When should one have his/her heart checked for blockages? - Heart Disorders Message Board

mr_panicky · 08-11-2006, 05:20 PM

Is there any criteria or condition that one should meet before someone should be checked for coronary blockage?

arlmon18 · 08-11-2006, 06:35 PM

I was in the ER beginning of April, because my pulse was very high and I didn't feel right. It wasn't a heart attack. The 2 EKGS that they took were both abnormal, so the doctor suggested that I see my doctor to have an exercise stress scheduled. I didn't have chest pain or shortness of breathe. I had the test done in the cardiologist's office and it was abnormal as well. He sent me for a Mibi scan (nuclear heart scan) and echogram to make sure everything was normal. The Mibi scan was normal, the echogram showed some stenosis of the aortic valve, which the cardiologist said could be from aging. No angiogram was necessary, and I go back in 6 months time. Do you have any symptoms - pain, SOB, etc.?

mr_panicky · 08-11-2006, 07:31 PM

What is SOB?

started04 · 08-11-2006, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_panicky

Is there any criteria or condition that one should meet before someone should be checked for coronary blockage?

When one becomes symptomatic is the usual scenario. Symptoms are shortness of breath, fatigue, and angina. I don't believe a doctor will recommend any tests without cause, and insurance may refuse to cover.

Lenin · 08-12-2006, 05:16 AM

I would say the overwhelmingly usual reason for getting one's heart checked for arterial blockages is PAIN ON EXERTION that can take the form of crushing pressure, or intense heartburn that ofen has a radiating quality into the neck and shoulders and even left arm as the exertion increases in intensity or time.
This is almost always accompanied by SOB (shortness of breath Mr. Panicky.)
The chest discomfort dissipates within 5 minutes of stopping the exertion.

There are many variants on this theme, but I think it can be considered the norm (well, abnormal norm

) that gets people in for elaborate cardiac testing under stress.