Nervous About Your Nuclear Stress Test? Here's How to Prepare

If the concept of a nuclear stress test unnerves you, you’re not alone. It’s simply a safe and

non-invasive way to test your heart health.  The expert team at the Cardiovascular Institute of America uses such tests to evaluate your blood flow when your heart is at rest and when it’s active. This allows us to identify cardiovascular disease and other heart issues.

If we uncover potential heart problems, we can give you a personalized treatment plan to help you get and stay healthy. 

What to expect during your nuclear stress test 

The traditional stress test measures your heart rate when you exert yourself on a treadmill or exercise bike. When you exercise, your heart beats faster, which pumps your blood faster. By testing your heart rhythm and endurance during exercise, we can gauge your heart's health. 

The nuclear aspect of the stress test involves a small amount of a radioactive substance combined with a special imaging tool to see how the blood flows through your body. This nuclear stress test combination can help us assess if you have Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) or other heart concerns. 

We can prescribe a personalized treatment plan once we've diagnosed your heart health. For example, if we find blockages, we can assess the immediate next steps for your health. These may require a prescription, monitoring, or surgery. 

When do you have a nuclear stress test? 

Typically, we order a nuclear stress test when concerned about your heart health. This may include factors like a family history of heart disease or those with high cholesterol, diabetes, or hypertension. 

Other risk factors include those experiencing shortness of breath or chest pain, or you’ve had a heart attack. Such events require a closer evaluation of your heart. 

We might also recommend a nuclear stress test if you’ve had an EKG or an echocardiogram and the results are inconclusive or give indicators warrant further investigation. 

The benefits of a nuclear stress test
The stress test is done under medical supervision. It’s a safe and common procedure with little chance of complications. In preparation, we may ask you to avoid caffeine and smoking. Once completed, we’ll have your results within a day and can better diagnose your heart health. 

We’re looking for answers to questions like: 

• How well does your heart pump blood? 

• How easily does your blood flow? 

These are questions worth answering as they can help you live a longer and healthier life. 

The nuclear stress test provides comprehensive images of your blood flow and can uncover hidden issues. We can also assess your heart attack risk and recommend ways to treat it. 

With offices in Citrus Park, Tampa, and Lutz, Florida, the Cardiovascular Institute of America can assess your heart health. You can make an appointment here.