By Alexa Mostrom, Fox23 News
TULSA, Okla. — A Tulsa hospital says improving cardiovascular fitness can lead to a longer life.
Dr. Richard Kacere is a cardiologist with Ascension St John. He explains they use the VO2 Max test to find out how to improve heart health.
“It used to be you have to be an elite athlete to get this type of testing, but now that’s not true. You can be a person who is just wanting to start getting healthier,” said Kacere.
The test uses a mask to measure the amount of oxygen you use during exercise, which helps the doctor figure out what you need to work on.
Kacere says daily, consistent, habitual exercise leads to a longer life
“A lot of people either over or under estimate their capabilities and then when they age 10 or 15 years, they wonder ‘why can’t I do what I want to do.’ This gives us an opportunity to say ‘okay this is where you’re at and we can help you get better’,” said Kacere.
Kacere says some red flags they look for are chest discomfort, racing heart or a low VO2 Max for someone who should be average.
“The number one killer in the world is heart disease. We care about it a lot, especially in my world of cardiology. We know if someone improves their cardiovascular fitness, even just modestly, your risk of dying from all causes goes down by almost 18 percent,” said Kacere.
The test is self-pay and you don’t need a referral. You can learn more by clicking here.
