Heart Disease Pictures

It all started innocently. I went to my primary care physician complaining of dizziness and pain in my back. A quick ECG or electrocardiogram revealed a heart muscle very fine and operational. However, being at an age where heart disease is considered a possibility and having several increased risk factors, my doctor decided that a trip to see the cardiologist was in order.

After all, I think, how could there be a problem with my heart? I carried several boxes of 50 pounds in three floors only a few weeks ago. But I thought it was better to get at least a reference point so that we can measure the changes I've aged. And the fact that the dizziness does not go always disturbing.

The next test is a treadmill or stress test. Because of the dizziness and nausea, however, the group decided that the heart of a diagnostic test chemical stress was in order. They inserted an IV and took pictures of my heart muscle before being stressed. The idea is that they can then put my heart under a certain tension and see the reaction. Just like typing a before and after photos. I could give you the names of medical testing and drugs but I am not a doctor and prefer to offer a description of the patient's perspective. Thus, after the first series of photos, technicians inserted chemicals in my body through the IV to chemically "stress" my heart while carefully monitoring my status. A short wait, and yet another set of photos.

In about a week, they called with the results. Instead of saying it right but was told only that the test results showed that there may be a problem and to fix an appointment with a cardiologist immediately. Now, I do not like the sound of it must be immediately critical or more important than anything to see "something".

After talking with the doctor, it was decided that another battery of noninvasive tests were in order. This time it was a CT scanner as a modification. They were looking for verification of deposits of calcium in my arteries.

This test agrees with the results of stress tests and showed calcification of arteries, or arteriosclerosis. In all tests, it appeared that if I had a developmental problem, but the severity was always a problem. However, there was a blood test which indicated a calcium level greater than 90% of people my age. Done! The doctor wanted now and almost asked to go see what was happening.

An angiogram was in my immediate future. An angiogram is usually outpatient procedure where the cardiologist opens an artery in the leg and works a camera in the arteries of the heart muscle. It seems worse than it is, but the advantage is that you know exactly what the condition of your heart and arteries are at this point in time.

End of Part 1