Early Detection & Prevention of Heart Disease: A Massage Therapist's Inquiry

Question
Dr Saleeby,

We both know that Medical Science has made great strides in disease prevention advancements.  I am curious, as a health professional (licensed massage therapist), are there any tests in existence that can detect the condition/status of an individual's heart & circulatory system for existing damage in order to take steps to prevent stroke or heart attack?  I have hypertension and have taken medication for it since I was 20 and am now 57 yrs old.  I was advised that hypertension is a major contributor to heart disease over time.  What can you tell me?

Thank you.

Answer
Michael,

There are many different tests:  An ECG (EKG) may be the first, ECHO (ultrasound of the heart), Exercise Stress Testing, Cardiac Catherization or non-invasive CT Calcium Score testing is another option. There are also nuclear medicine tests but they are more specialized.

The more basic studies are the ECG and ECHO they can tell a physician if the is cardiac strain secondary to HTN.

JP Saleeby, MD
www.saleeby.net