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Cardiac stress testing
Stress testing is a noninvasive test that can:
- Screen people for heart disease
- Determine how well the heart is functioning
- Evaluate people with chest pain
- Evaluate results of angioplasty or heart surgery
- Clear people for strenuous work or exercise programs
The test is performed on a treadmill with the amount of effort gradually increasing. Blood pressure, pulse and electrocardiogram are monitored throughout.
A pharmacologic stress test uses medication rather than exercise to increase heart rate or blood flow.
All tests are conducted by board-certified cardiologists.
Nuclear Stress Testing
During stress testing with nuclear imaging, a radioactive substance is used to identify or evaluate cardiac abnormalities. These studies are useful in detecting the size and location of heart damage or decreased blood flow to the heart.
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