What does a stress test tell the doctor about your heart?

A stress test, also called an exercise stress test, shows how your heart works during physical activity. Because exercise makes your heart pump harder and faster, an exercise stress test can reveal problems with blood flow within your heart.

What can a stress test diagnose?

A stress test is used to help diagnose and evaluate heart problems such as ischemic heart disease, heart valve disease, or heart failure. Your doctor may recommend this test if you have symptoms of a heart problem, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, and a rapid or irregular heartbeat.

What is the difference between a regular stress test and a nuclear stress test?

A regular stress test shows the EKG, heartrate and blood pressure while you are walking on a treadmill. A nuclear stress test shows your physician pictures of the blood flow to the heart muscle, in addition to the EKG, heartrate and blood pressure.

Can a stress test show a blockage?

Stress tests can detect when arteries have 70\% or more blockage. This severe narrowing is what causes the severe chest pain called angina. But normal results from a stress test do not rule out the possibility of a future heart attack. This is because a plaque can still rupture, form clots and block an artery.

What is a good score on a stress test?

Low risk (score > 5) indicates a 5-year survival of 97\%. Intermediate risk (score between 4 and -11) indicates 5-year survival of 90\%. High risk (score < -11) indicates 5-year survival of 65\%.

What happens if you fail a stress test?

What HAPPENS IF I FAIL THE STRESS TEST? The short answer is, nothing happens. It is fairly common for some people to not be able to exercise enough to get their heart to work hard enough. When this happens, it is impossible for us to accurately assess the patients’ functional capacity.

Why would a cardiologist order a stress test?

A primary reason why a stress test is performed is to assess the patient’s blood and oxygen flow to their heart. A stress test can potentially diagnose medical conditions like coronary artery disease. During a stress test, a patient may have an irregular heartbeat or their heart rate might speed up or slow down.

Why would a cardiologist order a nuclear stress test?

Nuclear stress tests are ordered by cardiologists and other types of physicians for patients that may be at risk for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), a condition in which the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle can become blocked, which could lead to a myocardial infarction, more commonly known as a heart …

Which is better nuclear stress test or echocardiogram?

Although stress echocardiography may have comparable ability to detect coronary artery disease, current data suggest that stress echocardiography detects significantly less jeopardized viable myocardium than stress nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging and consequently fewer patients at risk for cardiac events.

How long does the average person last on the treadmill during a stress test?

The average walking time is 6 to 9 minutes. The test may be stopped if you develop abnormal ECG changes, if you are too tired to continue, if you develop significant symptoms or if you have reached your peak heart rate.

What takes place during a nuclear stress test?

A nuclear stress test involves injecting a radioactive tracer, then taking two sets of images of your heart — one while you’re at rest and another after exercise. A nuclear stress test is done along with an exercise stress test, in which you walk on a treadmill.

What is a nuclear stress test for the heart?

During a nuclear stress test, the individual will exercise, a radioactive dye is injected, and then images are taken to assess the heart’s health. The nuclear stress test can help to diagnose a heart condition by giving vital information. if there is any blockage or narrowing of the coronary arteries that provide blood to the heart

When should I get a stress test for heart disease?

Your doctor may use a stress test to determine when you can safely have surgery, such as valve replacement or a heart transplant. If an exercise stress test doesn’t pinpoint the cause of your signs and symptoms, your doctor may recommend a stress test with imaging, such as a nuclear stress test or stress test with an echocardiogram.

Can an exercise stress test cause a heart attack?

Although exceedingly rare, it’s possible that an exercise stress test could cause a heart attack. Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for your stress test. You may be asked not to eat, drink or smoke for a period of time before a stress test. You may need to avoid caffeine the day before and the day of the test.

What do the results of a stress test mean?

Answer: I kind of think of the results of a stress test in three categories. One is that it doesn’t show that there’s any problem with your heart. Your heart works fine and there’s no evidence there are any blockages around the heart.