about how long are a nuclear stress test
Stress test: A nuclear stress test detects blood supply to the heart. A radioactive tracer is injected into the veins at peak exercise or with a vasodilator. The tracer is taken up by the heart cells and the uprake is proportional to blood flow. A nuclear stress test can take two to five hours. When you arrive, you'll be asked about your medical history and how often and strenuously you exercise. Dr. David Masiello Dr. Masiello. MIBI Scan: A nuclear stress test typically invovles the injeciton of a pharamacologic agent to increase the heart rate or drop the blood pressure followed with imaging of the heart. Thallium stress test is a nuclear imaging method that shows how well blood flows into the heart muscle, both at rest and during activity. The test is done to see whether your heart muscle is getting enough blood flow, and therefore enough oxygen, when it is working hard (under stress). Your doctor may order this test to determine: How well a treatment (medications, angioplasty, heart surgery) is working. During a nuclear stress test. Before you start the test, a technician inserts an intravenous line (IV) into your arm or hand and places sticky patches (electrodes) on your chest, legs and arms, which connect by wires to an electrocardiogram machine. The meaning of your test results depends on the reason for the test, your age, and your history of heart and other medical problems. Abnormal results may be due to: Reduced blood flow to a part of the heart. The most likely cause is a narrowing or blockage of one or more of the arteries that supply your heart muscle. 1 A radiopharmaceutical, such as thallium or sestamibi, will be injected into one of your veins. 2  You will lie down and wait for between 15 and 45 minutes.  A special camera will scan your heart and create pictures to show how the radiopharmaceutical has traveled through your blood and into your heart. Reference from A.D.A.M. Sestamibi stress test; MIBI stress test; Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy; Dobutamine stress test; Persantine stress test; Thallium stress test; Stress test - nuclear; Adenosine stress test; Regadenoson stress test. This test is done at a medical center or physician's office. 2 doctors agreed: Nuclear stress test: The patient walks on a treadmill or other exercise device or has a medication injected to simulate exercise, when the exercise or medicine is in progress a radioactive agent is injected which goes into the heart and can be imaged to show the blood flow into the heart muscle.
Two to five hours.