CASA require that I have a yearly heart stress test

[Geoff_H]

I just recieved my 2 year Class 2 medical.  Only eye correction required, another story altogether. But they require that I do a yearly heart stress and ultrasound etc.  I do a two year test anyway, and the latest test was that I could get to 116%heart rate.  I am 75.  Has anyone over 75 also got this requirement?

[turboplanner]

10 minutes ago, Geoff_H said:

I just recieved my 2 year Class 2 medical.  Only eye correction required, another story altogether. But they require that I do a yearly heart stress and ultrasound etc.  I do a two year test anyway, and the latest test was that I could get to 116%heart rate.  I am 75.  Has anyone over 75 also got this requirement?

This may come as a shock to you, but some people on social media keep secrets from DAMES and even tell lies, and even tell us lies in their posts.

 

You would be far better off booking a session with a Dame to get his explanation, or even getting a reference to a heart specalist who will explain what has been found and what they are looking for and may recommend his own regular checkups.

 

If you study genealogy you find that men in the 1950s often died of heart attacks in their 40s an you'll see the obituaries "taken too soon" etc, and a much bigger group died in their 50s. Heart disease is considered a "lifestyle" disease; most people can avoid it by eating correctly and today that big 50's bulge has gone and people from the same families are living into their 80s and beyond.

 

Today, once the medical profession sees the signs of clogged arteries or a rhythmic outside the tolerances its off to the specialist for you and corrective action is taken. Much better than waiting for a massive heart attack.

 

What I'm suggesting is that age alone isn't the reason for you to be worried by some test results, just find out what they were and whether there are actions you can take to improve the results next time.  It could be as simple as walking a couple of kilometres a day and eating to a fixed kilojoule limit.

 

 

 

 

 

[djpacro]

https://www.casa.gov.au/search-centre/manuals-and-handbooks/designated-aviation-medical-examiners-handbook/44-special-reports-and-periodic-tests-required-medical-certification#Designatedaviationmedicalexaminer'sreferencecharts states that “private pilots, if clinically indicated” so there must be a particular need for them to have required the tests - perhaps just the fact that you do one every two years or perhaps those test results indicated a clinical need.

 

116% heart rate? CASA requires 100% or 145 bpm for your age. It is counterproductive to try to impress them with any more - coast along at 100% so the results are better?

 

I went to a Vic Aviation Medicine seminar some years ago where a CASA speaker said that they’d rather have someone die on a treadmill than in an airplane. Lots of info around on this subject, my advice is do all you can to improve the test results and ask your DAME to verify the need.

[spacesailor]

I went to a ' heart specialist ' .

When I asked ' if ' there was something wrong . They answered. 

It's all in the cloud. 

So I cancelled my next appointment,  & I feel much better for it.( never had a heart test since).

spacesailor

[Geoff_H]

116% was coasting, I was still walking and they terminated the test saying "that's enough we don't need anymore'.  My heart rate will go to 180bpm.  This morning at the gym I got to 184bpm no pain at all.  I have had a test that injected x-ray dye into the heart area and had only small blockages, much less than 40%.  It is with these results I wonder why I have to pay for a yearly stress test, my age?  Certainly not my fitness.  By the way I have to suit comprehensive blood tests every year.  I take these anyway every year and they have always been in the centre of the correct range for my age.  It is pretty hard to keep anything from my DAME, she is also my GP.

[skippydiesel]

The reality is that you are on the cusp of one of a die off period (probably the last).

 

Years ago a friend of mine  told me that the rate of departures, seemed to accelerate over certain age groups eg Males - birth to 5 years - late teens to erly 30's and a again from about 70 onwards. If you survive one of these age groupings, you are statistically less likely to "drop of the twig" until the next round 🙃

[turboplanner]

If you don't drink Gatorade you'll die.

[Geoff_H]

I expect to live until 99years of age, then expect that I will be shot dead by a jealous husband.

Said first by some American celebrity 

[kgwilson]

2 hours ago, turboplanner said:

If you don't drink Gatorade you'll die.

And if you drink Gatorade you will die. Nobody gets out alive.

[turboplanner]

5 minutes ago, kgwilson said:

And if you drink Gatorade you will die. Nobody gets out alive.

Exactly: Pathology beats stories every time.

[derekliston]

6 hours ago, Geoff_H said:

I just recieved my 2 year Class 2 medical.  Only eye correction required, another story altogether. But they require that I do a yearly heart stress and ultrasound etc.  I do a two year test anyway, and the latest test was that I could get to 116%heart rate.  I am 75.  Has anyone over 75 also got this requirement?

Yes! I am 76 and CASA have required it annually for the last nine years, since I had a heart attack!

[onetrack]

Quote

Heart disease is considered a "lifestyle" disease; most people can avoid it by eating correctly and today that big 50's bulge has gone and people from the same families are living into their 80s and beyond.

You could've fooled me. Heart disease is still the biggest killer in Australia, and we are fatter as a nation, than at any time in our national history. Obesity is a national epidemic, and a lot of people still die long before retirement age - or shortly after.

[spacesailor]

SO ,

what IS the secret to immortality ? .

When I was skinny they tried to Fatten me up.

Now,  I look Good at 95 klgms .

The same people want me ' blooody ' skinny.

