Stress Test
 

I had a stress test today. I get one every few years following heart valve replacement six years ago. I was on the treadmill for about 16 minutes until my heart rate reached 140. This was almost 2 minutes better than my last test. I felt good about it. My doc was pleased and I got a "for someone your age ...." compliment.
It got me to thinking about what it really means. Curious about how other mature folks who are in pretty good shape have done. Would any of you who have had a treadmill stress test share your thoughts or results?
Thanks.

Last time I had a treadmill stress test they stopped me at about 6 minutes, put me in an ambulance and sent me to the cardiac care unit at the VA in San Antonio. Seems my heart has a bit of extra "wiring", a syndrome called WPW, which looked exactly like I was having a heart attack to my doctor who was conducting the test at the VA here in Kerrville. After two days in cardiac care they finally let me go home. That was a couple of years ago. I had another stress test just last week, but this time the test was in San Antonio and they did the chemical test rather than the treadmill. I think that may have just been because they were so busy that day and the chemical test is takes a lot less time than the treadmill. The doctors were all happy with the results of the test so I guess I am too. I don't think the WPW even showed up on this test.

You did really well, I doubt I could keep the treadmill going for 16 minutes the way the keep increasing the elevation and speed on you.

Every time I go for my somewhat yearly physical, I tell the Dr about my family history of heart disease, and ask if I should have a stress test. Every time he says, no you have nothing that indicates you need one.
Pretty much every body on my father’s side has had a heart attack. One uncle had a heart transplant. My Dad had a quadruple bypass(he went for a stress test, a week later he had the bypass). And one of my male cousins had a heart attack. I am wondering if I should insist on having one.
I'm either lucky, or have a particular habit that helps.

Yeah, I will have one today at 1PM, had to have an episode of cardiac arrest ( June 21) for the doctors to actually prescribe one.... Insist, insist I had no history in my family, no high blood pressure or cholesterol.... gotta insist.

I've got moderately high cholesterol anad triglycerides, and I take a small does of lisinopril for blood pressure, but there is no history of heart trouble in my family. My father is a retired cardiologist, and he wants me on Lipitor. I've been having endurance trouble this summer, and when I described it to my doc last week, he set me up for my first-ever stress test. I'm kind of looking forward to it.

Thanks for the replies. I agree that sometimes we have to insist to get things moving. Let me know how you make out with the test.
Thanks.

Had to have one after the bypass- but I cannot run due to the greek philospifor--"Dodgienees"

So walk on the tread mill but at 4 to 6mph. Technician went for a cup of tea after 10 minutes and came back and stopped me- I was up to 140 and he thought I was too high. I pointed out to him that on the bike I was seeing high 150's so he called in the cardiologist and did the Stress test again. When I got to 160 he asked if I was OK and said carry on- Got to 165 and I thought that was it but he was looking at the dials and said carry on- but he stopped me at 172. He told me to stop before I fell off the machine.

Now on the bike at that time I was treating 165 as my max but one hill we have and I did reach 172. That was get off the bike and lie down time- before I fell down.

Now that 220 less your age nonsense--At that time I was 53. Work it out- that formula worked almost spot on for me. OK not exact but near enough to say that 12 years later and I don't have to kill myself up every hill just to see if I can do it. Still see 165 occasionally- but prefer to see 155 as my max. It's easier.

Doc thought he "saw something" on my last EKG, so he sent me for a stress test. I don't know how long it took, but they had me going 6 mph on a 16% grade before I got to 140 bpm. I see the cardiologist next month to discuss the test (pre-scheduled.) Since the original doc sent me to the cardiologist, he's also seen the same thing in my wife, so I tend to think he's tilting at windmills.

Had a stress test recently after a chest pain scare. Cardiologist said I passed it with "flying colors". Turns out, though, my good cholesterol is low, but my bad cholesterol is fine and my total cholesterol number is fine. Doc told me to exercise, watch what I eat and drink one or two glasses of red wine every night! Good cholesterol numbers are already coming up!

Well, I had my Echo -Stress test today, I leveled out at 147 Bpm, for the last part of the 12 minutes, with incline etc, felt just fine.
I had a cardiac arrest episode during hip spur surgery in June, these guys gave me too many drugs... almost killed me!

