What to Expect During a Nuclear Stress Test?

A nuclear stress test or nuclear cardiac imaging is used to measure the blood flow to the heart. It is somewhat similar to a stress test as the patient’s heart is scanned before and after exercise. However, it also involves injecting a harmless radioactive tracer to produce more accurate results than standard testing. It is a highly advanced testing procedure usually recommended by a Cardiomyopathy Specialist in Long Island, NY if there is a suspected risk of dead tissue or artery blockages in the heart.

Why is a Nuclear Stress Test Performed?

A nuclear stress test captures images of the various chambers in the heart, which are highlighted by the radioactive tracer. It is an effective way of identifying the functioning of the heart. The imaging is done from various angles to get an overall view of the heart. The specialty of nuclear stress test is that the radioactive substance appears glowing in the scans, making it much easier to detect whether any of the heart’s arteries have any blockages or damages.

What to Expect During the Nuclear Stress Test?

Before the test, the physician may advise patients to avoid eating anything 4 hours prior to the test. Patients also need to avoid caffeine 24 hours before the test as preparation. Patients are recommended to wear comfortable clothing or change into a hospital gown for the testing.

Similar to the stress test, a few electrodes are placed on the patient’s chest, which will be attached to an electrocardiogram device. Next, the testing specialist will inject a small amount of the FDA-approved radioactive tracer into the patient’s bloodstream. It may take some time for the radioactive substance to reach the heart, during which time the patient is asked to lay in a relaxed state. Then, the patient’s heart is scanned from various angles. Therefore, patients may be asked to adjust and turn over to different sides.

In the second phase of testing, the patients will be required to walk on a treadmill. Their chest will still have the electrodes to measure their heartbeat as it increases with exercising. The patient will start running at a slow speed, which will continue to be increased by the physician until they reach the target activity level.

Next, the patient will be given another small dose of the radioactive substance for imaging. The second set of scans will be taken to measure the heart’s functionality and effectiveness during exercising. The whole testing procedure may take 3-4 hours. The test is relatively safe, and most patients don’t feel any side effects. However, some patients may experience a few temporary complications. It is best to discuss all your health and testing concerns with the cardiologist in detail before testing.

If you suffer from any heart problems or have any concerns about your heart health, schedule a consultation with an experienced cardiologist in West Babylon, Long Island, NY, for expert assistance.