• Question: what tools do you use? could you see if an over 65 years old person had a serous illness with it, do doctors/surgeons use the same equpment/tools?

    Asked by *zoemma* to Siana on 18 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Siana Jones

      Siana Jones answered on 18 Nov 2015:


      Hi Zoemma, another good question:)

      Yes, the tools are very similar to the ones used in the hospital. I slightly modified my exercise test so that the old folks don’t have to work to their absolute maximum. In the hospital the Dr/technician would want to push the patient to their maximum effort during exercise because it will give them a better understanding of what is limiting the patient (i.e. is it a problem with their lungs or their heart). In the Hospital they will also use a more detailed ECG to look for changes during exercise that can signal the heart is not getting enough oxygen to contract properly or if there is a dangerous arrhythmia.

      I also use ultrasound to look at heart structure and function. This is pretty much the same as in the hospital and you can pick up heart disease from the measurements done on this test.

      Thanks,
      S

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