Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Rule out Heart Attack with 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.
Rule out Heart Attack with Thallium Stress Test ?
by Gabriele, Jun 01, 1998 12:00AM
Hi!
My mom (50 yrs., 200 lbs, high blood preassure, family history of heart disease, normal Cholestrol level) woke up about 5 days ago with stabbing pain in her lower left chest and a pain radiating from sholder to the arm (left side). She felt nauseated and had a preassure like feeling in her stomach.That day she stayed in bed all day and slept a lot and was very tired (that's very unlikely for her to do) She resisted in going to the ER.
She kept putting heating pads on her sholder and that pain has gotten better since then but she still gets that sharp stabbing pain in her lower chest every now and so often during the day and woke up with that pain again this morning at 5 AM and felt nauseated. She also mentioned she felt hot last nite and had to turn the fan on in order to "breathe" better.
She has just been feeling kinda sluggish and bummed now and very nervous.
So I said thats it and took her do see a Cardiologist.
The Dr. said that he doesnt think its her heart, he did and EKG but to rule out she had a Heart Attack he scheduled a Thallium Stress Test for her in 5 days.
I have a few questions now I am very concerned:
a) are these symptoms of a Heartattack
b) could she have had one and not noticed it.
c) can they discover that with this T.S.Test?
d) what if she had one? What are the procedures then?
f) should I sleep in her room for the next 5 days to watch her?
g) How dangerous is this Test? It said they might inject some medic. to introduce stress while on the Treadmill, is that really necessary?
The Dr. didnt seem to worry so much. Which makes me very nervous because from reading symptoms of a Heart Attack on the Internet she met a lot of these critierias.
I would be very thankful for a fast answer.
Gabi (***@****
Doctor's Answer
by CCF CARDIO MD APS, Jun 01, 1998 12:00AM
_
Dear Gabi,
You are absolutely right, your mother's symptoms are all potential heart attack warning signs, especially given that she has some risk factors.
First I will answer your questions in the order asked and then I will make comments if necessary in a paragraph at the end.
a)These can very well be symptoms of a heart attack, although there are quite a few other possible explanations (some as serious, some not.) The point is this- One must always investigate the heart first as this has the potential to be life threatening and or life altering.
b)Yes some people do have (usually smaller) heart attacks and not know it, although this is highly unlikely in the setting of a normal ecg which I believe you said your mother had at the office.
c)The thallium stress test is one of only a few first line investigation type tests that a physician can order when looking for prior heart attacks and in assessing the risk or likelihood of future events. Usually if the stress test is abnormal, the cardiologist will order a cardiac catheterization which is an invasive procedure whereby catheters are introduced to look for blockages in the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
d)see answer to c)
e)Actually if your mother develops symptoms again while awaiting a stress test, it would be best for her to go to the emergency room
for evaluation and possibly treatment. Emergency rooms, especially trauma level or ones at the major medical centers(usually in the city and affiliated with a medical school)
are very much equipped and trained to deal specifically with these types of symptoms. The symptoms of shortness of breath in the night are quite concerning and really beg for evaluation.
g)the thallium stress test is a very safe test when performed in the appropriate individual (who is appropriate for this as opposed to another test is the physician's decision.)
If a person can not walk on the treadmill or perform some kind of exercise that stresses the heart, a medication that mimics stress is absolutely necessary for the evaluation of the heart.
Keep in mind that this is simply a functional test to evaluate the risk for heart attacks by testing for the likelihood of blockages in the coronary arteries that supply blood and therefore oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle.
An appropriate test if the thallium is negative would be an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart)
which evaluates the heart structures like valves as well as the flow of blood in and out of the heart.
Good Luck.
Information provided in the Heart Forum is intended for general informational purposes only, actual diagnosis and treatment can only be made by your(mother's)physician(s).
Dear Gabi,
You are absolutely right, your mother's symptoms are all potential heart attack warning signs, especially given that she has some risk factors.
First I will answer your questions in the order asked and then I will make comments if necessary in a paragraph at the end.
a)These can very well be symptoms of a heart attack, although there are quite a few other possible explanations (some as serious, some not.) The point is this- One must always investigate the heart first as this has the potential to be life threatening and or life altering.
b)Yes some people do have (usually smaller) heart attacks and not know it, although this is highly unlikely in the setting of a normal ecg which I believe you said your mother had at the office.
c)The thallium stress test is one of only a few first line investigation type tests that a physician can order when looking for prior heart attacks and in assessing the risk or likelihood of future events. Usually if the stress test is abnormal, the cardiologist will order a cardiac catheterization which is an invasive procedure whereby catheters are introduced to look for blockages in the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
d)see answer to c)
e)Actually if your mother develops symptoms again while awaiting a stress test, it would be best for her to go to the emergency room
for evaluation and possibly treatment. Emergency rooms, especially trauma level or ones at the major medical centers(usually in the city and affiliated with a medical school)
are very much equipped and trained to deal specifically with these types of symptoms. The symptoms of shortness of breath in the night are quite concerning and really beg for evaluation.
g)the thallium stress test is a very safe test when performed in the appropriate individual (who is appropriate for this as opposed to another test is the physician's decision.)
If a person can not walk on the treadmill or perform some kind of exercise that stresses the heart, a medication that mimics stress is absolutely necessary for the evaluation of the heart.
Keep in mind that this is simply a functional test to evaluate the risk for heart attacks by testing for the likelihood of blockages in the coronary arteries that supply blood and therefore oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle.
An appropriate test if the thallium is negative would be an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart)
which evaluates the heart structures like valves as well as the flow of blood in and out of the heart.
Good Luck.
Information provided in the Heart Forum is intended for general informational purposes only, actual diagnosis and treatment can only be made by your(mother's)physician(s).
