What You Can Expect from a Nuclear Stress Test
In simple terms, a nuclear stress test, also referred to as isotope stress test, is conducted to estimate the difference between the blood flowing at the heart muscle at rest and at the time of stress experience. The function of nuclear stress test is almost similar to the function of other common exercise stress tests; however, nuclear stress test offers images as well as electrocardiograms, so the degree of stress can be better understood. Now, let us explore with the help of this article what you can expect from a nuclear stress test.
Procedure
If you go through a nuclear stress test, doctor will inject a radioactive body into your bloodstream. As soon as the radioactive body will reach your bloodstream, it will be mixed inside the blood and takes a trip to heart. Now a special type of scanner is used to monitor the existence of the radioactive body inside your heart. It now produces the image of the heart muscle. If there is any inadequate blood supply in your heart, it can be identified with light spot, since the radioactive body is unable to reach there in an adequate volume.
Types of Tests
There are different types of nuclear stress test is available today. One of them is myocardial perfusion scan, in which, doctors will ask you to practice exercise on a stationary bicycle or treadmill. As soon as you will reach at the maximum heart beat, the injection is administered to you. Images are taken just following your exercise session as well as few hours later. This test detects the quality of the blood flow into the heart muscle in addition to the narrowness present in the coronary arteries, hence the likelihood of coronary artery disease.
Another nuclear stress test is known as multiple gated acquisition (MUGA) scan, a non-invasive nuclear stress test. In this type of nuclear stress test, an injection is administered prior to the exercising schedule. Images of the heart are taken in both pre and post exercising phase. This nuclear stress test is able to detect the quality of the motion of the heart and its ability to pump out the blood, or in other words, ejection fraction. In addition, this test is able to detect whether there is any damage occurred in the heart wall.
A special type of medicated injection is administered in such cases when the individual is not able to do exercise. This injection does the same job and increases the blood flow in the heart muscle. Nuclear stress test is beneficial in the terms that the report of this test helps the doctors and physicians to detect the problem in a comprehensive manner and they become able to plan the treatment strategy for the concerned patient. A special care must be taken for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
