What is a Cardiac Nuclear Stress Test?

A nuclear stress test, also known as a myocardial perfusion imaging test, is a test that is used to assess how well the heart is functioning and how well it is able to increase blood flow to meet the body's needs during physical activity. The test is typically used to diagnose or evaluate coronary artery disease (CAD), a type of heart disease that occurs when the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle, become narrowed or blocked due to a build-up of plaque.

During a nuclear stress test, a small amount of a radioactive substance, called a tracer, is injected into a vein. The tracer is absorbed by the heart and allows healthcare providers to visualize the heart using a special camera. The test is usually performed in two parts: a resting phase and an exercise phase.

During the resting phase, images of the heart are taken while you are lying down and resting. During the exercise phase, you will be asked to walk on a treadmill or pedal on a stationary bike while your heart rate and blood pressure are monitored. As you exercise, additional images of the heart will be taken.

A nuclear stress test can be used to evaluate how well the heart is functioning during physical activity and how well it is able to increase blood flow to meet the body's needs. It can also be used to identify areas of the heart that are not receiving enough blood flow and to determine the appropriate course of treatment for CAD.

It is important to follow any instructions provided by your healthcare provider and to inform them of any symptoms you experience during the test.

At Pacific Heart and Vascular we offer the state of the art Cardiac PET/CT stress test imaging which offers much higher detection of cardiac problems