Sunday, November 30, 2008

I'm scared! A cardiac stress test? Why?

By Dr. T. Johnson

Your heart turned to stone when the doctor told you he was booking you for a cardiac stress test. Take it easy. It's a piece of cake. I did it, anybody can.

It's normal for you to be scared of something with a terrifying name like cardiac stress test. It's like your first day of school. There is nothing to be afraid of.

I was scared silly when I went into the clinic for my stress test. What had I done to deserve this? Why hadn't my doctor just given me a pill or something? What would I do if there was something wrong with my ticker?

You rarely hear of people suffering heart attacks in their sleep. Cardiac events usually occur when a person is walking, shoveling snow or exerting themselves somehow. Road rage also wreaks havoc on the heart as well as on the mind.

The usual first hints of possible disaster come with your blood pressure. A typical blood pressure reading might be 140/90 or, in words, 140 over 90. The first number is called the systolic reading. It is the pressure in your veins at the heart's maximum exertion. The smaller number is the pressure in your blood system when the heart is at rest between beats.

Your blood pressure has two readings. The first one, called the systollic pressure, is the maximum pressure your heart pumps at. The second, lower number, is the pressure between beats. 140/90 is an average reading for a healthy human being.

Cardiac illness is not just for fat people, smokers or old folks. It is sneaky and can lay you out flat in no time with no warning. Blood pressure of between 90/60 and 140/90 is considered normal and any time yours falls outside that guideline, have yourself checked out right away.

A stress test is ordered when you have high blood pressure or you experience dizziness, chest pains or other symptoms. Maybe he or she has detected unusual sounds coming from your heart. There are all kinds of reasons for a stress test. All of them are good.

Unlike a broken bone, heart problems can hide right near the surface of your life and you could be totally unaware of it. Using the cardiac stress test, kind, well trained technicians put your body through its paces a bit so that any problems will stick out like a sore thumb. Don't worry, they are not going to make you run the Iron Man contest.

The people administering the test are trained to make you feel comfortable. Don't worry, they have seen bodies that are, shall we say, a bit short of perfect before. If you are nervous, tell them so. They are trained to help you with that too.

They will connect you painlessly to some equipment as you walk slowly on a walking machine. They will watch closely how your body reacts to the stress of some mild exercise. Their machines will show exactly what is happening in your body. At the first sign of a problem, the machine is turned off and you are closely monitored to make sure you are okay.

The results of the test will be analyzed. If any problems show up, don't get discouraged. Consider it a gift. There are all kinds of treatments and processes nowadays to help or cure what might have shown up. Smoking raises blood pressure. Your doctor might prescribe help to quit. If stress is a big factor in your life, make sure your doctor points you in the right direction for anxiety treatment.

Consider your cardiac stress test a blessing, whether it finds anything or not. It's one of those "pay me now or pay me later" scenarios. Either way you win. - 17606

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