Re: Cardiologist too conservative?

In article <483ef63e$0$5169$4c368faf@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
 "Zen Cohen" <aturny@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

> I had to take a treadmill stress test yesterday because I had minor 
> right-side chest pain a couple weeks after a 40% spontaneous
pneumothorax in 
> my right lung. I suspect the test was overkill but I wasn't going to
defy my 
> doc's advice.
> 
> He said he'd calculate 220 minus my age (49) so limited the test to 171
bpm. 
> I told him that I sometimes approach 180 when exercising and that I'd
like 
> to see if there are any problems when my heart reaches that range. Also
said 
> I'd heard the 220-minus-age formula was arbitrary, He agreed but said it
was 
> a good rule of thumb and summarily dismissed my request by pronouncing I

> just shouldn't exercise above my 220-minus-age. I realize that there is
some 
> additional risk by exercising at higher heart rates but I'm willing to
take 
> some measure of risk because I like to push myself and better my 
> performance. Nonetheless he stopped me right at 171. I feel like the
doctor 
> didn't do me a service because he didn't provide a sufficient reason for

> this and it seems his refusing to let me go further may have left him in
the 
> dark about potential problems that could develop in these higher ranges
if I 
> don't follow his advice.
> 
> I get the impression this cardiologist knows plenty about counseling and

> treating sedentary or ill patients but has no interest in advising
fitter 
> patients who want to push their endurance without undue risk. Has anyone
had 
> experience with cardiologists who are more fitness-friendly? What have
they 
> said about the risks of exercising at or near max HR?
> 
> BTW, it took me 15:30 to reach my "max" HR. He said his patients
normally 
> don't last longer than 11 minutes but heard of some accomplished
athletes 
> going over 20 minutes. I might've gone another minute or so but nowhere
near 
> 20 (with the speed/incline increases every minute). If you've done this 
> test, how long did you go? 

Don't know yet. I've got one ordered but won't schedule it until this 
damned leg heals.

If he wants me to have a 170 to 180 BPM in no time flat, he oughta just 
let me do some heavy deadlifts. <g> It's faster.

To hell with the treadmill!
-- 
Peace! Om

"Human nature seems to be to control other people 
until they put their foot down." -- Stephan Rothstein