Scouting, Volume 68, Number 5, October 1980 Page: 16
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As Dr. Farr watches,
the author gets wired up
for a treadmill stress
test. At right, a typical
class of cardiac
rehabilitation patients
takes some stretching
exercises.
December 1979 to write
an article on fitness for
Scouting magazine. As
part of the research I en-
listed in the Cooper pro-
gram, which included a
thorough medical ex-
amination and personal
history and the myriad of other tests given
in top American hospitals and clinics. 1
also took a body fat test and a treadmill
stress test.
In the "fat" test, a technician measured
my stomach, chest, and arms with calipers.
Then I was dunked into an underwater
weighing tank to measure the percentage
of fat on my body. These two tests would
determine my ideal lean body weight.
Since my body fat checked out at 17.9
percent of my total weight, I was judged to
be in the upper normal range. (If more
than 19 percent of your body is fat, you are
considered a candidate for diet.)
The treadmill test began with a resting
electrocardiogram and blood pressure
reading. Next, electrodes were taped to my
bare chest and the blood pressure cuff
attached to my arm. The wires from the
electrodes led to the EKG machine, which
recorded the heart's signals as I walked on
the treadmill. The purpose of this test is to
pick up abnormal changes in the heartbeat
and rhythm that might not occur when the
heart is at rest.
A doctor and a nurse monitored the test
very carefully, eye-balling the EKG and
checking blood pressure. Patients have
been known to have heart attacks on a
treadmill, but I felt very secure at the
Cooper Clinic, where more than 20,000
tests have been given without a casualty.
The treadmill ran at 3.3 m.p.h. on a flat
surface. Not very fast, I thought, strutting
along. But after the first minute (a
warm-up period) it was elevated two de-
grees, and then after another minute it
shot up one degree more. Thereafter, it
moved up one degree per minute, so the
effect was of walking up a hill that got
steeper and steeper. And there was no way
to stop walking without getting off. After
16
¥
25 minutes, if you
could stand the
pace, the incline
stayed at 25 de-
grees. I figured I
Iwas good for a
minimum 20 min-
'utes at least.
After eight minutes, I began to sweat
and strain, but my legs felt strong and I
was breathing without trouble and feeling
no pain. I'll break a record, I thought; I'll
stay on this all morning.
At exactly 10 minutes and 49 seconds
the test was stopped by the attending
physician. Dr. Richard Constant, a car-
diologist and internist.
"Hey! What's wrong?" I asked.
"Your EKG is showing an abnormality,"
Dr. Constant said.
"I can go on," I protested. "I feel fine." I
wanted to stay on at least 15 minutes in
order to be rated in good condition by the
clinic's standards.
"No," Dr. Constant was firm, "That's
enough. We don't take chances. Besides,
it's a valid test. Your heartbeat was up to
162 beats per minute, which is near
capacity for your age."
Later, Dr. Constant explained my test.
"Your test suggests a blockage of one or
more arteries around the heart. Now, there
is a slight possibility that this is a false test,
that there may be another reason for the
abnormal EKG, possibly a potassium
deficiency. We will check your potassium
level in a blood test, but even if it is low,
the chances are you have some blockage.
"An angiogram would show that," Dr.
Constant said. "But I don't feel that is
called for yet, especially since you have no
symptoms."
To the best of my knowledge I never
had any angina, pains in the arms or
shoulders, or chest pains. Nor had I suf-
fered from shortness of breath or extreme
weariness.
"What I recommend." Dr. Constant
continued, "is that you enroll in a con-
trolled exercise program under the super-
vision of a doctor. I understand you have
been jogging 12 miles a week on your
own?"
"That's right."
"You should stop that. It is too risky for
you to jog alone."
The last sentence shook me: I saw a man
toppling like a stone on a lonely street. For
a second I lost track of the doctor's words.
"... A local YMCA, perhaps," Dr.
Constant was saying.
"A ... Y ... what?"
"I said," Dr. Constant repeated, "You
could get into an exercise program at a
local 'Y.' Or, if you prefer, you can do it
here at our Activity Center. Dr. Jim Farr is
starting a new one this week. It runs for
three months with a treadmill stress test at
the end to check your progress."
1 agreed to join the class, just to humor
the doctor. 1 didn't truly believe anything
was seriously wrong with me. After all, I
was in good shape, having been exercising
regularly for years. Although I was 53
years old, I boasted that I had a
30-year-old body. Obviously, the whole
thing was a mistake. Wasn't it true that if
you talked to two cardiologists you'd get
three differing opinions?
Twenty-four hours later 1 was not quite
as convinced that I knew more than the
experts at the Cooper Clinic. I had com-
pleted my own personal unbiased review
of the 10 risk factors in heart disease. The
factors:
Heredity. If you have blood relatives
who had heart attacks or heart disease, you
are likely to have a problem.
Two of my uncles had heart attacks, one
dying at age 50 of a massive coronary, the
other surviving a heart attack at age 45.
My brother had a mild heart attack in his
late fifties, and my sister suffered from
tachycardia, an abnormal heartbeat. He-
redity was a risk factor for me.
Stress. If you are tense or have a high-
pressure job or can't relax under pressure,
this is a factor. My job as an editor made
me qualify.
Inactivity. I jogged, played golf occa-
sionally, walked, rowed, swam—no risk
factor here. (continued on page 80)
October 1980 Scouting
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 68, Number 5, October 1980, periodical, October 1980; Irving, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth353641/m1/16/: accessed April 22, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.