What You Show Know About The Cardiac Stress Test
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 different types of this investigation that can be done. One of the types is the treadmill test. As one walks on the treadmill their heart rate increases and this may lead to compromised blood supply. A special piece of equipment known as the ECG, electrocardiogram, is used to detect abnormalities in heart rhythm. The changes correspond to a physical experience of chest pain by the patient.
Another commonly performed test is the Dobutamine or Adenosine Test. This type is offered as an alternative to persons that cannot participate in supervised physical exercise. Adenosine and dobutamine are pharmacological agents that have the ability to stimulate the heart in the same way as exercise does. A stress echocardiogram uses a heart ultrasound to visualize the image of the heart as it transitions from a resting state to a strained state.
The last type of investigation is the nuclear stress test. In this type, a radioactive material is injected into the body so that it spreads to all the body organs including the heart. A special detector is used to identify the rays that are released by the radioactive substance. This helps to project the image of the heart onto a monitor both at rest and during exercise.
One needs to do a number of things as part of things as part of the preparation for the investigation. You should not eat or drink anything at least four hours prior to the exercise. Caffeine should be avoided for a minimum of 12 hours. Some drugs may interfere with the results. Such include isosorbide dinitrate and isosorbide mononitrate and should also be avoided.
Apart from diagnosing abnormalities in heart flow within the heart, the stress test has several other benefits. For instance, it is important in monitoring the effectiveness of drugs used to treat angina. When treatment is initiated, persons with angina are expected to have increased tolerance to exercise. Another important role is its use in the assessment of valve function especially in patients that have had artificial valves implanted.
There are several situations where this investigation is contraindicated. For instance, it should not be administered to persons who have experienced myocardial infarction in the last 48 hours because of the risk of aggravating the condition. It should also not be done in people who have already been found to have abnormal rhythm but are not yet on treatment.
When diagnosing cardiac conditions, a number of investigations are usually needed. Some are considered as simple screening tools while others are others are needed to make a definitive diagnosis. The cardiac (or ECG) stress test is among those that are commonly used for screening.
There are different types of this investigation that can be done. One of the types is the treadmill test. As one walks on the treadmill their heart rate increases and this may lead to compromised blood supply. A special piece of equipment known as the ECG, electrocardiogram, is used to detect abnormalities in heart rhythm. The changes correspond to a physical experience of chest pain by the patient.
Another commonly performed test is the Dobutamine or Adenosine Test. This type is offered as an alternative to persons that cannot participate in supervised physical exercise. Adenosine and dobutamine are pharmacological agents that have the ability to stimulate the heart in the same way as exercise does. A stress echocardiogram uses a heart ultrasound to visualize the image of the heart as it transitions from a resting state to a strained state.
The last type of investigation is the nuclear stress test. In this type, a radioactive material is injected into the body so that it spreads to all the body organs including the heart. A special detector is used to identify the rays that are released by the radioactive substance. This helps to project the image of the heart onto a monitor both at rest and during exercise.
One needs to do a number of things as part of things as part of the preparation for the investigation. You should not eat or drink anything at least four hours prior to the exercise. Caffeine should be avoided for a minimum of 12 hours. Some drugs may interfere with the results. Such include isosorbide dinitrate and isosorbide mononitrate and should also be avoided.
Apart from diagnosing abnormalities in heart flow within the heart, the stress test has several other benefits. For instance, it is important in monitoring the effectiveness of drugs used to treat angina. When treatment is initiated, persons with angina are expected to have increased tolerance to exercise. Another important role is its use in the assessment of valve function especially in patients that have had artificial valves implanted.
There are several situations where this investigation is contraindicated. For instance, it should not be administered to persons who have experienced myocardial infarction in the last 48 hours because of the risk of aggravating the condition. It should also not be done in people who have already been found to have abnormal rhythm but are not yet on treatment.
When diagnosing cardiac conditions, a number of investigations are usually needed. Some are considered as simple screening tools while others are others are needed to make a definitive diagnosis. The cardiac (or ECG) stress test is among those that are commonly used for screening.
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