Stress Testing

Stress tests are commonly used to evaluate heart function under stress (exercise) in order to provide information about how the heart responds to exertion.

Stress Test

A standard stress test usually involves walking on a treadmill or pedaling a stationary bike at increasing levels of difficulty, while your electrocardiogram, heart rate, and blood pressure are monitored. Vital signs of a resting heart and excercised heart are measured and compared in order to determine if there is an abnormal rythm.

Your physician can also use the stress test to:

• Determine if there is adequate blood flow to your heart while you exercise.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of your heart medications.
• Determine the likelihood of having coronary heart disease and the need for further evaluation.
• Detect abnormal heart rhythms.
• Assist you in developing a healthy exercise program.

Nuclear Stress Test (Thallium Stress Test)

A nuclear stress test measures blood flow to your heart muscle at rest and during stress. It is performed similar to a routine exercise stress test but provides images in addition to electrocardiograms.

A radioactive substance is injected into your bloodstream that mixes with your blood and travels to your heart. A special scanner that detects the radioactive material in your heart creates images of your heart muscle. These images are taken both at rest and after exercise. Using this technique, a less than normal amount of thallium will be noticed in those areas of the heart that have a decreased blood supply.