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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Re: False Negative in Thallium Stress Test
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Re: False Negative in Thallium Stress Test
by Cleveland Clinic, MD, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on February 15, 1999 at 17:09:51:
In Reply to: False Negative in Thallium Stress Test posted by Peggy from TN on February 15, 1999 at 16:09:44:
I have been having a difficult time getting any physician to take my concerns about family history into account regarding heart disease. Every member of my immediate family of six is either deceased as a result of heart disease or has had bypass or angioplasty; I am the one exception and the oldest member, living or dead, at 58.
Because of this history, my brother, sister and I requested and received the thallium stress tests at various times in the past year. They all showed no blockage. Since then, my sister has had a heart attach and bypass surgery, my brother had to have angioplasty to relieve 100% blockage, and I have insisted on a referral to a cardiologist. I will be seeing one next month. My question is this...with my family history and the false negative tests of my siblings, I would like to insist on the heart cath test, the only really reliable method of determining blockage.
The physicians I have spoken to thus far indicate that no doctor will give me a cath test based on this history. Must I wait to have a heart attack before I can confirm I have blockage, if I do. Symptoms are: high cholesterol level (289); shortness of breath, and others. Isn't this family history sufficient to warrant the heart cath test?? Thank you, Peggy
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Dear Peggy,
Thank you for your question. I would certainly consider you at high risk for having heart disease given your family history and cholesterol status. Be sure to emphasize your symptoms to the cardiologist. A cath might be a reasonable option but not one to be rushed into. Your cardiologist can give you the best advise. Also you need to get better control of your cholesterol through diet, exercise and medication if necessary. Good luck.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
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.
In Reply to: False Negative in Thallium Stress Test posted by Peggy from TN on February 15, 1999 at 16:09:44:
I have been having a difficult time getting any physician to take my concerns about family history into account regarding heart disease. Every member of my immediate family of six is either deceased as a result of heart disease or has had bypass or angioplasty; I am the one exception and the oldest member, living or dead, at 58.
Because of this history, my brother, sister and I requested and received the thallium stress tests at various times in the past year. They all showed no blockage. Since then, my sister has had a heart attach and bypass surgery, my brother had to have angioplasty to relieve 100% blockage, and I have insisted on a referral to a cardiologist. I will be seeing one next month. My question is this...with my family history and the false negative tests of my siblings, I would like to insist on the heart cath test, the only really reliable method of determining blockage.
The physicians I have spoken to thus far indicate that no doctor will give me a cath test based on this history. Must I wait to have a heart attack before I can confirm I have blockage, if I do. Symptoms are: high cholesterol level (289); shortness of breath, and others. Isn't this family history sufficient to warrant the heart cath test?? Thank you, Peggy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Peggy,
Thank you for your question. I would certainly consider you at high risk for having heart disease given your family history and cholesterol status. Be sure to emphasize your symptoms to the cardiologist. A cath might be a reasonable option but not one to be rushed into. Your cardiologist can give you the best advise. Also you need to get better control of your cholesterol through diet, exercise and medication if necessary. Good luck.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
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.
