Question:
I had my stress test yesterday, I made it to 4 minutes and then just
couldn't breath. I really wheezing but I was told not to use any
stimulants so didn't pre medicate which I usually do when I exercise
so I was expecting to have a problem.
I did show moderate high blood pressure with exercise. It went to
220/100
so they injected the thallium (sp)and stopped the test. Does this
mean I better change my life style (I need to lose weight). Is this a
sign that I will develope High blood pressure in the future? My
pressure is usually pretty good (125/80).
I am assuming that the pictures were ok because they didn't do the
second set and from what I have read if they did see something they
would have done the resting films to see if it was still there at
rest. Am I correct in that assumption or am I reading in what I want
to hear?
Answer:
I've had the stress test [not the thallium version] but was told to
use my bronchodilator [albuterol] several minutes prior, so I
would be able to get to my maximum heart rate. [Took 19 min on
the treadmill, achieved max heart rate of 183, pretty good
for a 60-yr old]. BP goes up with exercise but I don't
know what my max was.
However if the purpose of the test was to diagnose exercise
induced asthma, they wouldn't want pretreatment with albuterol.
You most probably have a reactive airway disease or COPD, even if it is very
mild. Wheezing with thallium stress results from the side effects of either
stress medications -- adenosine or dipyridamole. Both of these medications
have "wheezing" and "persistent cough" as side effects. Have the personnel
given you coffee? or aminophylline?
Since you had "wheezing", you most probably need to be further evaluated for
a reactive airway disease, potential presence of asthma or COPD or maybe
even some kind of an allergic bronchitis.
I'd say that probably your wheezing made them stop the test. Although, some
clinics only do stress protocol and do not acquire rest images. Stress
images are most important since they are directly related to your ability to
function in daily life, i.e. rest gives information at "rest".
With stress testing, you had systolic hypertension. This has been recognized
as an independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Yes,
you would most probably need to change your lifestyle, lose weight, if
that's possible and address dietary issues, if you haven't already done so.
I do have asthma (diag.
RADS) as a result of an exposure to bromine after a bottle of it
exploded in the lab I was working in. My lungs were burned with a
mixture of aluminum chloride and bromine and as a result I lost 25%
lung function. Sorry I wasn't clear about that.
Last year I went trekking in Nepal and had a terrible time breathing
and that was the same feeling as the stress test as if I was being
smothered.
But I was most concerned with high blood pressure. My doctor was away
last week on vacation and I was worried about that result. Thanks for
your response. I had started to set up a gym at my house I will
continue to do that and I will certainly start a diet to lose weight.
Fear can be a good motivational tool.
