They check your blood for Troponin levels. It's a decent marker for future heart problems and is elevated after a serious heart issue. It's a simple test that they do more and more.

Get any problem with chest pain checked out though. Heart palpitations, Tachycardia(fast heartbeat) out of no where, pain in the upper back, shoulders and chin.

Most of the time it's nothing but stress or even heartburn but don't go and ace out over over something completely avoidable.

More on Troponin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troponin

Glad you're feeling better Amacontent!

Oh yeah, I noticed too that now that my heart is weakened, anything can be an unexpected struggle. I had what I figured would be a minor cold or flu last week but it really knocked my ass down. Had a cardiology appointment midweek and the doctor darn near admitted me to the hospital to be on the safe side. For anyone thinking they should be doing something.. you're right! Never too late to start taking care of yourself but sooner is going to be better than later. :thumbsup

True that brother. Another test to get if you are seeing a cardiologist is the Lexiscan stress test. Tells you all kinds of shit about your heart function. Specifically how much it pumps out the left ventricle (Ejection Fraction) and heart wall thickening.

A much better predictor of heart issues.

You sit in a chair and they inject you with a radioactive isotope and a drug that makes your body think you're running 100 miles an hour. They give you some caffeine and it stops. Coca Cola. Then they take a sort of xray and that shows them all kinds of shit.

Really fucking weird feeling.

I've never had that test, or a regular treadmill style stress test yet. I did get an EP study done though where they inserted wires into each chamber and forced my heart to race. Then they stop and see if the heart takes over the job of beating normally again which mine did. My visits now are to get ultrasounds and look for any improvement in strength which was down to a low of 20%. Next month I go for yet another ultrasound to look for any improvements. Looks like I'll be getting a defibrillator implanted at whatever point I decide to get it done.

Ahhh fuuuuck, Lexiscan feels AWFUL! They made me do that one last time instead of the treadmill (which I definitely prefer). Felt horrible!

You guys rock thanks for the kind words. I do have full coverage with Staples. So it cost me a whopping $10. I gotta drop a bit of weight and doc said i can get right back on the ice for Labor day tourny to ref. Im also gonna get in the habit of walking the stairs at staples before work. Its a good 25 min workout.

Yeah it sucked. They injected it and then turned around to change the tv channel or something. I was thinking I'm gonna stroke out while these fucks are trying to find Judge Judy on the set. Weird shit. Then they give you caffeine to stop the effect??? I don't get that at all.

I didn't get caffeine to stop it. They just said "if we told you how bad it was going to be, you wouldn't have let us do it." ... wtf?! :helpme

good to know... best of luck and good wishes with that...

Glad to hear things are on the up and up now

Fiddy first minor heart related procedures :thumbsup

Happy to hear everything went well