Nuclear Stress Test
A nuclear stress test uses radioactivity to image a patient's heart before and after exercise to determine the effect of physical stress on the flow of blood through the coronary arteries and the heart muscle.
Your doctor may recommend a nuclear stress test to:
- Diagnose coronary artery disease.
- Assess the overall function of the heart muscle.
- Assess damage to the heart muscle following a heart attack.
- Determine your ejection fraction (how well your heart is pumping blood).
Cardiac Stress Test
A cardiac stress test is used to determine how well the heart responds to exertion. It will involve walking on a treadmill at different intervals and levels of difficulty. During the stress test, a technician will be monitoring your EKG, heart rate and
blood pressure.
Your doctor may recommend a cardiac stress test to:
- Identify an arrhythmia.
- Determine if there is adequate blood flow to your heart.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of your medications to control angina and blood pressure.
- Assess your functional capacity.