A provider may inject dye into your bloodstream through an IV line placed in your arm. Some cardiac MRIs, but not all, use dye to help show very small details on the pictures. Pictures of your heart may be taken before and after your heart has worked hard.
Before you start the test, a technician inserts an intravenous (IV) line into your arm and injects a radioactive dye (radiopharmaceutical or radiotracer). The radiotracer may feel cold when it's first injected into your arm. It takes about 20 to 40 minutes for your heart cells to absorb the radiotracer.
A radioactive substance, such as thallium or sestamibi, will be injected into one of your veins. You will lie down and wait for between 15 and 45 minutes. A special camera will scan your heart and create pictures to show how the substance has traveled through your blood and into your heart.
The radioactive liquid will be in your body for 24 to 36 hours after your test. You will need to do the following: Drink plenty of liquids as directed. This will help flush the radioactive liquid out of your body.
A nuclear stress test, also referred to as a myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) study, is a type of stress test that uses an imaging contrast agent known as a radiotracer to take pictures of your heart during stress and rest conditions. A PET or SPECT camera is used for imaging of your heart.
The test ends after maintaining your target heart rate long enough to capture readings about heart function, usually about 10 to 15 minutes. Your target heart rate is higher than when at rest and based on your age and fitness level. Technicians may end the test early if you experience severe symptoms or ask to stop.
A cardiac stress test can reveal blockages in your arteries through the various types of information it collects. If your blood oxygen level is below normal, the test reveals that your blood flow is partially blocked.
You are also given medicine (local anesthetic) to numb your throat. This helps you feel more comfortable during the procedure. An exercise stress test measures how your heart deals with the stress of physical activity. You are connected by wires to an ECG monitor.
“Most people think a stress test identifies blockages to the heart, but it does not,” explains Aristotelis Vlahos, M.D., director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Riverview Medical Center. “It looks at blood flow to the heart muscle and determines if blood flow is adequate or not. The operative word is 'stress.
A radioactive substance, such as thallium or sestamibi, will be injected into one of your veins. You will lie down and wait for between 15 and 45 minutes. A special camera will scan your heart and create pictures to show how the substance has traveled through your blood and into your heart.
A stress test is an assessment done in two parts. In a very controlled situation, the heart is stressed using either exercise on a treadmill or a chemical injection, depending on the status of the individual getting the test. Heart rate, rhythm, and blood pressure are continuously monitored throughout the entire exam.
Testing begins by placing an IV in your arm and injecting the radioactive tracer. You will then sit in the waiting area for about 20 and 45 minutes to allow the tracer to be absorbed by the heart muscle. After the waiting period, we will take pictures of the blood flow to your heart muscle with the nuclear camera.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing that is suitable for exercise. Men usually don't wear a shirt during the test, and women generally wear a bra and a lightweight blouse or a hospital gown. You should also wear comfortable walking shoes or sneakers.
To help you stay calm and confident right before and during the test, perform relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, relaxing your muscles one at a time, or closing your eyes and imagining a positive outcome. Don't forget to eat and drink. Your brain needs fuel to function.
But in a metabolic stress test, you breathe through a piece of equipment (a facemask or a mouthpiece). This device measures the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air you exhale as well as how much air your lungs can take in.
People usually can go back to normal activities immediately. You may want to drink plenty of fluids to help flush the tracer out of your body. After the test, you may feel tired or dizzy or have a headache. Those symptoms should go away with time and rest.
A normal stress test result only shows that there is not a significant coronary artery blockage. A smaller blockage could be present that isn't picked up by the stress test.
Minor symptoms of heart blockage include irregular or skipped heartbeats, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Other symptoms may include pain or numbness in the legs or arms, as well as neck or throat pain.
Stress tests are commonly used to diagnose coronary artery disease or an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia), or to help your doctor plan treatment for a heart condition you've been diagnosed with.
Your target heart rate during a stress test depends on your age. For adults, the maximum predicted heart rate is 220 minus your age. So, if you're 40 years old, the maximum predicted heart rate is 220 – 40 = 180.
You may use the handrails of the treadmill to balance but make sure you hold these gently if you must hold them. If you grip them too tightly, the results of your test may be affected.
A chemical stress test for elderly people is important as it can help diagnose problems like heart disease, coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, and arrhythmias.