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?

I will repeat what I've said before - you need a s****ts medicine doctor, 
and to go from there.  At the very least, that formula has been 
discredited for active adults, and there are several alternatives out 
there, one of which suggests subtracting _half_ your age from 220.

You need a different doctor.  You might try asking at a local running 
club for recommendations.

You need a different doctor right now.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com