If you have symptoms of coronary artery disease or another heart-related condition, you may need a nuclear stress test to determine how it’s affecting your heart’s function. At Perloff Cardiovascular Care in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, David Perloff, MD, PA, uses in-office nuclear stress testing to understand how your heart is working while you’re active and while you’re at rest. Find out more about the diagnostic benefits of a nuclear stress test by calling Perloff Cardiovascular Care or by booking a consultation online today.
A nuclear stress test is a diagnostic procedure that shows how well blood flows into your heart during your various activities and when you’re resting.
The test involves an injection of a specialized dye into your blood vessels. Advanced imaging technology tracks the dye as it moves through your heart to identify possible heart damage.
Dr. Perloff might perform a nuclear stress test to confirm heart issues like coronary artery disease when other tests can’t. He may also request this type of test as part of your diagnosis for potentially heart-related symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath.
Prior to your nuclear stress test appointment, Dr. Perloff provides you with information that you need to prepare for the test.
On the day of your nuclear stress test, you can expect to have an intravenous line put in your arm to deliver the contrast dye. It takes some time for the dye to travel into your heart before Dr. Perloff begins taking images of your heart while you rest on an exam table.
For the next part of the test, Dr. Perloff attaches electrodes to your chest, arm, and legs. These electrodes attach to a device that records your heart’s electrical activity.
You begin exercising while the technology monitors information about your heart. You also receive another injection of contrast dye to compare your blood flow between exercise and rest.
Dr. Perloff can stop the test at any time if you feel severe symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, or an abnormal heart rhythm.
You can expect to spend a brief period of downtime immediately after your nuclear stress test to ensure your breathing and heart rate return to normal.
Unless Dr. Perloff finds an issue that needs immediate treatment, you can expect to resume your usual activities after your appointment. For any problems he identifies in your nuclear stress test results, Dr. Perloff discusses your options for treatment.
To find out if you’re a candidate for a nuclear stress test, call Perloff Cardiovascular Care or book a diagnostic evaluation online today.
