Recommended follow-up tests after a heart attack.

  : My husband had a heart attack, Nov.1992, followed by angioplasty in early Feb.1993.  He takes Zocar now to control his cholesteral, and thyroid medication and 1 asprin a day.  Since his heart attack, he has had 2 thallium stress tests performed, the last 2 1/2 years ago, and since has had no other tests done to follow up to see if there is any more blockage.
  : My question:  What follow-up tests do you recommed be done in the years following angioplasty and how often do you recommend these tests be done?
  : Thank you.
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Dear Sandra,
Follow-up after a MI is largely up to the individual cardiologist based on the risk of the patient.  Often the follow-up can be managed by an Internist.  Annual Thallium tests are not necessarily needed if the patient is having no angina.
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.