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Stress Tests

 

Cardiocare’s cardiovascular technicians conduct a range of cardiac stress testing including treadmill stress tests, stress echos, nuclear stress tests, and dobutamine stress echos. With the expertise of our cardiac specialists, our Chevy Chase patients can be sure of getting the right diagnosis and proper treatment of possible heart diseases.

Treadmill Stress Test

For this test, you will be walking and potentially running on a treadmill. In preparation for this test, you will be asked to remove your shirt or wear a gown so we can place stickers on your chest that allow us to watch your heart rhythm as you exercise. Once on the treadmill, you will start off walking at a relatively slow speed at minimal elevation. Every 3 minutes, the treadmill will increase in speed and incline. The amount of time you will be on the treadmill depends on your age and level of fitness. During a treadmill stress test, your cardiologist will be present and will monitor your heart rhythm, blood pressure, and symptoms.

It is recommended that you bring comfortable walking/running shoes and athletic clothing with you for a treadmill stress test.

Stress Echocardiogram

This test is very similar to a treadmill stress test but there is an additional step. A sonographer will take a few ultrasound pictures of your heart at rest before you exercise on the treadmill and again directly after you finish exercising when your heart rate is elevated.

It is recommended that you bring comfortable walking/running shoes and athletic clothing with you for an stress echocardiogram.

Nuclear Stress Test

At CardioCare, a nuclear stress test takes place in our office-based, ICANL-certified lab. A nuclear stress test uses radioactive tracers to visualized blood flow to the heart muscle. Two different types of radioactive tracers are used. One is given at rest and the blood supply to the heart is measured with a camera. A second agent is given at peak exercise or after exercise is simulated with medication and a second set of pictures is taken. The rest images and stress images are compared to determine whether there are changes in blood supply and heart function with stress that would suggest blockages in the coronary arteries that feed the heart muscle.

There are two types of nuclear stress test.

Exercise Nuclear Stress Test. For this test, we will take pictures of your heart at rest after giving you the first tracer, as described above. Then you will walk on the treadmill similar to an exercise treadmill stress test. At your peak exercise capacity, the second tracer will be given and a second set of pictures will be taken.

Lexi Scan or Regadenoson Stress Test. During this test, we will take pictures of your heart at rest. Then we will give you a medication that simulates the effect of exercise on your coronary arteries as well as the second tracer. A second set of pictures will then be taken. You will not need to exercise for this test.

A nuclear stress test takes about 2 to 3 hours and will require that you have an IV placed in your arm. If you are doing an exercise nuclear stress test it is recommended that you bring comfortable walking/running shoes and athletic clothing. Otherwise, you don’t need to bring anything special with you.

Dobutamine Stress Test

This test is reserved for people who have difficulty exercising or are unable to get their heart rate up high enough with exercise to provide us with adequate diagnostic accuracy. For a dobutamine stress test, we will give you dobutamine which is a medication that makes the heart pump faster and more forcefully. Similar to a stress echo, we will take ultrasound pictures of your heart prior to giving you this medication and at increasing doses of the medication. We will also monitor your heart rhythm and blood pressure closely during the test. As with the other types of stress tests, you will be asked to remove your shirt and wear a gown so we can place stickers on your chest and use an ultrasound to look at your heart. We will also need to place an IV in your arm to be able to administer the dobutamine.

A dobutamine stress echo takes about 30 mins. You don’t need to bring anything special with you for a dobutamine stress test.