Heart Issues Advice

bonnielu · ‎03-11-2010

Anyone had any tests to discover heart problems. ECG?ECO? Something called PETS. Just caring about a family member who does not want to pay attention to advice. They say they have no symptoms.

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

Many times people with heart disease have no symptoms until it is too late. An ECG And EKG can be done in a few minutes , usually in the doctor's office, and is not invasive or painful.

The PET is invasive and though not too bad does take time and involves an IV.

I hope you can convince your loved one to at the very least have an ECG. There are so many modern medications that can correct heart problems and help people live longer.

I have had all of these tests and would not hesitate to have them again if necessary.

LindaSal · ‎05-15-2014

Any screening is always a good idea. I have a very healthy heart, have been active my whole life and before I went through chemo for breast cancer I was sent first to the cardiologist, as chemo and radiation can cause damage so prior to treatment they have to make sure you have no issues. Well low and behold they found a minor valve problem and had to change the chemistry in my chemo treatment as it could have made that valve issue much more serious than it was. Me, I totally believe in screenings.

Travone · ‎10-14-2016

Just curious....why do you think this person needs the tests if there are no symptoms? Did a doctor tell them they needed the tests during a routing visit? If so, there are symptoms, just not known yet to the patient.

Zhills · ‎11-15-2011

@Travone wrote:
Just curious....why do you think this person needs the tests if there are no symptoms? Did a doctor tell them they needed the tests during a routing visit? If so, there are symptoms, just not known yet to the patient.

What kind of symptoms would you look for?

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

HI @bonnielu

No advice, but I have had most heart test that are available. You name it, I have probably had it. Way before my 1st heart attack in 2003, I was having Maximal Treadmill Stress Tests run, and every other year. Those I started having in the early 1980's.

I am sure you have heard many say the "I have no symptoms" routine. For many, they are getting notice from their body that something "is off", but they either aren't listening or are ignoring what they body is saying. Popping antacids all day is 1 classic example. Many "don't have time" for real tests to find the source.

If a person doesn't want to listen to advice from their doctor, chances are, they don't want it from anyone else. I gave lots of health and fitness "soap box speeches" to many of my co-workers over many years. Some listened and paid more attention to those things, others did not.

A "resting EKG" gives little future information. It can tell a person what is happening while being taken, and at times discover if they had a past issue. The heart is similar to an engine in a vehicle. It sounds fine when at idling or slow RPM's, but when it is carrying a load at much higher RPM, things just might be much different.

A Heart Echocardiogram shows much more detailed functions of the heart. I have had many, both resting and seconds after completing a Maximal Treadmill Stress Test. These are done specifically for the RPM reasons I mentioned above.

All I can offer is a few explanations and my own personal experiences, but advice I leave to a person's doctor(s).

hckynut

hckynut(john)

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

I would recommend this test as a preventative test..... and pay out of pocket for if your insurance will not pay for it. It could save your life.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/heart-scan/about/pac-20384686

coronary calcium scan, is a specialized X-ray test that provides pictures of your heart that can help your doctor detect and measure calcium-containing plaque in the arteries.

Plaque inside the arteries of your heart can grow and restrict or blood flow to the muscles of the heart. Measuring calcified plaque with a heart scan may allow your doctor identify possible coronary artery disease before you have signs and symptoms.

Your doctor will use your test results to determine if you may need medication or lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of heart attack or other heart problems.

Why it's done

Your doctor may order a heart scan to get a better understanding of your risk of heart disease or if your treatment plan is uncertain.

A heart scan uses a specialized X-ray technology called multidetector row or multislice computerized tomography (CT), which creates multiple images of plaque deposits in the blood vessels. The imaging test provides an early look at levels of plaque.

Plaque is made up of fats, cholesterol, calcium and other substances in the blood. It develops gradually over time, long before there are any signs or symptoms of disease. These deposits can restrict the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the muscles of the heart. Plaque also may burst, triggering a blood clot that can cause a heart attack.

When is a heart scan used?

A heart scan may help guide treatment if you have a low to moderate risk of heart disease or if your heart disease risk isn't clear. Your doctor can tell you if you might benefit from having a heart scan based on your risk factors.

A heart scan also may help motivate people at moderate risk to make important lifestyle changes and follow treatment plans.

When is a heart scan not used?

A heart scan requires exposure to radiation. While the exposure is generally considered safe, the scan isn't recommended if the risk of radiation exposure outweighs any potential benefit.

According to the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association guidelines, a heart scan may not be recommended for the following people:

Men under age 40 and women under age 50, because it's unlikely calcium can be detected at younger ages
People who have a very low risk, because detectable calcium is highly unlikely if you don't have a family history of heart attacks at an early age
People who already have a known high risk (especially heavy smokers or those with diabetes or very high cholesterol), because the heart scan will likely not provide any additional information to guide treatment
People with symptoms or a diagnosis of coronary artery disease, because the procedure won't help doctors better understand the disease progression or risk
People who already had an abnormal coronary calcium heart scan

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

Hi @SeaMaiden ,

More factual info on this topic is always a good thing. People thinking or concerned about potential cardiac issues should also understand that a Coronary Calcium Scan does not show the functions of the heart, in action.

Some Cardiologists swear by this test, while others deem it unnecessary in detecting the total health of one's Cardiovascular System. My Cardiologist, from years of testing, does not find the Coronary Calcium Scan to be beneficial for the majority of his patients.

While all types of testing of the Cardiac System can be done, each patient needs an individual evaluation by a reputable and experienced Cardiologist. That doctor can then decide what tests he deems as necessary, individually, for their patient.

I find it to be an optimal choice to leave those decisions up to the Cardiologist, which also includes input from the patient and their thoughts on any and all procedures that might be done.

I have never had this particular test done. Would it have prevented either of my 2 heart attacks? In my Cardiologist's and my opinion, no it would not. That is just my case, which has absolutely no connection to others that read this, or their decisions.

hckynut(john)

mousiegirl · ‎03-09-2010

@bonnielu wrote:
Anyone had any tests to discover heart problems. ECG?ECO? Something called PETS. Just caring about a family member who does not want to pay attention to advice. They say they have no symptoms.

@bonnielu I had an echocardiogram last year, no pain, taken as I was lying down. I refused a stress test, so researched and found this test, shows how the heart is functioning and the blood flow to and from the heart.

happycat · ‎09-18-2010

Yes, a hospital about an hour away was advertising bheart healthy heart tests. Told my dh we should do it, I was worried about him, he works a lot of hours and I feel like his job is very stressful at times. Wel, he is fine, thank God. But they found something with me.

I went to a specialist then, who confirmed the findings, but the only recommendation is to come back in a year and let him retest me.

The only thing there is to do is to keep an eye on it, I guess.

Your relative needs to follow whatever advice they have been given. I feel its like a gift in a way, I wish I didn't have this thing going on with me, but I know what it is and I'm glad to know I need to keep an eye on it.