Treadmill results not conclusive
Always look for underlying risk factors when your treadmill test seemingly paints a rosy picture
IF you are in your early 30s and have a negative treadmill test, does it mean that you have absolutely no heart disease? Well, the answer is not so simple. Mr A was 32 years old and had been seen annually together with his parents since his late 20s. Given his father's history of coronary artery disease and his extremely high levels of "bad" or low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, his parents wanted him assessed for heart artery disease.
In terms of risk assessment, in the latest 2013 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association Practice Guidelines on the Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk, the risk calculator is meant for those between the ages of 40 and 79 years, and is not meant to be extrapolated to those below the age of 40.
The authors of the guidelines remind us that "These guidelines are meant to define practices that meet the needs of patients in most circumstances and are not a replacement for clinical judgment.
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