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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
stress test results
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stress test results
by oliver, Jun 08, 2003 12:00AM
I recently posted about a decreased ejection fraction going from 35-40% down to 25% also suffering chest pain. After a recent stress test this past week upon which I stayed on the tread mill 9 mins. with 3 different incline and speeds, which my doctor said was pretty good he found no blockages or anything as to why any of this is happening. I believe he said my EF improved alittle upon the excercise. Is that really possible and why? Also is that amount of time on the tread mill good. My heart rate was already 100 before the test even started. And if there were no real concerns with my stress test do you think it might be just my overall heaviness (80 lb.) overweight that could be causing all of this. I have always been heavy but maybe its just catching up with me now? He gave me no restrictions and I brought up him starting me in a cardiac rehab program, which he thought was a good idea, but if he thought it was a good idea then why had it never been metioned to me before. Would this be something you would suggest to your patients? I am only 34 yrs. old. Thank you again.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-RCJ, Jun 09, 2003 12:00AM
Oliver,
I read your first post. Thanks for this follow-up. I'll answer your questions in order.
(1) A normal heart will improve its function during exercise. So an EF that increases during exercise is not only "possible", it's expected.
(2) Being overweight and deconditioned is certainly a possibility for your symptoms. I have not had the benefit of meeting and examining you, so I can't say that being overweight is indeed you primary problem.
(3) I frequently recommend "cardiac rehab" to my patients. Cardiac rehab basically means supervised exercise. I don't know why your doctor didn't mention it to you, but I suspect it was because (1) he forgot to mention it, or (2) he is discouraged about the lack of compliance he sees from most of his patients.
Good luck.
I read your first post. Thanks for this follow-up. I'll answer your questions in order.
(1) A normal heart will improve its function during exercise. So an EF that increases during exercise is not only "possible", it's expected.
(2) Being overweight and deconditioned is certainly a possibility for your symptoms. I have not had the benefit of meeting and examining you, so I can't say that being overweight is indeed you primary problem.
(3) I frequently recommend "cardiac rehab" to my patients. Cardiac rehab basically means supervised exercise. I don't know why your doctor didn't mention it to you, but I suspect it was because (1) he forgot to mention it, or (2) he is discouraged about the lack of compliance he sees from most of his patients.
Good luck.
