Stress Tests
Treadmill (without imaging)
A treadmill test is done to evaluate the functional capacity of your heart. The test will measure your exercise tolerance while walking on the treadmill, with speed and grade increasing every three minutes. You will be encouraged to exercise for as long as possible. A physician will be present and will monitor your electrocardiogram (EKG), blood pressure and symptoms. See instructions for this test.
Stress Echo
This test combines the treadmill test and ultrasound imaging of the heart. As with the treadmill test, a physician will be present and will monitor your EKG, blood pressure, symptoms and to interpret your ultrasound images. See instructions for this test.
Dobutamine Stress Echo
Before the procedure, an IV will be inserted into a vein in your hand or arm. The IV is used for an infusion of a special medicine, Dobutamine, that imitates exercise while you lie still. It increases heart rate, blood pressure and squeeze of the heart muscle. Ultrasound images are acquired during the test. A physician will be present and will monitor your EKG, blood pressure, symptoms and to interpret your ultrasound images. See instructions for this test.
If you have any questions or need more information,
please contact our office at (360) 373-2547.
Exercise Treadmill with Nuclear Imaging
This test combines the treadmill test and nuclear imaging of the heart. In addition to assessing your heart's electrical activity on an electrocardiogram (EKG) during exercise, images are also taken of the heart using a gamma camera. An imaging agent, thallium or technetium, is injected into an IV in your arm first while the heart is at rest, and again during the exercise portion of the test. The gamma camera detects the heart's activity and produces pictures of the heart's blood flow. These pictures are acquired both before and after the exercise portion of the test. From these pictures, known as perfusion images, the interpreting physician can tell if you have had a prior heart attack, and if so, in which region of the heart. During exercise, decreased blood flow to regions of the heart can also be detected. This decreased blood flow is suggestive of blockages within the heart arteries, also known as coronary artery disease. This procedure also provides an assessment of the overall function of the heart muscle, known as the ejection fraction (EF), as well as a specific look at the individual walls of the heart muscle, which can aid in the evaluation of heart attacks.
Adenosine Stress Test with Nuclear Imaging
The most common medication infusion used for non-exercise stress testing is called adenosine. This medication dilates the heart arteries and highlights discrepancies between arteries that have little to no blockage from those that may have severe blockages.
Dobutamine Stress Test with Nuclear Imaging
A second less commonly utilized medication for pharmacological stress testing is called Dobutamine. This medication acts to speed the heart and improve the force of contraction. Like exercise stress, it tends to highlight regions of heart muscle that may be receiving inadequate blood flow under stressful conditions such as at high heart rates. This medication is typically used for individuals who cannot exercise and have severe lung disease.
If you have any questions or need more information,
please contact our office at (360) 373-2547.
