Nuclear Test for Heart Disease

Doctors can perform several different types of diagnostic procedures to check for heart problems, including a nuclear stress test. You might undergo one of these by itself or as part of a series of tests.

Purpose

• A nuclear stress test shows how much blood is flowing to the heart at rest and during exercise. It illustrates which parts of the heart are healthy and which are damaged. This information can help diagnose coronary artery disease, determine the best treatments and get an accurate picture of the size and shape of the heart, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Imaging

• A nuclear stress test involves gathering images of the heart during physical activity and at rest. If you cannot engage in physical activity you will receive medication that will mimic the effects of physical stress on your heart.

Injection

• You will receive an injection of a small amount of a radioactive substance that will highlight the tissues of your heart muscles on the images. According to the Texas Heart Institute, you receive this injection right after exercising---or taking medication that mimics exercising---and again several hours later when your heart is at rest.

Preparation

• You cannot eat or drink anything during the two hours before your test, according to the Mayo Clinic. After the exercise portion of the test you will have three to four hours until doctors give you your second injection and study the set of images. During this time you should not eat or drink anything that contains caffeine, according to the Texas Heart Institute.

Risks

• Possible risks include an allergic reaction to the radioactive injection, low blood pressure, an abnormal heart rhythm or heart attack during the exercise portion or as a reaction to the medication given to those who cannot exercise.