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What will happen during the stress phase of the test?
A stress test is used by your doctor to determine whether or not you have heart disease.1 Your stress test may contain two phases, a resting phase and a stress phase. Your doctor will inform you of the order of the phases.11,12
To begin, the staff will place a small IV line in your arm. During the test you will be injected with medicine through this IV line. You may also have small pads (known as electrocardiogram or ECG electrodes) attached to your body. The pads will allow the staff to monitor your heart rate.
The stress phase of the test depends on the type of stress used:
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If you are able to exercise:
You will exercise on a treadmill or bicycle. When you reach your peak exercise level, you will be injected with Cardiolite®.The Cardiolite® will travel through your bloodstream to your heart. Speak up right away if you become short of breath, feel pain in your arm or chest, or get tired at any time during the test.
If you are unable to exercise:
You will be given medicine through the IV line. This medicine will affect your heart in a way that is similar to exercise. You will also be injected with Cardiolite®. The Cardiolite® will travel through your bloodstream to your heart. Speak up right away if you become short of breath, feel pain in your chest, or feel any other symptoms at any time during the test.Whether your stress is from exercise or a drug, the last part of the stress phase is the same. You will either be lying down on a table or sitting in a chair while a type of camera called a gamma camera takes images of your heart. The camera "sees" the Cardiolite® in your heart and uses it to help create the pictures of your heart.
Indications and Usage: It is usually not possible to determine the age of a myocardial infarction or to differentiate a recent myocardial infarction from ischemia. Important Safety Information: Exercise and pharmacologic stress testing should be performed only under the supervision of a qualified doctor. On rare occasions, a very small number of people who are given Cardiolite® have serious allergic side effects, including skin rashes. The most common complaints include headache, chest pain, nausea, and abnormal taste and smell. There may also be some side effects that only the doctor will notice while your heart is being monitored. If you are pregnant, suspect you may be pregnant, or are a nursing mother, discuss this with your doctor before undergoing the procedure. |
