Radiation/treadmill testing can find hidden heart problems, study saysFebruary 22, 1999
Web posted at: 5:25 p.m. EST (2225 GMT)
DALLAS (CNN) -- Combining existing heart screening tests could detect hidden heart problems in certain people with high exercise tolerance, researchers said Monday.
A recent study found that the use of radioactive imaging along with a treadmill test could identify patients at risk for heart attack or who need bypass surgery or a balloon angioplasty.
Researchers had patients exercise on a traditional treadmill before injecting them with radioactive material. Doctors then used a picture or scan of the heart called a radioisotope image to see how much of the radioactive material is flowing into the heart.
A blockage would indicate the possibility of heart attack, stroke or the need for a surgical procedure to reduce such a blockage.
Researchers conducted the tests on 400 patients who regularly exercised for 90 minutes or more on a treadmill, but did not exhibit any noticeable heart problems.
The study is published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.
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