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.
Interventional Cardiology (Expert Forum)
what test to have
Answered by
Truman Medical Center
MO
Questions in the Interventional Cardiology forum are answered by medical professionals affiliated with the Truman Medical Center. Topics covered include acute coronary syndrome, angina, atrial fibrillation, cardiac catheterization, cardiomyopathy, drug abuse & cardiac disease, echocardiography, heart failure, hypertension & heart disease, lipid management, minorities and heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, prevention, valvular heart disease, women’s heart health, and the warning signs of a heart attack.
what test to have
by zuber, May 02, 2008 06:24PM
I have somewhat atypical chest symptoms..and some are typical....Basically my chest feels heavy all the time, but I also have attacks of nausea, lightheadedness, shortness of breath. I'm only 30 years old though I am 50 pounds too fat and I'm an ex smoker. My primary doctor did a plain stress test and resting echocardiogram, and a chest xray. everything was normal. I decided to go to a cardiologist on my own, and he listened to me for about 4 minutes tops, barely checked my heart sounds, and instantly ordered a barrage of tests including Nuclear stress. I was alot more interested in a cardiac CTA. My question is basically this...If i can find someone to give me a cardiac CTA, would this really over ride the need for a nuclear stress in my case, in your opinion? (from what i've read, CTA is an excellent test in atypical moderate risk people). I just feel like the nuclear would be a waste of money, time, and radiation.... Are you feeling the same way I am?
Doctor's Answer
by Douglas Bogart, MD, May 08, 2008 08:16AM
, May 08, 2008 08:16AM
To: zuber
A CT scan for calcium scoring would tell if you have plaque in your coronary arteries and would be less radiation than either of the tests--nuclear or CTA. In the presence of a negative CT for Ca scoring and a negative stress test it would be very-very unlikely you have coronary artery disease. PVC's are likely benign.
Member Comments (2)
by zuber, May 02, 2008 06:25PM
forgot to add i have new onset of PVC's with this
Expert Activity
Related Expert Forums
Related Communities