Subject: Re: Thallium Stress Test
Forum: The Heart Forum

Topic Area: Stress Test

I have had 3 Thallium Stress Tests over the last 12 years and each time the results are good: no blockages, no evidence of heart disease. The question is: Is this a sufficient tool by which to judge the state of one's arterial health as affected by cholesterol?

The doctors (GP and Cardiologists) have been cautious and recommended periodic Thallium Stress tests because of my family history: all the males - father died young of heart attack- both brothers living have had bypass surgeries. I have Mitrol Valve Proplapse with a murmur, diagnosed in '83, and it has been controlled very well with medications. I also have high blood pressure brought on two years ago by my mothers death ( her death not heart related). My cholesterol has always been high - 230 to 280 but the good cholesterol has always been high - 75 - 91, with triglycerides always low - in the 40's. The research I have done has indicated that I don't need to take cholesterol lowering medication, and the drs. to date have agreed. The family dr. has now recommended I start taking Zocor to lower the cholesterol based solely on the overall number of the latest cholesterol test which is 277 with the HDL at 91. I don't eat red meat and 85% or more of my diet is vegetarian/vegan. I called the cardiologists office that did the Thallium Stress a year ago and they said I would have to come in and make an appointment in order for her to answer the question. Any light you can shed on the Thallium Stress as an indicator of arterial health would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You.!
Carole

Dear Carole

I generally do not recommend thallium stress tests in patients without symptoms. However, to answer your question, a negative thallium stress test is good evidence that you do not have any severe obstructions of the coronary arteries. I would still recommend aggressive control of risk factors for heart disease in someone with a strong family history of heart disease, as 50% of heart attacks occur in the presence on blockages that are not severe.

I would base the treatment of whether to use medications for the cholesterol on the LDL cholesterol level.

I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.

Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.

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