health
March 22, 2026
When is the right time for a heart examination and which tests can save a life
Kristofer Malin from New York had been taking care of his health for years, regularly checking his blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. He was aware of the increased risk of heart disease – his blood pressure remained high despite therapy, and there was a family history of cardiovascular diseases.
TL;DR
- Kristofer Malin's arm pain during exercise led to the discovery of a 99% blockage in a major heart artery.
- Doctors performed an emergency procedure, inserting a stent to open the blocked artery.
- Malin was discharged six hours later, narrowly avoiding a potentially fatal heart attack.
- The case emphasizes the importance of discussing symptoms with a doctor to determine the right cardiac tests.
- Various cardiac tests, including MRI, chest X-ray, coronary angiography, and EKG, are described, along with indications for when to see a cardiologist.