should I do when my heart beats fast?
If your heart is beating fast because you are anxious, nervous, exercising, etc., then that is usually normal. If your heart begins to suddenly beat fast when you are not anxious, READ MORE
If your heart is beating fast because you are anxious, nervous, exercising, etc., then that is usually normal. If your heart begins to suddenly beat fast when you are not anxious, etc., then it can be an abnormal rhythm. I would recommend you tell your primary care doctor and they can decide if you need referral to a specialist.
Should I go to ER for heart palpitations?
I would recommend following up with your primary care provider. They can often start the process of figuring out what is going on and then decide if you need to see a cardiologist. READ MORE
I would recommend following up with your primary care provider. They can often start the process of figuring out what is going on and then decide if you need to see a cardiologist.
Can my child have an echocardiogram?
Your child can certainly have an echocardiogram. That is usually ordered by the cardiologist. Typically, if they’re not in the heart murmurs, then an echocardiogram is not always READ MORE
Your child can certainly have an echocardiogram. That is usually ordered by the cardiologist. Typically, if they’re not in the heart murmurs, then an echocardiogram is not always indicated. It doesn’t usually help with arrhythmias, but may be something that the cardiologist would want to do to check on the heart function. An echocardiogram is safe. It’s just a type of ultrasound.
What are the treatment options for heart palpitations during COVID?
Covid is a viral infection and it can cause cardiac (heart) symptoms in a small percentage of patients. I would recommend follow up with a cardiologist to evaluate your heart
Raspy feeling?
I am sorry it is concerning you. As a cardiologist, it does not sound like it is related to your heart. If sounds more like a lung issue. The only way to know for sure is for READ MORE
I am sorry it is concerning you. As a cardiologist, it does not sound like it is related to your heart. If sounds more like a lung issue. The only way to know for sure is for you to see either a lung specialist (pulmonologist) or heart specialist (cardiologist). It is reassuring all of your labs were normal
How can I fix my irregular heartbeat without medications?
It really depends on what is causing the irregular heart beat. Oftentimes stimulants like caffeine or excess stress can cause early beats or skipped beats. Eliminating or decreasing READ MORE
It really depends on what is causing the irregular heart beat. Oftentimes stimulants like caffeine or excess stress can cause early beats or skipped beats. Eliminating or decreasing these can help. Other times, it is a rhythm problem that might be more serious and need a medication. You should ask your doctor or a cardiologist to help you figure out what can be done.
When should I worry about my child's chest tightness?
Usually this is nothing serious. Musculoskeletal pain (chest wall pain) is very common. I would tell your primary care MD about it and if he/she is concerned they can send you READ MORE
Usually this is nothing serious. Musculoskeletal pain (chest wall pain) is very common. I would tell your primary care MD about it and if he/she is concerned they can send you to a pediatric cardiologist for further evaluation.
What causes children to have a heart murmur?
Most heart murmurs are innocent - normal blood flowing through normal pipes. You can also have a heart murmur from an abnormality of a heart valve or something like "a hole in READ MORE
Most heart murmurs are innocent - normal blood flowing through normal pipes. You can also have a heart murmur from an abnormality of a heart valve or something like "a hole in the heart.” Your doctor can help decide if it is something that needs the attention of a pediatric cardiologist or not.
Can you feel stents in your heart?
No, you cannot. Interestingly, the heart does not have any nerves in it, so you can’t feel anything that touches the heart or is inside the heart.
How common is chest pain in a 9 year old?
Chest pain is very common in children and usually nothing serious. Sharp, stabbing, knifelike pains that last a few seconds or a minute or two and are not associated with any READ MORE
Chest pain is very common in children and usually nothing serious. Sharp, stabbing, knifelike pains that last a few seconds or a minute or two and are not associated with any specific activity are usually nothing to worry about. Chest pain with exercise or syncope(passing out) should be evaluated by your doctor and possibly a cardiologist
How can I check my baby's heartbeat at home?
The easiest way is to put your ear on their chest or purchase an inexpensive stethoscope from the drug store and listen. You can then count the pulse for one minute or for 30 READ MORE
The easiest way is to put your ear on their chest or purchase an inexpensive stethoscope from the drug store and listen. You can then count the pulse for one minute or for 30 seconds and multiply by two. There are monitors that can count a baby’s pulse but many are expensive.
Does having diabetes affect your heart function or no?
It does not directly affect your heart function, but can later in life. The risk factors for coronary artery disease (narrowing of the arteries that feed the heart and can lead READ MORE
It does not directly affect your heart function, but can later in life. The risk factors for coronary artery disease (narrowing of the arteries that feed the heart and can lead to a heart attach) are being male, being black, diabetes, smoking, obesity, inactivity, high cholesterol, and family history. Diabetes is one of the risk factors for heart problems later in life.
Can stress cause a heart murmur?
Stress does not usually cause heart problems in kids. When you are stressed, your cardiac output goes up, meaning the amount of blood your heart pumps goes up and that can cause READ MORE
Stress does not usually cause heart problems in kids. When you are stressed, your cardiac output goes up, meaning the amount of blood your heart pumps goes up and that can cause a heart murmur, but it is an innocent murmur or normal murmur.
What would cause chest pain in a child?
Usually in his chest wall pain or musculoskeletal pain. Sometimes it’s called growing pains. Stomach problems can also cause chest pain. Cardiac reasons for chest pain in a child READ MORE
Usually in his chest wall pain or musculoskeletal pain. Sometimes it’s called growing pains. Stomach problems can also cause chest pain. Cardiac reasons for chest pain in a child are very rare. If the chest pain is associated with exercise or with syncope or passing out, then it needs to be evaluated by a cardiologist.
Can infectious diseases cause heart problems in children?
Sometimes. Infections in the bloodstream can cause problems in the heart if there is a congenital problem. Most blood infectious disease does not cause heart problems because the READ MORE
Sometimes. Infections in the bloodstream can cause problems in the heart if there is a congenital problem. Most blood infectious disease does not cause heart problems because the heart is normal. Sometimes viruses look like COVID and can cause heart inflammation. If you have had COVID, please see your primary care physician to see if you need any additional testing.
Should I worry about chest pain that comes and goes?
Usually chest pain in adolescents is benign. Sharp, stabbing, knifelike left sided pain is usually musculoskeletal pain. If it lasts a long time or worries you, or if it is associated READ MORE
Usually chest pain in adolescents is benign. Sharp, stabbing, knifelike left sided pain is usually musculoskeletal pain. If it lasts a long time or worries you, or if it is associated with exercise ,it should be evaluated by your primary care doctor or a cardiologist.
Is chocolate and wine good for your heart?
Dark chocolate and red wine in moderation are thought to have heart benefits meaning small amounts of red wine and chocolate do not appear to be harmful to the heart and may have READ MORE
Dark chocolate and red wine in moderation are thought to have heart benefits meaning small amounts of red wine and chocolate do not appear to be harmful to the heart and may have a small benefit. Key is in moderation
Is sleeping on left side bad for heart?
No it is not bad. The heart is very protected by the ribs. It does not put extra work or pressure on the heart if you sleep on your left side.
Can you live a long life with heart problems as a child?
Yes, you can. Many of the congenital heart lesions are very fixable and you can live a long normal life. Some complicated surgeries might change that a little, but we all recognize READ MORE
Yes, you can. Many of the congenital heart lesions are very fixable and you can live a long normal life. Some complicated surgeries might change that a little, but we all recognize they’ll be so many more options available in the next 20 years that our goal is to keep kids alive into adulthood when new opportunities are available.
