Re: Cardiologist too conservative?

"Zen Cohen" <aturny@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
news:483ef63e$0$5169$4c368faf@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>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?
>

You sound like a "lawyers dream" (ya you) if you went down at over there
171 
then you could have sued!!

I know, not you "good lawyer" but some other "normal" lawyer.

Here things are so tight in LA you had your hand in your own pocket!

Burr