Decaffeinated beverages are not caffeine free. Various brands have different levels of caffeine, so they are not allowed. The nuclear imaging agent is out of your system within 60 hours, but it is always decaying so it becomes minimal in a relatively short period of time. There is a medication called Persantine that will be injected into you.
This medication simulates exercise by dilating blood vessels to the heart without having to go on the treadmill. There are three parts to the test, a resting scan, a stress test and a stress scan. There are waiting times between injections and the stress test. Poor blood flow during exercise and at rest means that the heart is not getting enough blood. The patient might have had a previous heart attack, or they may have severe coronary artery disease. If the radionuclide does not show up in some areas of the heart, there may be scar tissue, or damaged tissue, from a heart attack.
Patients whose hearts have inadequate blood flow may need to undergo coronary angiography, a test that uses dye and special X-rays to show the insides of the coronary arteries.
Patients with severe blockages in their arteries may need balloon angioplasty and stent placement, or a coronary artery bypass. Heart procedures can help widen blood vessels, restore a regular heartbeat, or replace the heart with a donor organ. Learn more here. A study investigates treatments for life threatening heart arrhythmias. They conclude that noninvasive radiotherapy could boost heart cell recovery.
Cardiac catheterization is an imaging procedure to examine a person's heart and blood vessels. Learn more about cardiac catheterization here. Learn more about the definition, procedure, and results here.
A coronary angiography is a test that doctors use to look at the coronary arteries and diagnose heart conditions. Learn more. Nuclear stress test: What does it involve? Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R. Benefits Nuclear stress test with exercise Without exercise Side effects Results A nuclear stress test uses a small amount of radioactive substance to determine the health of the heart and blood flow to the heart. Nuclear stress test with exercise.
Without exercise. Side effects. Coronary artery disease develops when these arteries become damaged or diseased — usually due to a buildup of deposits containing cholesterol and other substances plaques. If you have symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath, a nuclear stress test can help determine if you have coronary artery disease and how severe the condition is. A nuclear stress test is generally safe. Complications are rare. As with any medical procedure, there is a risk of complications, which may include:.
You may be asked not to eat, drink or smoke for a period of time before a nuclear stress test. You may need to avoid caffeine the day before and the day of the test. Ask your doctor if it's safe for you to continue taking all of your prescription and over-the-counter medications before the test, because they might interfere with certain stress tests. If you use an inhaler for asthma or other breathing problems, bring it to the test.
Make sure your doctor and the health care team member monitoring your stress test know that you use an inhaler. Wear or bring comfortable clothes and walking shoes. Don't apply oil, lotion or cream to your skin on the day of your nuclear stress test. A nuclear stress test involves injecting a radioactive tracer, then taking two sets of images of your heart — one while you're at rest and another after exercise.
A nuclear stress test is done along with an exercise stress test, in which you walk on a treadmill. If you aren't able to exercise, you'll receive a drug through an IV that mimics exercise by increasing blood flow to your heart. A nuclear stress test can take two or more hours, depending on the radioactive tracer and imaging tests used. Your doctor will ask you some questions about your medical history and how often and actively you exercise.
This helps determine the amount of exercise that's best for you during the test. Your doctor will also listen to your heart and lungs for any problems that might affect your test results. Before you start the test, a nurse or technician inserts an IV line into your arm and injects the radiotracer also called a radiopharmaceutical.
The radiotracer may feel cold when it's first injected into your arm. It takes a few minutes for your heart cells to absorb the radiotracer. Once it does, you'll lie still on a table and have your first set of images taken while your heart is at rest. Then, a nurse or technician will place sticky patches electrodes on your chest, legs and arms. Significant blockage in the arteries may require a bypass procedure.
Milder problems may only require watchful waiting or medication. Nuclear stress testing is a very safe and easy diagnostic procedure that allows your physician to diagnose coronary artery disease. Please call the office if you have any questions or concerns about your nuclear stress test.
Learn More. Preparing for Your Nuclear Stress Test When preparing for the nuclear stress test, you will receive pre-procedure instructions. During the Procedure We ask that you arrive for your stress test approximately 15 minutes before your appointment time to register. Results and Next Steps Normal results from a nuclear stress test are typically a good indicator that there is no significant cardiovascular problem that needs immediate attention.
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