Heart disease can mimic many other forms of illness a fact that greatly delays the making of a proper diagnosis. A cardiac stress test is one of the most useful investigations of not only diagnosing heart disease but also assessing its severity. The investigation, available in Princeton, is usually performed by either a doctor or a trained technician and specifically determines how much physical exercise one can tolerate before their rhythm is affected by reduced blood flow.
There are a number of different types of this investigation that can be performed. One of the types includes the use of the treadmill. One is connected to a machine known as an electrocardiogram, ECG, which determines the heart rhythm. The doctor will determine how far one can walk before they start experiencing chest pain or the ECG begins to show abnormalities.
The Adenosine (Dobutamine) Stress Test is an alternative for persons who, for one reason or the other, cannot take part in physical exercise. Both dobutamine and adenosine are drugs that can strain the heart in similar fashion as physical exercise. The ECG is also used here to determine the any compromise in blood supply with increasing dosage of the drug just as would happen with increasing exercise intensity.
The last type is known as the nuclear stress test. Here, a small amount of a radioactive material is injected into the body and flows to all the organs. The physician uses a special camera to detect the radioactive rays that are released by the substance. The heart is projected onto a monitor as a clear image. The images are obtained both at rest and during physical exercise to detect any reduction in blood supply.
As part of the preparation, there are a number of things that one needs to do. The general advice is that one should fast for at least 4 hours before the investigation. Caffeine is likely to affect the results and should be avoided for at least 12 hours prior to the exercise. Drugs to be avoided include isosorbide mononitrate and isosorbide dinitrate.
Other than being vital to the monitoring of blood supply to heart muscles, this test has other benefits as well. One of the most important is its use in the assessment of the effectiveness of angina medication. It is expected that once a person starts taking these drugs their exercise tolerance starts to improve. Another benefit is its use in the assessment of valve function especially when artificial valves have been inserted.
The stress test is not for everyone. There are a number of situations in which it is contraindicated. One example is a person who has had a myocardial infarction within 48 hours. Persons who already have abnormal heart rhythm and are not on treatment may exhibit abnormal responses. The abnormalities should be treated first.
Making a diagnosis of a cardiac conditions usually requires a wide range of tests. These tests are needed to firstly, confirm that a heart abnormality exists and secondly, to identify the exact condition. The cardiac (ECG) stress test is among those that are commonly used for screening. Other tests are usually needed to determine the exact diagnosis.
There are a number of different types of this investigation that can be performed. One of the types includes the use of the treadmill. One is connected to a machine known as an electrocardiogram, ECG, which determines the heart rhythm. The doctor will determine how far one can walk before they start experiencing chest pain or the ECG begins to show abnormalities.
The Adenosine (Dobutamine) Stress Test is an alternative for persons who, for one reason or the other, cannot take part in physical exercise. Both dobutamine and adenosine are drugs that can strain the heart in similar fashion as physical exercise. The ECG is also used here to determine the any compromise in blood supply with increasing dosage of the drug just as would happen with increasing exercise intensity.
The last type is known as the nuclear stress test. Here, a small amount of a radioactive material is injected into the body and flows to all the organs. The physician uses a special camera to detect the radioactive rays that are released by the substance. The heart is projected onto a monitor as a clear image. The images are obtained both at rest and during physical exercise to detect any reduction in blood supply.
As part of the preparation, there are a number of things that one needs to do. The general advice is that one should fast for at least 4 hours before the investigation. Caffeine is likely to affect the results and should be avoided for at least 12 hours prior to the exercise. Drugs to be avoided include isosorbide mononitrate and isosorbide dinitrate.
Other than being vital to the monitoring of blood supply to heart muscles, this test has other benefits as well. One of the most important is its use in the assessment of the effectiveness of angina medication. It is expected that once a person starts taking these drugs their exercise tolerance starts to improve. Another benefit is its use in the assessment of valve function especially when artificial valves have been inserted.
The stress test is not for everyone. There are a number of situations in which it is contraindicated. One example is a person who has had a myocardial infarction within 48 hours. Persons who already have abnormal heart rhythm and are not on treatment may exhibit abnormal responses. The abnormalities should be treated first.
Making a diagnosis of a cardiac conditions usually requires a wide range of tests. These tests are needed to firstly, confirm that a heart abnormality exists and secondly, to identify the exact condition. The cardiac (ECG) stress test is among those that are commonly used for screening. Other tests are usually needed to determine the exact diagnosis.
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