Functional Medicine | Get Healthy Now, Naturally | Alternative Health Information Functional Medicine | Get Healthy Now, Naturally | Alternative Health Information Functional Medicine | Get Healthy Now, Naturally | Alternative Health Information Functional Medicine | Get Healthy Now, Naturally | Alternative Health Information Your Medical Detective

Stress Tests Beneficial in Detecting Heart Disease

Print Page

Stress Tests Beneficial in Detecting Heart Disease

Kelly Cullivan

Heart disease is still the number one killer in america, but doctors say it doesn't have to be this way. There are screening tests available that could detect a heart attack before it happens. Justin Dehn, is a healthy twenty something, but after a routine physical with his doctor, Justin found out that he wasn't as healthy as he thought. Justin said, "I had an abnormal EKG reading, and my doctor referred me to a specialist to have a stress test." Doctors say stress tests are important in determining heart abnormalities, which could be an indicator of heart disease. Cardiologist, Dr. John Windsor said, "what we do, is we put a person in a situation where there is increased stress on the heart and if the arteries that feed the heart are restricted, you have decreased blood flow." And a stress test allows doctors to see these changes. This one consists of a Bruce Protocol--a 7 stage test, that increases the incline and speed every three minutes, as a new stage begins. Doctors monitor the patient's heart and blood pressure while they are on the treadmill. Doctor windsor says a patients blood pressure and heart beat should gradually increase, but not suddenly. "A sudden increase in blood pressure is not good. it suggests the heart is not receiving adequate blood pressure to the heart so it's not pumping adequately, and it's an indication to stop the test," he said. There was no need to stop the test in this case, but as you can see by the sweat on Justin's face, it was no walk in the park. And the nice thing about this test is that you can get the results almost instantly. Justin said, "Everything was normal, that it is just the way my heart functions, so there was no need to worry about any activities or exercise." And Justin said he can sleep better now without the stress of worrying about his heart.