Stress Test Specialist

What is a stress test?

A stress test evaluates the way your heart functions during physical activity. Certain kinds of cardiovascular problems are easiest to find when your heart works its hardest, so a stress test is an essential diagnostic tool.

When might I need a stress test?

You’ll need a stress test if you’re having symptoms that indicate heart problems. These symptoms include:

• Chest pain
• Rapid heartbeat
• Irregular heartbeat
• Breathing difficulties
• Dizzy spells
• Fainting

A stress test helps your provider more accurately diagnose heart valve disease, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease.

Stress tests aren’t used just to diagnose disease. A stress test can determine if the medication treating your heart condition is working as it should. In many cases, a stress test is part of a pre-op clearance before surgery.

How does a stress test work?

Cardiac Care Consultants offers different kinds of stress tests, including:

Stress echocardiograms

A stress echocardiogram uses a transducer device to send ultrasonic waves into your chest. These waves bounce off your heart, and the transducer relays those reflections to a computer. The reflections then form detailed images of your heart.

A stress echocardiogram records your heart both at rest and under stress. Usually, you trigger this stress by exercising on a treadmill. If you can’t exercise, you’ll receive an injected medication that simulates the effects of exercise.

Nuclear stress test

A nuclear stress test checks how well your blood pumps into your heart. Your provider places an intravenous (IV) line in a vein through which a radioactive substance is administered. The substance is visible on imaging. They then scan your heart to see how blood moves when you’re resting.

As with an echo stress test, you’ll walk on the treadmill or receive medication to simulate exercise. At your peak exercise level, when your heart’s working hardest, you’ll receive another injection of the radioactive substance. Your specialist scans your heart again. 

Which stress test you need will depend on your symptoms and your personal situation. With both kinds of stress tests, the Cardiac Care Consultants specialists monitor you closely throughout the procedure.

Book your stress test by calling Cardiac Care Consultants today or clicking the online scheduler.