I'm Not fat !. Just short , for that crook BMI .

spacesailor

[turboplanner]

8 hours ago, onetrack said:

You could've fooled me. Heart disease is still the biggest killer in Australia, and we are fatter as a nation, than at any time in our national history. Obesity is a national epidemic, and a lot of people still die long before retirement age - or shortly after.

I went searching for mortality by Age  but couldn't find any statistics.

 

Yes heart disease is still the biggest killer but age expectation has increased from c.55 in 1907 yo 80+ today.

This is partly due to

• a 98% reduction in age-standardised mortality rate from infectious diseases 1907-2020
• reduction in deaths from motor vehicle accidents
• reduction in deaths from workplace fatalities

The reduction in people dying from heart disease in the 21st century is linked to medical advances and behavioural changes.

 

 

[Carbon Canary]

Any data on how many have died in a plane crash after having a heart attack ?

[turboplanner]

26 minutes ago, Carbon Canary said:

Any data on how many have died in a plane crash after having a heart attack ?

You could start by checking both ATSB and NTSB for that.

For Recreational Aircraft you could check the Sport Pilot reports for likely suspects, e.g. "The aircaft was discovered with the pilot deceased." and then search for relevent Coroner reports.

[old man emu]

8 hours ago, spacesailor said:

I look Good at 95 klgm

You just go on believing that, despite what others might say. 

[Geoff_H]

In the late 1990's CASA published an article saying that there were five medical issues that could loose you your medical.  If I remember rightly heart, diabetes and three others.  In that time your DAME was instructed to ask how much exercise you did at the time of your examination.  I replied that I walked to the station, around a kilometre each way, he said he would give me a yes on that. At the time I thought that he was being too generous.  However despite many go it alone exercise attempts I started doing aerobics in 1998.  It is a passion that I do this day.  My resting heart rate hovers around 50.  My biological age is 20years younger than my physical age.  I would recommend it to anyone.

I have to thank CASA for my fitness and enjoyment of life.

[kgwilson]

59 minutes ago, Carbon Canary said:

Any data on how many have died in a plane crash after having a heart attack ?

The number is likely to be miniscule. The study completed in the UK before their decision to scrap medicals for GA pilots in favour of a personal declaration found no deaths at all that could be solely due to medical misadventure.

[derekliston]

Apart from additional cost to an already expensive hobby, I have no problem with the requirement, it keeps me aware of my health. Having said that, I ABSOLUTELY HATE the actual stress test, fortunately only once a year!

[facthunter]

There is a risk associated with  the stress test and people have often died is the weeks following or had a heart attack in a similar period. I know of several of both. One Airline  pilot died about a month after passing the test walking to the carpark after flying.. Check with a few cardiologists. I know plenty who will recommend against it. I personally would not do one for that reason. It's a bit like putting a fatigued car on the race track to test it. The test might finish it off.  It certainly does NOT guarantee you won't HAVE a heart attack.   Nev

[derekliston]

6 minutes ago, facthunter said:

There is a risk associated with  the stress test and people have often died is the weeks following or had a heart attack in a similar period. I know of several of both. One Airline  pilot died about a month after passing the test walking to the carpark after flying.. Check with a few cardiologists. I know plenty who will recommend against it. I personally would not do one for that reason. It's a bit like putting a fatigued car on the race track to test it. The test might finish it off.  It certainly does NOT guarantee you won't HAVE a heart attack.   Nev

Since it is a CASA requirement mate, how do I get round it? I’ve had them for nine years now and haven’t died yet! Although it is always a possibility! I knew a bloke a long time ago who dropped dead literally the day after he passed a life insurance medical!

[turboplanner]

2 minutes ago, derekliston said:

Since it is a CASA requirement mate, how do I get round it? I’ve had them for nine years now and haven’t died yet! Although it is always a possibility! I knew a bloke a long time ago who dropped dead literally the day after he passed a life insurance medical!

This isn't the 1960s; and nor is social media a good place to get medical advice.

I'll take my own advice and suggest you check whether there is a risk with the procedure you're getting and also just as a matter of academic interest, what the rhabilitation procedures are after heart surgery; I've heard several people say they have to exercise harder than and longer than they ever have before.

[derekliston]

2 minutes ago, turboplanner said:

This isn't the 1960s; and nor is social media a good place to get medical advice.

I'll take my own advice and suggest you check whether there is a risk with the procedure you're getting and also just as a matter of academic interest, what the rhabilitation procedures are after heart surgery; I've heard several people say they have to exercise harder than and longer than they ever have before.

The whole system is flawed. Before I had the heart attack CASA was happy for me to have a medical every two years with no additional tests. However, after the heart attack and the necessary remedial action, they have required the stress test for every one of the nine ensuing years! Nuts really but about what you expect from CASA medicine. They seem to think that they know better than my DAME although they have never met me!

[turboplanner]

6 minutes ago, derekliston said:

The whole system is flawed. Before I had the heart attack CASA was happy for me to have a medical every two years with no additional tests. However, after the heart attack and the necessary remedial action, they have required the stress test for every one of the nine ensuing years! Nuts really but about what you expect from CASA medicine. They seem to think that they know better than my DAME although they have never met me!

Well isn't it reasonable that if a person is tested by a Dame and has no symptoms, that he gets his Class 2 without any conditions?

Or if the local GP or Dame sees symptons that this triggers CASA decisions based on the black and white medical regulations?