Had a stress test last week, after some chest pains. Stopped me at 8 min. due to irregular ekg. Turns out I need a new atrial valve. Should have surgery next week. It sounds like lots of us on this list have had open heart surgery and gotten thru with an improvement in their health. That is what I am looking forward too. And to get to ride that new bike sitting in the front room.

You really should insist on it.

Three years ago my heart stopped. I died in a library. As luck would have it, there was a cardiac surgeon who happened to be in the library and he performed CPR for 12 minutes before the ambulance finally arrived and defrib me. Two stents later and a discussion with the cardiac surgeon when i finally awakened from my coma - i told him that there was a history of heart problems on my mother side of the family - every one of my uncles died of heart attacks - one at 50, which was when i had mine. he and later my family doctor both agreed i should have been tested in the past - but i did not mention any of my family history to my doctor.

if your doctor refuses to believe your family history - get a new doctor. it's only about luck if you happen to have a cardiac surgeon standing next to you when your heart stops...

Which brings us to defibrillators. Around here, many businesses and public places have them. Do you have them in your places?

IF there is something in your medical history to justify the stress test AND if the person administering the test and the person analyzing the results are thoroughly competent. I know of several people who had false postives on their stress tests. Sometimes, even normal follow-on tests are not enough to erase the false problem indication that can have some pretty significant adverse effects on your life.

Congratulations on surviving your episode, most, even under most favorable situations don't.

Had a nuclear stress test. The IV came out of my arm and leaked all over the place. I now glow at night....

My father died at 70 after (or during) his third heart attack.
A healthy, robust beast of a man when young, in his later years he just sat and watched out the window while he smoked his 3 packs a day and ate an incredibly fat heavy diet.
I think he was just waiting to die and he got his wish. I'm not sure how much of this counts as "medical history" rather than self-abuse but, still, I have fairly intractable hypertension and my GP finally gave up and sent me off to a cardiologist specializing in hypertension. First thing he did was to throw a stress test at me. A bit of a maverick, he does not believe in treadmill tests and found he gets better results from using -for want of a better description- a recumbent. He's even had papers published about the approach. Think of an exercycle standing straight up on it's back wheel. You lie on your back (all wired up) with your feet way above your head and you pedal. He increases the resistance as you go along and sees how you do. This test is the only time I've come close to blowing chunks on a bike. The first time I did this I got to 165BPM and my BP spiked so high that my Dr freaked and literally shut me down. That became my own personal, mandated speed limit" - 165BPM. I went back a year later for another and this time he was very pleased. I hit 165BPM and was able to continue for two more minutes before my BP got high enough to stop. He was thrilled and said to keep on doing whatever I've been doing for the past year. He also raised my speed limit to 170. He also raised my quarterly visits to twice a year and after some discussion told me not to worry too much about shutting down at 170. He asked how long I would hold that rate and I said I can hit 170 for 15-20 minutes up one Cat 3 climb that I do. He said that was fine. I still err on the side of caution. I wonder if hitting and holding the higher BP levels that cycling can provide helps the body adapt to it better?

20 years ago and you died of a heart attack. If you didn't you died of the next one. But medical science has come on no end and the treatment is working. The problem left is the spotting beforehand and it depends on how wise your Doc is.

"After" I had my heart attack- They went into my family history and it was thought that there was a Heart problem on my fathers side. That was 10 years ago and my daughters now have a yearly cholesterol check. No problems with them but I did inform my male cousin that I had not seen for years and I was a year too late- He had his bypass a year before I did.

With one addendum this advise is golden. It also depends on how well you keep yourself informed and active in your own health. There is no substitute for a person's own concern for their own health. No one else has as much at stake as the individual.

:thumb: Most do now! About 1 month after my heart attack the community center received a defibrillator and the staff were trained on the use, and CPR skills upgraded.
http://www.gfgmemorial.com/ggms_accomplishments.shtml

The scary thing about luck (or not having it) - one week after my heart attack, i read that a young man (he was around 35 yrs) playing some ice hockey at a rink had a heart attack. They attempted CPR, but were not able to revive him. Currently now almost all rinks in vancouver received defibrillators.
https://www.global-medical.ca/conten...illators-rinks