Feeling tired after a nuclear stress test is very common and usually results from the physical exertion of the exercise, the temporary effects of stress medications (like headaches, flushing), the body recovering from the increased demand, and the tracer itself. Rest and hydration are key, but prolonged or severe fatigue warrants a call to your doctor, according to Liv Hospital and Healthline.
If you experience severe symptoms such as chest pain or difficulty breathing, you should immediately contact a medical facility or call 911 or reach the nearest emergency room right away. Nuclear stress tests are generally safe. You may experience some minor symptoms or side effects that will pass over time.
The average time on a treadmill for a stress test varies by age, but most people last between 6–12 minutes. Younger, healthier individuals tend to exercise longer, while older adults or those with heart conditions may stop sooner. The test is safe and helps doctors understand your heart's health.
If they do occur, possible complications include:
The word radioactive is a bit scary and can lead one to wonder, “Is a nuclear stress test safe for the elderly?” Yes, the amount of radioactivity a person is exposed to during a nuclear stress test is the same amount as a chest x-ray and is no cause for concern.
Yes, stress tests can help detect coronary artery blockages by revealing reduced blood flow to parts of the heart muscle during exertion. Nuclear and imaging-enhanced stress tests provide more detailed information about the location and extent of blockages.
Your healthcare provider will tell you what to do after the test. People usually can go back to normal activities right away. After the test, you may feel tired. That should go away with time and rest.
During your nuclear stress test, a medicine will be injected into your vein. This medicine is called a “radioactive tracer,” and it will leave your body by the next morning.
What are the most common side effects with Lexiscan? The most common side effects that occurred in clinical trials of Lexiscan were shortness of breath, headache, flushing, chest discomfort or chest pain, dizziness, nausea, abdominal discomfort, a metallic taste in the mouth, and feeling hot.
Typical Test Length for Healthy Individuals. Healthy people usually take 7 to 12 minutes for a treadmill stress test. They walk or run on the treadmill, getting faster and steeper until they can't go anymore. A normal heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute.
60: 80–136 beats per minute. 65: 78–132 beats per minute. 70: 75–128 beats per minute.
As a result, you might:
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.
The small amounts of radiotracers injected for diagnostic imaging do not affect the body. These tests do not affect cardiac, pulmonary, liver, or renal diseases, and they avoid the use of iodinated contrast, which could affect your kidney and heart function. The test takes about three to four hours.
As of today CMS (Medicare) will only allow nuclear testing every 2 years, if the patient is asymptomatic.
For example, the following tissues and organs are listed from most radiosensitive to least radiosensitive:
You will not feel any different after the injection; it will not make you sleepy or affect your driving. Depending on the type of scan you are receiving, you may need to wait up to a few hours for the injection to be absorbed by your body before the scan pictures are taken.
Although extremely rare, it's possible that a nuclear stress test could cause a heart attack.
But pushing through when your body is telling you to rest can actually do more harm than good. “If you regularly ignore signs of physical fatigue and train without proper recovery, you could put yourself at risk of overtraining,” Whitehorn says. Overtraining syndrome is a real concern.
Precautions to Take After a Nuclear Stress Test
Other signs you may have atherosclerosis (blocked arteries)
A nuclear stress test is a more detailed version of the standard exercise stress test. Instead of just measuring your heart's response to exercise, this test takes a closer look at blood flow.
“A stress test doesn't detect all blockages,” Dr. Kelly says. “Your arteries could still have mild or moderate plaque buildups that aren't affecting blood flow but still increase the risk of heart attack.”