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Advice/opinions from the cardiologists/docs in the haus (or anyone else)

GMAN 19030GMAN 19030
in General Training Discussions

Let me preface this by saying this is coming more from my wife than it is from me.

My wife always gets a little worked up whenever she hears of a fatality during a triathlon.  The unfortunate deaths at the NYC Tri a couple of weeks back made this a conversation piece in my household once again.  Most of the tri deaths happen during the swim.  We can theorize why all day long but that seems to be when things go wrong.  In most cases it was found the seemingly fit person had a heart issue that contributed to their death -- an unknown blockage or similar.

That always leads to my wife asking why I don't have a complete heart checkup so that they can see if I have any issues -- basically to see if I have a ticking time bomb in my chest.  I'm a FBI Agent and we have a fitness for duty physical exam every two years with EKG's and the whole nine yards.  Not quite at the level of a Mayo Clinic physical but pretty thorough.  Once you hit 40 (as I did last year), they add the treadmill stress test.  I've passed every one with flying colors.  I also hold the FBI Houston record for longest time on the treadmill stress test before I reached the target HR... not that I'm bragging. 

 

I'm not one to overdramatize things like my wife but she does worry about it and I guess I do on some level as well.  I'm content with my two year physicals but she would like me to see a cardiologist and get a definitive test done.  Opinions?

Comments

  • steveperxsteveperx
    Make your wife happy and just do it. Then, there's nothing to argue about.
  • Nate ParadyNate Parady
    It would seem to me that you are already doing it with your two year fit test for the FBI...that's good stuff. However, to make your wife happy which is the most important part I think you have two options:
    1. Suck it up and Go get another anual check up ASAP
    2. Take out a large 7 figure Term Life Insurance policy with her as the beneficiary. image

    Either option might make her happy or at least a little less worried.
  • shea211226shea211226

    Bob

    Finally, a Forum question I'm qualified to answer.



    Emotions aside, there is no good rationale for surveillance testing for individuals who have a great functional capacity, low risk factor profile, and no symptoms. Your annual treadmill is adequate, especially if you hit it hard and it's completely normal. There is no perfect test that will predict the future, so even if you came to my office asking for a "definitive test" I wouldn't know what to offer (certainly not a heart cath!). The most important thing is to modify risk factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, tobacco use) and call your doc if you notice a change in your exercise capacity. If you're ever in Indy, I'd be happy to let you burn up one of our treadmills. You can call me if you'd like to talk more.

    Richard Shea

    Co-director of Valvular Hear Disease

    Director of Echocardiography and Nuclear Cardiology

    Indiana Heart Physicians

    317-893-1900

  • Nate ParadyNate Parady
    @richard, love that you included your signature block, uh, yah, I would say you are qualified to answer this one...
  • jburbattjburbatt
    DC Rainmaker had a good post analyzing why these things happen in the swim, specifically at NYC too: http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2011/08/detailed-look-at-nyc-triathlon-swim.html

    Interesting read, and can definitely see how it happens. Might make for some more interesting conversation in your house image
  • GMAN 19030GMAN 19030
    Thanks for the comments, especially Dr. Shea. I spoke with my doc and she pretty much said the same thing.

    Gotta love the EN knowledge data base!!! Is there an area of specific knowledge that we can't cover?
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