Information on Heart Disease

by Dr. T. Johnson

You almost had a heart attack when your doctor told you about the upcoming cardiac stress test he had ordered for you. It’s almost as simple as having your blood pressure checked. Relax.

The cardiac stress test is an ingenious way of getting your heart to reveal it’s secrets, if it has any. In this article, you will learn what it is for and why you should not be nervous about taking it.

You remember what the doctor said but, somehow, you are not reassured. Are they going to cut you open? Wouldn’t it just be simpler for you to go home and cut down on the beer and pizza? What if something “shows up”?

You rarely hear of people suffering heart attacks in their sleep. Cardiac events usually occur when a person is walking, shoveling snow or exerting themselves somehow. Road rage also wreaks havoc on the heart as well as on the mind.

The usual first hints of possible disaster come with your blood pressure. A typical blood pressure reading might be 140/90 or, in words, 140 over 90. The first number is called the systolic reading. It is the pressure in your veins at the heart’s maximum exertion. The smaller number is the pressure in your blood system when the heart is at rest between beats.

A reading of between 140/90 and 90/60 is considered normal. Any readings over those and your doctor will want to investigate further. Consider any concerns your doctor has as blessings. Many people don’t find out till it’s too late that there are problems. Remember, your blood pressure is only an indicator of your overall well-being.

If your blood pressure is between 90/60 and 140/90, you can consider yourself in the normal range. Any higher than that and your doctor will be concerned, thus the cardiac stress test. Don’t consider your appointment a curse. Heart disease is sneaky and can pounce at any time leaving you confused, if you survive. You’ll be asking, “where did that come from?”

Problems with the arteries in your legs, neck and abdomen can go undetected. They are the silent killers. Heart disease doesn’t always give a warning like a chest pain or dizziness. A cardiac stress test will tattle-tale on anything hiding inside your body.

Unlike a broken bone, heart problems can hide right near the surface of your life and you could be totally unaware of it. Using the cardiac stress test, kind, well trained technicians put your body through its paces a bit so that any problems will stick out like a sore thumb. Don’t worry, they are not going to make you run the Iron Man contest.

Whatever is scaring you, whether it is the sight of you puffing a bit on the machine or that scar on your back, the technicians have seen it all before. Go there relaxed and confident if you can. You might even find the experience enjoyable!

They will connect you painlessly to some equipment as you walk slowly on a walking machine. They will watch closely how your body reacts to the stress of some mild exercise. Their machines will show exactly what is happening in your body. At the first sign of a problem, the machine is turned off and you are closely monitored to make sure you are okay.

The results of the test will be analyzed. If any problems show up, don’t get discouraged. Consider it a gift. There are all kinds of treatments and processes nowadays to help or cure what might have shown up. Smoking raises blood pressure. Your doctor might prescribe help to quit. If stress is a big factor in your life, make sure your doctor points you in the right direction for anxiety treatment.

Consider your cardiac stress test a blessing, whether it finds anything or not.  It’s one of those “pay me now or pay me later” scenarios. Either way you win.

About the Author:

Traveling the globe, Dr. T. Johnson has found unusual and effective cures to many medical conditions. He shares what he’s learned in his latest book: The Monster Book of Self Improvement. Free readings from his incredible book of total wellness can be accessed at Cardiac Stress Test