Stress Testing Specialist

What is stress testing?

Stress testing is a diagnostic exam that assesses how well your heart works when it's pumping harder and faster. 

When your heart is working harder, the Pinnacle Healthcare System team may have an easier time finding problems that disrupt normal blood flow in the heart. 

Who needs stress testing?

The team at Pinnacle Healthcare System can explain why you need stress testing. They may recommend the test to:

• Diagnose an arrhythmia
• Diagnose coronary artery disease
• Assess heart attack risk
• Determine your fitness level
• Evaluate the effectiveness of your cardiac treatment plan

You may also benefit from stress testing if you have symptoms that may indicate heart problems such as chest pain or shortness of breath. 

What are the types of stress testing?

There are many types of stress testing. At Pinnacle Healthcare System, the team may perform:

Exercise stress testing

During exercise stress testing, your provider has you walk on a treadmill and slowly increases your workout intensity until you reach a target heart rate. 

Your provider assesses heart-health by monitoring your blood pressure and the electrical activity in your heart with an electrocardiogram (EKG).  

If you’re unable to exercise, your cardiologist may administer medication that increases your heart rate to assess health and function. 

Nuclear stress testing

Nuclear stress testing combines the exercise stress test with an imaging test that shows the blood flow through your heart.

During nuclear stress testing, your provider places an intravenous (IV) line in your arm and administers a radioactive dye that enhances imaging of your heart. Your provider takes pictures of your heart while at rest.

You start the exercise portion of the stress test next. When your heart reaches the target rate, your provider administers another round of radioactive dye into your IV line. Your provider then takes pictures of your heart when it’s pumping hard.  

Stress echocardiography

During stress echocardiography, your provider uses ultrasound technology to generate images of your heart when at rest and when pumping hard. 

What types of stress testing do I need?

Your cardiologist at Pinnacle Healthcare System determines what type of stress testing you need based on your symptoms, medical history, and other cardiac test results. 

In most cases, patients undergo the exercise stress test before nuclear stress testing or stress echocardiography.

The team may recommend an imaging stress test if the exercise stress test results are inconclusive. They also use imaging stress tests to assess heart health after initiating treatment.

For comprehensive cardiac care from an experienced team, call Pinnacle Healthcare System or book an appointment online today.