Dr. Joseph Cinderella, Medical Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Labs at PRMC, tells us about EKG‘s and stress tests. EKG testing is a simple electric test that looks at the heart’s conduction. The EKG will detect prior heart attacks and checks the heart rhythm.

Hooks up to an EKG machine, and monitors it while patient is walking on a treadmill. Patients with suspected coronary disease when the risk is high then a stress test is a good, helpful test.

Dr. Cinderella says you can get a lot of information from an EKG and a stress test, but if the patient is low risk in asymptomatic patients it doesn’t add a lot.

Probability for Disease: 

• Young, healthy, no risk factors – probability is low
• Middle aged, few risk factors – intermediate risk
• Older, health complications – probability is high

Signs & Symptoms of Coronary Disease:

• Chest pain or pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Heaviness in chest

Lifestyle Changes:

• Smoking
• Cutting out fatty foods
• High cholesterol
• Losing excess weight