(Click on the Image to view the video)
This morning I walked down to Samsum, across from Cottage Hospital, for my annual cardiology treadmill stress test. I was sitting after the collection of the initial rest data awaiting getting on the treadmill with the goal of getting my heart rate to 85% of my age defined max of 155 beats per minute. So I popped up, grabbed my iPhone and recorded these little movies.
I was able to get my heart rate up to 144, 93% of max for my age. Up until today I was understanding that I could not get my heart rate that high because of the beta-blocker medication (Coreg) I take morning and night.
But anon, the beta-blocking stuff apparently just whacks off attempts by the ole pump to jump or spike above the max rate. Too weird as last year I went in for the same test and those technicians told me I could not get my heart rate up using the treadmill because of the beta-blockers so they gave me a shot of some nuclear stuff that dilated my veins and arteries AS IF I’d exercised.
The goal on the test was 85% of max to get good data so I was pleased to get it up to 93% after 13 minutes on the treadmill. That was certainly the hardest part of the test. The second hardest part was when they abruptly stopped the test at which time I am to immediately step off the treadmill and lay back on the table next to the treadmill for a second ultrasound. The technician starts taking ultrasound images while am am asked to hold my breath at several points! A real challenge immediately after the exercise as I’m gulping for air while being asked to “hold”.