Does patient need to be NPO for stress test?
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High blood pressure, undefined chest pain or suffering a heart attack – among others heart issues – may warrant the need for a stress test. But, is a cardiac stress test really as stressful as it sounds? Show
“They’re very simple,” says Thomas Willke MD, of Indian Springs Family Medicine. “The test can be as short as one half-hour or up to three hours depending on what type of stress test you have.” What is a Stress Test?Learn more 513 865 2222 Find a Provider A stress test is an assessment done in two parts. In a very controlled situation, the heart is stressed using either exercise on a treadmill or a chemical injection, depending on the status of the individual getting the test. Heart rate, rhythm, and blood pressure are continuously monitored throughout the entire exam. During the second phase of the test, pictures are taken of the heart. These pictures are compared with pictures taken prior to the exercise portion. How Long Does a Stress Test Take?While the exercise stress test itself usually takes around 10 or 15 minutes, part one of the test takes about 30 or 45 minutes total. Dr. Willke suggests blocking off most of your morning, because you will need to go in for follow-up photos about two hours later, for the second part of the test. How Does a Stress Test Work?Before the Test:Most doctors recommend fasting prior to a stress test. "Usually we do them in the morning so we suggest fasting since midnight. It is easier and safer to do a stress test without a full belly," Dr. Willke explains. He also says you should not take any beta blockers, which are a type of drug used to treat high blood pressure, for 12 to 18 hours prior, because these impact the heart rate and may cause inaccurate results. You should also:
During the Test:The First Set of Pictures In a healthy heart, the highlighted section resembles the shape of a donut or horseshoe. “You want the rest images and stress images [which are taken during the second part of the test] to look similar, even if the images show there’s a defect,” Dr. Willke points out. Your doctor is also looking for significant problems that may be showing up before you undergo the stress portion of the test. “You compare the patient’s story with the cardiogram, the images taken, and any old films you may have, to decide whether to go through with the stressed heart portion,” he explains. If the images indicate major issues, you may be referred to a cardiologist right away. The Stress Test Once you reach your target heart rate, you are injected with Myoview again. You will stay on the treadmill for another minute to allow the Myoview to circulate. A second type of stress test has your heart stressed by an injected chemical (there are a number of different types of chemical injections that may be used), allowing you to bypass the treadmill if your condition warrants it. You will then be monitored until your heart rate returns to baseline. The Second Set of Pictures “You can eat anything you want,” Dr. Willke says. “The second set of pictures looks better with food in the belly!” After the Test: What Your Results MeanFrom there, your doctor will read the images later that day. You are usually notified of the results within 24 hours. If the test is normal, your family doctor will advise follow-up care to determine what else may be causing your discomforts. Depending on how serious these abnormalities are, you may need to see a cardiologist the same day. In an exercise stress test, sensors (electrodes) taped to the chest record the heart's rhythm. A health care provider monitors the heartbeat while the person walks on a treadmill or pedals a stationary bike. A nuclear stress test uses a small amount of radioactive material (tracer) and an imaging machine to create pictures showing the blood flow to your heart. The test measures blood flow while you are at rest and during activity, showing areas with poor blood flow or damage in your heart. A nuclear stress test is one of several types of stress tests. The radiotracer used during a nuclear stress test helps your doctor determine your risk of a heart attack or other cardiac event if you have coronary artery disease. A nuclear stress test may be done after a regular exercise stress test to get more information about your heart, or it may be the first stress test used. The test is done using a positron emission technology (PET) scanner or single photo emission computed tomography (SPECT) scanner. A nuclear stress test may also be called a myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) study, cardiac PET study or cardiac SPECT study. Products & Services
Why it's doneYou may need a nuclear stress test if you have signs or symptoms of heart disease such as chest pain or shortness of breath. A nuclear stress test may also be used to guide your treatment if you've been diagnosed with a heart condition. Your doctor may recommend a nuclear stress test to:
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