| Stress Tests Stress tests are performed to evaluate the health of the heart. There are several types of stress tests. The most common one is the exercise stress test. Patient is required walking on a treadmill or a stationary bike while being monitored by electrocardiogram to collect information on the heart function during exercise. This test allows the evaluation of blood flow to your heart during exertion, assessment of the efficacy of a surgical procedure, and also the identification of abnormal heart rhythms. For patients who are unsuitable or unable to exercise, dobutamine or adenosine stress test is performed. Dobutamine is a drug that increases heart rate and the force of heart contraction. Adenosine is a vasodilator that promotes blood vessel relaxation. These drugs are administered to make the heart respond as if the patient is exercising. This would allow the physician to evaluate the heart function in respond to stress without physical exercise. Another test is known as nuclear stress test. Nuclear stress test involves injecting a very small amount of radioactive substance into the patient’s body. Doctors then use a radiation-sensitive camera to obtain pictures of the heart before and after exercise to determine the health of the different parts of the heart muscle. |
Stress Tests
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