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What is the Stress Test used to Predict Heart Attack Risks
Who Is at Risk of Having a Heart Attack?
People who smoke or have high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol levels are more likely to have heart attacks, or myocardial infarctions (MIs). In MIs, heart muscles are injured or die when they don’t get enough oxygenated blood because of blocked arteries.
What Are Stress Tests and Nuclear Imaging?
Stress tests and nuclear imaging can help find out about past heart disease or MIs and predict future cardiac problems. Exercise stress testing, using treadmills or bicycles, is one of the best tests for cardiac function. People who can’t exercise may be given medicines (adenosine or dipyridamole) to stress the heart.
Nuclear imaging includes myocardial perfusion imaging such as SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography). SPECT can see blood flow to the heart walls. PET (positron emission tomography) and MUGA (multiple gated acquisition) scanning, also called radionuclide angiography (RNA), are other such tests.
What Preparation Is Needed for Stress Tests?
To make the nuclear stress test more accurate and comfortable, solid food, nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, and some medicines may be restricted before the test. Comfortable clothing and shoes should be worn.
How Are Stress Tests Done?
During treadmill exercises, the speed and incline angle are slowly increased until the heart is stressed enough as determined by the cardiologist in attendance during the test. Pictures made after exercise show blood flow to the heart during the “stress” of exercise. Pictures are also taken to show blood flow during rest. These pictures are compared to see how well the heart works.
In nuclear imaging tests, small amounts of radioactive substances called tracers (such as thallium or sestamibi) are put into the body. These are safe and have no side effects. Special cameras find the tracer and take pictures during exercise and rest. With these pictures, computers measure blood flow through the heart, find abnormal heart muscle, and tell whether parts of the heart aren’t getting enough blood.
What Are Risks of Stress Tests?
Risks of exercise on treadmills or bicycles are small. Complications include chest pain, fainting, muscle cramps, and blood pressure that’s too high. Risks related to exposure to radiation from tracers are rare. Thallium stress tests can cause abnormal heart rhythms, problems breathing, and rashes. Exercise stress tests are not as accurate in young or middle-aged women who don’t have usual heart disease symptoms. These tests are also not 100% accurate in detecting or ruling out heart disease.
DOs and DON’Ts in Managing Stress Testing for Heart Disease:
- DO understand risk factors about heart disease. Be proactive in talking to your health care provider or gynecologist about heart health.
- DO stop smoking. Drink in moderation or not at all.
- DO be heart healthy: have your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked regularly. Eat low-fat foods (fruits and vegetables). Lose weight if you’re overweight. Exercise, such as walking, if your health care provider says it’s OK.
- DO see your health care provider regularly. Call your health care provider about changes in your condition, such as shortness of breath when walking.
- DON’T forget to see a cardiologist (specialist in heart diseases), in follow-up after if your stress test shows signs of heart disease.
Seek Additional Information
Contact the following sources:
- American Heart Association
Tel: (800) 242-8721
Website:http://www.americanheart.org - American College of Cardiology
Tel: (800) 253-4636
Website:http://www.acc.org
