Nuclear Stress Test (Gulf Coast West location only)
Nuclear stress test is an assessment of blood flow to the heart. This assessment is done in two parts, at rest and during stress.
Rest Phase: A radioactive compound that localizes in the heart is injected in the vein of your arm, followed by the scan of your heart with the help of a gamma camera that detects the presence of the injected compound in your heart.
Stress Phase: This component involves treadmill exercise (or a pharmacological agent that will be administered instead of having the patient exercise on a treadmill). Before this phase begins, the tech will place several small electrodes (small pads) on your chest. These electrodes are then connected to an electrocardiograph (ECG) which monitors the rhythm of your heart. A second injection of the radioactive compound is given during exercise, and a second scan of your heart is performed.
