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Difference Between Echocardio Stress Test & Nuclear Stress Test

Stress tests examine the effect that exercise has on the heart, according to the U.S. National Institute of Medicine. The test measures the heart's response to physical activity, specifically the increased need for oxygen.

  1. Echocardio Stress Tests

    • Echocardio stress tests (also called stress echocardiography, or exercise stress echo test) involve ultrasounds. Ultrasounds use sound waves to test how well the heart is functioning, according to the American College of Cardiology.

    Nuclear Stress Tests

    • In nuclear stress tests, small amounts of a radioactive dye, such as thallium, are injected into the bloodstream through an IV. A gamma-ray camera is used to detect traces of the dye and take pictures of the heart.

    Purpose

    • Heart abnormalities like scar tissue may be detected using stress echocardiography, according to the Mayo Clinic. In the nuclear stress test, radioactive dyes allow physicians to see areas of the heart that may have constricted blood flow, according to the American College of Cardiology.

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