Originally Posted by
Bald Paul
Do yourself a really big favor. Ask your doctor for a heart stress test. It's the only truly safe way to find out what your limits are (heart wise, anyway) and if something bad is going to happen, that's the place for it.
After years of century rides, racing, and daily commutes, I had a heart attack at 42. All along, I had a heart artery with a partial blockage and never knew it. I now have a heart stent, and at 65 years old, still ride, but I watch my speed and climbs now a lot more closely.
Having been down the stress test road I have to throw in a big caution flag about the usual stress test.
False positives are rampant. Often they result in negative life changes that are unnecessary, and harmful. Besides they are only a snapshot.
Nuclear stress tests are another matter. They are more reliable but also are snapshots.
Personally, if I had some reasonable suspicion there was a significant blockage in my cardiovascular system I'd want a complete workup, including an echocardiogram.