TMT for Cardiac Problems
By: Robert NamTotal Views: 353, Word Count: 607,
We all hear about TMT for cardiac problems. Let us focus on what it is exactly. It is seen that a patient with 90% blocks can have normal ECG. In this case, while the patient is resting there is no pain in the chest, but the angina symptoms can come when there is increase in heart rate. This is the situation where we need a TMT test. With the help of TMT, we can know the coming possibilities of cardiac problem.
TMT for Cardiac Problems
· In this test, patients are told to gradually increase their heart rate; this leads to increase in the blood requirement of the heart muscles.
· Simultaneously, ECG records are noted down. If there is a blockage of more than 70%, ECG shows changes which are the symptoms of Angina.
· For this test, computerized treadmills are used
· The level of exercise is slowly increased according to Bruce’s Protocol and a continuous ECG monitoring takes place. This reflects any blood and oxygen shortage in the heart muscles during exercise.
· The patient is told to stop exercising when ECG change takes place
· TMT is also known as Exercise Stress Test, Stress test or Computerized Stress Test.
· A negative TMT is declared when the patient can successfully reach a specific heart rate without showing any change in ECG.
· This rate is a target heart rate and calculated as Target Heart Rate = 220 – age of patient. When the patient can achieve this rate without producing any ECG changes, then it is negative.
A doctor tells to do the regular stress test in the following circumstances:
- Patients with symptoms which are indicative of coronary artery diseases (CAD).
- Patients with major risk factors for CAD
- To estimate exercise tolerance of patients with unexplained fatigue and shortness of breath.
- To know the patient’s blood pressure response to exercise when having borderline hypertension.
- To look for serious irregular heartbeats due to exercise
- While performing TMT, the patient is brought to the laboratory where the heart rate and blood pressure are noted at rest.
- After this, sticky electrodes are attached to the chest, shoulders and hips of the patient which get connected to the EKG portion of the Stress test machine.
- Three of the EKG leads are displayed on the treadmill, which represent different walls of the heart.
Preparing for Regular TMT for Cardiac Problems
- Do not eat or drink for three hours before this procedure. This reduces the chances of nausea. Diabetics, patients using insulin will need special instruction from the doctor.
- Specific heart medicines are needed to be stopped one or two days before the test is done. All these instructions are provided when the test is planned.
- Wear comfortable clothes and shoes that are proper for exercise
- It generally takes one hour for the entire test to be completed, including groundwork.
In this way, TMT for cardiac problem is very successfully used in all the countries.
About the Author
Dr. Robert Nam is a well known heart specialist and has done postgraduate training in cardiology at the national heart hospital, the London chest hospital and UCL hospital, London. He was also engaged in research at the national heart and lung institute. Nowadays he is working as a consultant cardiologist at UCL hospital, London.
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