WHAT IS A CARDIAC NUCLEAR EXERCISE STRESS TEST?
This test uses a radioactive material (isotope) that is injected into the bloodstream and allows the Nuclear Medicine Technologist to take pictures of your heart. Combining exercise (walking on the treadmill) with a nuclear imaging material produces images/pictures that will help your doctor to determine if there is an area of your heart that is not receiving enough blood. The nuclear imaging material is not a “dye.” It is widely used and has been shown to be safe. WHAT WILL THE PICTURES SHOW? After the injection, the nuclear imaging material travels through the bloodstream to the heart. The nuclear imaging material gives off a small amount of radiation that can be seen with a special camera. The areas of the heart that are diseased (because of blocked or narrowed arteries) will not pick up as much nuclear material as those with healthy arteries. The computer will process the images to show areas of decreased blood flow, called “defects.” The Cardiologist will analyze the pictures and
