Stress Test Beneficial for Diabetic Women

A heart scan may be a valuabletool in forecasting deadly heartproblems in women with diabetes.Dobutamine stress echocardiographytests are ultrasound heartscans in which patients are injectedwith medication that increasesthe heartbeat to verify whetherpatients have heart wall defects.The researchers based their recommendationon an evaluation of421 women, aged 49 to 75 years,with diabetes.

"Our research is extremelyimportant because women in thisage group are historically underdiagnosed,and by detecting problemsearlier we can help preventheart attack or death and extendthese women's lives," saidresearcher Melda Dolan, MD. (Thefindings were reported recently atthe annual American HeartAssociation meeting.)