Stress Test Results

[dee1905]

On 3/4/10 I had a heart attack, rushed to the hospital, at which time a catherization with a stent placement was done.  The doctor told me the one artery was 100% blocked (the one with the stent) and that there were two other blockages, one at 65% and 70%.  As follow up my doctor did a nuclear stress test, results showing normal, good blood flow and no blockages.  Is the result correct?  Where did the two blockages shown during the catherization go?
I was just confused by the results, which were given to me via answering machine by a nurse.  Should I call my doctor to question the results of the stress test?

[kenkeith]

You may want to get a copy of test results.  The test may have been stopped due to an elevated ST interval on the ekg or some other ekg output.  It is a precautionary measure to not cause any arm.  Also, if you are taking medication that will give a false positive to an EKG.  If you heart is healing, you are probably on some medication!?  

[dee1905]

When the technician stopped the stress test after a minute, the only thing I was feeling was a little shortness of breath, along with the increase heart rate was because my heart was still in the healing process.

Thanks.

[joanincarolina]

You do need to get back with the cardio and get an explanation of a one minute stress test terminated at heart rate of 144. You do not state how you felt at the time of the test termination.You are still not out very far from your heart attack; I'd go back and get some guidance.Let us know. Joan.

[kenkeith]

Did you get an explanation why you were short of breath aftrer a minute of a stress test?

[dee1905]

Thank you for your responses, at this point everything is new and confusing to me. As with alot of people I am very worried about a second heart attack.  I am a 52 year old female, average height and build, eat fairly well, never smoked and I have already made additional life changes.  I do have high blood pressure and a very strong family history of heart disease, I was also diagnosed with diabetes at the time of my heart attack.  This forum has been very helpful and I will continue to follow it.
Thanks again!

[kenkeith]

Dee, the test will be terminated if the vital signs are compromised by exertion.  A rapid rising heart rate and if it exceeds the normally safe level (220-age), the test will be terminated as a precaution.  My test was terminated after 7 minutes as the ekg showed an elevated ST interval indicating a possible coronary artery occlusion or prior heart attack. Additionally, I was somewhat fatigued.

One minute would not be long enough to get any reliable information.  The test goes for more than 10 minutes and the speed is increased and the track is elavated gradually.

[ed34]

yes, the time involved is not the factor, what is important is that you reach the pulse rate which they require before injecting the contrast dye into you. If you take 30 seconds or 40 minutes, it doesn't matter. They want to scan the heart when under stress which is based on your heart rate. I wish my first nuclear scan was as easy as yours, I had to walk on the treadmill for 15 mins and it was going quite fast and nearly vertical. If it became any steeper I would have been climbing a wall instead of walking.

[dee1905]

Thank you for your response, now for the second half of my question; I was only on the treadmill for a minute and they took me off because my heart rate jumped to 144.  Is this enough time for an accurate result.

[kenkeith]

Just based on the information you have provided the 65 and 70% occlusion are not usually treated and may be insignificant for any current medical problems. There was no perfusion problem (blood flow was not impeded) shown from the degree of exercise you experienced. Hope that helps.