Checking your heart for blockages?

[Frimley111R]

I've had an ECG or two in the past couple of years but it doesn't show your arteries. However i have also been wired up to a machine with about 20 wires that they stick on your body. What does this do? I think it checks bloody flow or something through the main areas of your body but is that correct? The only other way I have seen is to inject some sort of metallic dye into you and then scan you so the dye and any blockages show up.

[Frimley111R]

Thanks, interesting.

[Frimley111R]

Badda said:

Your 20 wire machine is probably just a 12 lead ECG (10 actual wires) and looks for changes caused by either poor oxygenation of heart muscle (angina) or actual blockages (heart attack) among other things.

Ah, ok, that's the one.

If that is an ECG what is the one they do with a scanning thing, like the ones the use for babies called? I thought that was an ECG?

[Frimley111R]

Badda said:

Echocardiogram (rather than electrocardiogram).

Ah, i see, thanks

[Frimley111R]

pidsy said:

The contrast CT is what you need OP - it’ll give you the answer you want - your Consultant will get you booked in if they’re at all concerned.

Thanks. Just lost my BiL (40 yrs old) and had another mate narrowly miss out on a major heart attack, both of them were slim and not obvious candidates for it (although BiL did smoke way too much). Just makes you a bit paranoid....

I have had the heart ECG and the Electro ones at least twice last year (prep for unrelated op) and so am probably worrying unnecessarily.

[Frimley111R]

The NHS stats are going show a big increase in people checking the heart now

[Frimley111R]

Badda said:

The big 5 in terms of risk:

Diabetes
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Family History
Smoking.

Interesting, for me:

No issue
Not sure
Only slightly
None
Never

[Frimley111R]

off to see the doc at 4.30. Have some minor chest pains which may be nothing but she's going to check me over just in case.

EDIT: Checked me over but said doubtful it's anything heart related but booked me in for an ECG next week as a precaution. Went home and did a fairly quick 5K. Good to have doc's opinion for a bit of peace of mind. Had to lie to Mrs 111R about why I was going so she didn't worry

Edited by Frimley111R on Friday 9th August 10:47

[Frimley111R]

The Mad Monk said:

A 5k in isolation won't make any difference to anything. A get fit, keep fit programme will, long term, do you good. Regular exercise is the key.

When you go to see your doctor, or other medical specialist and they propose doing xyz, ask what is this for? What will it do? Why? I have a history of heart problems, starting with a heart attack, followed up with triple by-pass surgery later the same year - 1990.

Quite seriously take a notebook and pen with you when you go to see these people. They will be only too pleased to explain to you what they are doing. Write down words, you don't know and Google them when you get home. I hope this doesn't sound condescending, because it isn't meant to be.

I really think your wife should be consulted and involved.

She gets consulted on all my medical stuff anyway (2 head operations in the last year plus countless checks and tests). I do the 5k at least once a week and about 1.5hr on my bike. The 5k wasn't a one off. I do try to do 2 fitness things a week on average.

No history of any issues in my family and i eat reasonably well and am not overweight/don't smoke.

[Frimley111R]

The Mad Monk said:

Frimley111R said:

She gets consulted on all my medical stuff anyway (2 head operations in the last year plus countless checks and tests). I do the 5k at least once a week and about 1.5hr on my bike. The 5k wasn't a one off. I do try to do 2 fitness things a week on average.

No history of any issues in my family and i eat reasonably well and am not overweight/don't smoke.

Well, you did say:-

"Had to lie to Mrs 111R about why I was going so she didn't worry".

True. It's just that with this one I sort of knew it was just me worrying a but unnecessarily but I knew if I told Mrs 111R about it she'd panic/worry A LOT. If it had been anything genuine I would have told her of course.