Nuclear Cardiology Specialist
-
- Tweet
Cardiovascular Institute of America
Cardiovascular Disease Specialist & Vein Specialist located in Citrus Park, Tampa, FL & Tampa, FL
Noninvasive diagnostic tests, such as nuclear cardiology and stress tests, provide valuable information about the health and function of your heart and assist with diagnosing heart conditions. At Cardiovascular Institute of America, the cardiovascular disease specialists, led by Muthu Velusamy, MD, FACC, ABVM, offer many in-office diagnostic tests to confirm or rule suspected heart conditions, including the nuclear cardiology/stress test. To schedule your evaluation, contact the office most convenient to you in Tampa or Lutz, Florida, by phone or online today.
Nuclear Cardiology Q&A
What is nuclear cardiology?
Nuclear cardiology is a field of noninvasive diagnostic studies that assess heart health and function. The tests evaluate your heart’s pumping action and blood flow. The cardiovascular disease specialists at Cardiovascular Institute of America use nuclear cardiology testing to diagnose coronary heart disease and assess heart damage after a heart attack.
During a nuclear cardiology test, your specialist injects a radioactive dye into your bloodstream and then uses an imaging tool, nuclear scan, or PET scan. These detect the gamma rays from the dye to generate moving pictures of your blood as it travels through your coronary arteries and heart.
What is a stress test?
A stress test assesses heart health during physical exertion. When you exercise, your heart pumps harder and faster and may reveal heart conditions that interfere with blood flow that may not be detected when your heart is at rest.
Your specialist at Cardiovascular Institute of America may recommend a stress test to diagnose coronary heart disease or a heart rhythm disorder.
During the stress test, you walk on a treadmill or ride an exercise bike. Your specialist increases the intensity of your workout until your heart hits a set target rate, or you start to feel chest pain. If you can’t tolerate the exercise, your specialist may use medication to increase your heart rate.
What is a nuclear cardiology/stress test?
The nuclear cardiology/stress test combines the nuclear imaging and stress test to identify the cause of your symptoms. During the nuclear cardiology/stress test, your specialist uses the radioactive chemical and imaging system to assess the flow of blood through your heart when at rest and under exertion.
Your specialist at Cardiovascular Institute of America may recommend the nuclear cardiology/stress test to diagnose coronary artery disease and assess the severity of the blockage. The specialists also use the test to evaluate the effectiveness of your treatment plan.
What happens during a nuclear cardiology/stress test?
Your nuclear cardiology/stress test is an in-office test that may take up to two hours to complete. The test requires two nuclear scans, one when your heart is at rest and the other during exertion.
Your nuclear cardiology/stress test provides diagnostic data about your heart that helps determine the best treatment. To schedule a consultation with experienced cardiovascular disease specialists, call Cardiovascular Institute of America, or request an appointment online today.
