Nuclear Stress Test

You’ve likely seen images of patients undergoing an exercise stress test. The person is red-faced, jogging on a treadmill, hooked up to wires and tubes. The point of this diagnostic test is to enable a cardiologist to see what happens to your heart when it is under stress. For many different reasons, some patients are unable to perform the exercise portion of this test. Thankfully, there is another option.

The nuclear stress test has the same purpose as the exercise stress test, minus the exercise. During a nuclear stress test, a radioactive dye is injected into a patient’s bloodstream which causes the heart to beat faster, imitating exercise. This test enables cardiologists to see the heart in action, potentially diagnose heart disease, and help develop treatments.

Once the test begins, a physician will perform a series of tests using electrodes on your chest, blood pressure monitors, and a tube to monitor your breathing. All of this data is assembled to give an accurate image of your cardiac health. Once the test is complete, your cardiologist will let you know whether or not it’s ok to return to your normal routine. The nuclear stress test is completely non-invasive and safe.

We want you to feel confident about your Nuclear Stress Test. If you have questions or would like to schedule a consultation, complete the form below.