from the PacMasters Update Email
Ross Shoemaker, RIP
1942-2007
Ross Shoemaker died suddenly at the Senior Games following one of his swims. Ross had collapsed on the deck, and was not able to be revived. It is a terrible loss - Ross was a longtime member of the San Mateo Marlins, a warm and supportive man, and a devoted swimmer with an encouraging word for everyone.
Ross coached at Chabot Junior College for many years. Services are pending.
I don't think I need to point out the frequncy with which these unfortunate events have been occuring recently. Should active swimmers be getting stress echos or something as they get older? Are simple BP and lipid screens simply not enough?
Former Member
At what age does one start having cardiac tests? (Sorry I just realized I'm still posting in my alias in an SR thread.)
I had a stress echo and the cardiologist said that the results, which were normal, did not predict future cardiac events. There is no way to know when you will have an MI. Just reduce the known risk factors and go on with your life.
At what age does one start having cardiac tests?
Cholesterol should be checked by age 20. If by cardiac tests you mean stress tests or CT scans, there are no recommendations currently for routine screening in asymptomatic individuals.
It is true that there is no crystal ball when it comes to sudden death. However, there are things that all of us can do. Obviously, check your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. Don't smoke. Be consistent with regard to physical activity.
The vast majority of us under the age of 50 who don't have obvious risk factors or symptoms will be fine.
Once we get past that threshold, I think it is reasonable to get more information. In particular, you should ask your provider what your Framingham risk is. If they can't tell you, they can find it by doing a google search. If your risk by the Framingham score is less than 10%, don't sweat it. Most of us will have a low risk (i.e., less than 10%).
....Jocularity aside, we all remember I believe the case of that young health guru, a few years ago, who used to run (if memory serves) and who dies suddenly. You never know when IT is gonna hit....QUOTE]
Can I just supply some details about him ... he started jogging at the age of 35 after years of smoking and being overweight - with odds stacked against him at that point, starting to exercise probably enabled him to live longer than might be expected given his health history.
Here is something from this website: www.halhigdon.com/.../Fixx.htm
"Jim Fixx...given the fact that his father died of a heart attack at age 43, and he survived nine years longer to age 52. He might have lived longer had he listened to Dr. Cooper, who urged him to take a stress test during one visit to the Cooper Clinic in Dallas. Despite having cholesterol levels above 250, Fixx demurred for reasons we can only guess at. In the several months before his death, Fixx ignored what hindsight reveals were the warning signs of advanced coronary artery disease. An autopsy revealed blockage in Fixx's three main arteries of 95 percent, 85 percent and 50 percent."
I don't like stress tests. I had been sent to have one and the guy taking the test before me died during the test, needless to say I did not take it.
You witnessed a very uncommon event. Stress tests should be quite safe. However, you may not have needed one in the first place. I agree with Gull that if you aren't experiencing any symptoms, its the exception when a stress test is going to be of any value.
You witnessed a very uncommon event. Stress tests should be quite safe. However, you may not have needed one in the first place. I agree with Gull that if you aren't experiencing any symptoms, its the exception when a stress test is going to be of any value.
The risk of death with a stress test is 1 in 10,000.
Routine (screening) stress tests in asymptomatic individuals are not recommended because the yield is low. And false positive results may lead to additional unnecessary studies. That's not to say that we don't perform them in this setting, because they can be of value; we just individualize our approach.
