If you need a stress test to assess your heart’s function during exercise, the skilled experts at Advanced Heart Care Associates, with a location in Henderson, Nevada, and two locations in Las Vegas, Nevada, are here for you. They offer stress tests, including nuclear stress tests, to detect or rule out possible heart problems. Call one of the offices to learn more or book an appointment online today.
A stress test, or an exercise stress test, allows your heart specialist to determine how well your heart functions during exercise. The test can reveal problems with your heart or its blood flow. During a stress test, you often ride a bike or walk on a treadmill while your provider monitors your heart’s activity.
A nuclear stress test is a similar procedure, but your provider first injects a radiotracer into your body to maximize the quality of the images they can obtain of your heart.
Advanced Heart Care Associates might recommend a stress test if you’re at risk of a heart problem or have symptoms of one. The test can diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD), abnormal heart rhythms, or other heart issues and guide your cardiologist's treatment decisions. It also allows them to determine how well a current treatment is working.
Your Advanced Heart Care Associates physician lets you know if you’re a candidate for a stress test or nuclear cardiology after discussing your symptoms with you, reviewing your medical history, and completing a physical exam. They may order blood tests or imaging procedures too.
Follow your provider’s instructions to get ready for a stress test or a nuclear stress test. They might ask you to avoid foods, drinks, nicotine, caffeine, and certain medications before the test. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes, don’t apply lotion to your skin, and bring an inhaler with you if you use one.
You can expect to exercise during a stress test. Prior to a nuclear stress test, you receive an injection of a radiotracer through an IV in your arm, which makes images show up more clearly.
Sticky patches, called electrodes, go on your chest and other parts of your body. Your provider uses a cuff on your arm to monitor blood pressure. You might also breathe into a special tube at certain times throughout stress testing.
You can expect to walk or jog on a treadmill or use a stationary bike, which could last about 15 minutes. Your specialist lets you know when to stop. If you’re unable to exercise, you might receive an injection that increases blood flow to mimic the effects of exercise.
You may receive another radiotracer injection after your heart rate peaks. After exercise, you lie still on a table while your provider obtains images of your heart and blood flow. The total time it takes for a stress test might be 1-2 hours or longer in some cases.
After a stress test or nuclear stress test, you can resume normal activities unless your provider says otherwise. If you received a radiotracer, drink a lot of water to flush it from your body. Your Advanced Heart Care Associates specialist reviews the stress test results with you and lets you know if you need additional diagnostic testing or treatment.
To learn more about stress tests at Advanced Heart Care Associates and find out if they’re right for you, call one of the offices or schedule an appointment online today.