Have you ever had a stress test ?

[newstart2380]

My OH felt a bit "odd" (more so than usual) and saw his Dr and asked for a referral to have a stress test, bit short of breath and tired. We used to have one every 2 years but since moving have been a bit slack.

Dr said, Oh you had one 18 months ago so you should be OK. OH insisted so off to the specialist and had it done, 2 weeks later he was in hosptal having an angiogram and whilst there the cardio surgeon asked "would you like to have stents or a double by pass" as you have 2 blocked arteries that are 90% blocked.

I have an appointment to have a stress test even though I feel great.

Should a stress test be available under medicare to all people over a certain age, just one, how many heart attacks could be prevented and how much money could be saved by the health system if this precaution was taken ?

[grumpy*cat*rocks]

I had a stress test some years ago after having some episodes of chest pain. However as I was very overweight at that time I did not use the treadmill. Instead they connected me to the cardiac monitor and gave me an intravenous injection of some drug that increases the heart rate similar to what a brisk walk on a treadmill would cause.

I had no chest pain, and the results were okay. I've since lost weight, no further episodes of pain.

This link explains the test that I had done.

http://www.radiologysa.com.au/info/CardiacStress.pdf

[sandypas]

An ECG when I was having a diabetic checkup showed a slight change so they sent me for a stress test.  All was OK but I had to ride and exercise bike. It was covered by medicare.

[chuk_77]

i dont need a test to know Im stressed 😕

[cherry*135]

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@azureline** wrote:

but how would you weed out the hypochondriacs ?

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Yeah, how?

It would cost too much to test healthy people.

[cherry*135]

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@amber-eyed-girl wrote:
The other important thing there is that gum or jaw pain can be a sign of heart trouble.

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That can be caused by Bruxism (excessive grinding or clenching teeth) as well, which can be caused by stress in a persons life but not connected to any heart trouble.

[serendipityricho]

I have a S T R E S S test every day---turn up to work at  7am.

Then it starts lol.-by lunch time i have been tested to the limit.

Some customers and fellow workers are illness free.

They dont have ulcers -but are carriers ------and give them to others.........Richo.

[gec2002]

"would you like to have stents or a double by pass"

Had a stress test and finished up going straight from the Cardio to hospital and getting a stent put in.  If you get a choice go for the stent, pretty well painless and you get to watch the whole operation, see the dye going thorough your arteries and heart, and you are out of hospital in a couple of days.  You have a hugh bruise on your leg and I could feel the stent which is kind of weird but you don't notice it after a week or so.  Hadn't realised how sick I had been, after the stent was put in I felt better than I had been for 20 years, a complete new lease on life.

[amber-eyed-girl]

Clenching/grinding is also true. So it is good to go to the dentist to rule that out because that can be checked.

Friend of mine had some on and off jaw pain in his thirties, was a heart thing. Another friend, a tooth grinder in his sleep.

Had no idea he was doing it.

Both had the same type of pain.

[newstart2380]

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@gec2002 wrote:

"would you like to have stents or a double by pass"

Had a stress test and finished up going straight from the Cardio to hospital and getting a stent put in.  If you get a choice go for the stent, pretty well painless and you get to watch the whole operation, see the dye going thorough your arteries and heart, and you are out of hospital in a couple of days.  You have a hugh bruise on your leg and I could feel the stent which is kind of weird but you don't notice it after a week or so.  Hadn't realised how sick I had been, after the stent was put in I felt better than I had been for 20 years, a complete new lease on life.

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His was thru the wrist but his groin was shaved just incase an artery was not good enough in his wrist. Yes he had 2 stents and said it was very interesting to watch and listen to the surgeons.

He is great now and blood pressure is lower so a great result and he feels so much better.

The scary part is he had no idea he had almost 2 fully blocked arteries and there are hundreds out there who are in the same position but don't know and that is why I think a stress test for anyone over 50 or 55 should be on the free list and suggested to all patients over that age.