stress testing

[DJBadfish]

I noticed when I was signing looking at signing up for my wreck certification that PADI now lists metabolic units (METS) on a stress test as a recommendation for cardiovascular fitness. I know before they just had walk/jog a mile in 12 minutes. Now they say 13 mets on a treadmill stress test (I assume Bruce protocol) is the standard. Now I manage a cardiovascular department and routinely compete with coworkers on the treadmill so I know that level well and I also know where people routinely get on that test, even if they do "run every day" and hardly anyone gets to that level. It's no wonder that a majority of scuba accidents are cardiac related... just a good reminder why it is important to keep up on the cardiac fitness levels!

[FishFood]

I manage a cardiovascular department

That explains it.

Translator to isle 3.

[DJBadfish]

I was just saying that I know that level well... It is not an easy walk on the treadmill and it is above and beyond a "12 minute mile". To reach 13 Mets on a standard cardiac stress test it is this:
Stage 1: 3 min 1.7mph 10% grade
Stage 2: 6 min 2.5mph 12% grade
Stage 3: 9 min 3.4mph 14% grade
Stage 4: 12 min 4.2mph 16% grade
Stage 5: 15min 5mph 18% grade

Minimum mets does not hit until late in Stage 3 early Stage 4. The speed isn't that critical but the steepness is. Most cardiologists say 10 minutes on that protocol is indicative of good cardiac health. The FAA requirement for pilots is generally 10 minutes. The diving requirements are beyond that.
To me it was just an eye opening thing... another reason to see the importance of good fitness levels...

[db83]

diving isn't really all that intensive. for the most part, it's pretty relaxing.

[Aquatrax]

Originally Posted by db83

diving isn't really all that intensive. for the most part, it's pretty relaxing.

unless you're caught in a stiff current and trying to get back to the boat.

took my yearly stress test yesterday, i made it 13.5 minutes using the standard bruce protocol. thought I was gonna keel over

[petronius]

Originally Posted by DJBadfish

I was just saying that I know that level well... It is not an easy walk on the treadmill and it is above and beyond a "12 minute mile". To reach 13 Mets on a standard cardiac stress test it is this:
Stage 1: 3 min 1.7mph 10% grade
Stage 2: 6 min 2.5mph 12% grade
Stage 3: 9 min 3.4mph 14% grade
Stage 4: 12 min 4.2mph 16% grade
Stage 5: 15min 5mph 18% grade

Minimum mets does not hit until late in Stage 3 early Stage 4. The speed isn't that critical but the steepness is. Most cardiologists say 10 minutes on that protocol is indicative of good cardiac health. The FAA requirement for pilots is generally 10 minutes. The diving requirements are beyond that.
To me it was just an eye opening thing... another reason to see the importance of good fitness levels...

So a 'met' is a measure of energy used or work performed? Like the number of calories reported by a treadmill?

And so the cardiac test is how many mets you've reached at the point where you give up on that progression you describe?

[DJBadfish]

Mets is metabolic equivalents, or resting oxygen consumption of about 3.5 mL per kg per minute. 1 Met is your resting equivalent. A running jog is about 8 Mets.
Good job Fishfood! 13.5 minutes on the Bruce Protocol is something to be proud of!

[Vercingetorix]

DJBadfish,

Thanks for the info above. Gives me measurable targets. Being an engineer by profession and anal retentiveness, I like quantifiable.


//on a side note, another measure of good cardiac health: look at your credit card bills from ScubaToys. If you don't keel over, you're in good health.

[FishFood]

Originally Posted by DJBadfish

Mets is metabolic equivalents, or resting oxygen consumption of about 3.5 mL per kg per minute. 1 Met is your resting equivalent. A running jog is about 8 Mets.
Good job Fishfood! 13.5 minutes on the Bruce Protocol is something to be proud of!

Ahhh. Thanks for the clarification.

Also, to give credit where credit is due, Aquatrax (not I)made it 13.5 minutes

[DJBadfish]

Wow, it was early in the morning and I hadn't had my coffee yet... good job AquaTrax!