What's a Nuclear Stress Test?

Anybody had a nuclear stress test? My doctor said I should have one and I have no clue. Is it the same day? Is it painful? Joe

Hi Joe... Don't worry, the nuclear stress test is not painful. Here's an article from MayoClinic.com about it. I don't know whether you are able to run on the treadmill, but I wasn't so I had the test laying down. "A nuclear stress test helps measure blood flow to your heart muscle at rest and during stress. It is similar to a routine exercise stress test but with images in addition to electrocardiograms. During a nuclear stress test, a radioactive substance is injected into your bloodstream. This substance mixes with your blood and travels to your heart. A special camera or scanner -- which detects the radioactive material in your heart -- creates images of your heart muscle. Inadequate blood flow to any part of your heart will show up as a light spot on the images -- because not as much of the radioactive substance is getting there. There are several types of nuclear stress tests, including: Myocardial perfusion scan. During this procedure, you exercise on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bicycle. When you reach your maximum heart rate, you're given the injection. Images are made of your heart shortly after exercise and also a few hours later. This test shows how well blood flows into the heart muscle and can detect narrowing of the coronary arteries (coronary artery disease). Multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan. In this test, you receive the injection before exercising. Images are made of your heart before and after exercise. A MUGA scan shows the motion of the heart and how well it pumps out blood (ejection fraction). If you're unable to exercise, you may be injected with a medication that increases blood flow to your heart muscle -- simulating exercise -- for the test." Mine was all done in one day at a cardiac center in Stamford. Nothing to it!! Kim K.

Hey Joe, Great to see a photo of you. Don't worry about the test, its like Kim K said. You will be fine and no pain kiddo. Good luck and God Bless Hugs KimC

Hi Joe, I just had one!! They inject you with radioactive Isotopes and you sit for a while (doesn't hurt -don't even know they put anything into your vein). Then they check to make sure it is active in your body and take before pictures of your heart. Then you either walk on a treadmill until you tell them you can't walk any further (or they inject you with something that makes your heart beat fast). Once you are done either way, they give you more isotopes, and in the case of the chemically induced stress test (like I just had), they give you the antidote to calm your system back to normal. This is the time my doc told me to go eat (I had this done at Temple in New Haven and they have a cafeteria), and come back in 45 mins. Then they do the after pics and you are done and go home. It did take a lot of my morning - started at 9:45 and got home around 1:00 (although I traveled an hour to get there). I am sure there is a little variance in every office/hospital. You will do fine - it is the best way (probably the only way), to ensure your heart is fine and okay to have surgery. Best, Nancy K

Joe, depending on your BMI they may schedule it as a one or two day test. For those of us with high BMI there apparently is concern about how much isotope to inject at one time. Mine was 2 days, exercise portion day one, resting portion day 2. Minimal inconvenience and no discomfort. Good luck