Nuclear Medicine Department
(910) 341-3312 or (910) 341-3456
Your health care provider has recommended you have a Nuclear Exercise Stress Test. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment and allow 2.5-3 hours to complete the test. You will NOT need a driver.
What is a Nuclear Stress Test?
A nuclear stress test will show if Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is present. CAD is a narrowing of blood vessels that supply oxygen to the heart muscle. If the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen, it can cause chest pain or angina and can lead to a heart attack. During the test, a radioactive tracer (Myoview) is injected into the bloodstream and travels to the heart muscle, allowing the cardiologist to view enhanced images of your heart. The dosage of radiation administered carries no great risk and is comparable to that of a conventional X-ray.
How do I prepare for the test?
A nuclear RN staff member will call you 2-3 days prior to your test to review these instructions.
- NO FOOD OR DRINK: If your stress test is scheduled before 11am, do not eat or drink anything after midnight, except water if you need to take medications. If your stress test is scheduled after 11 AM, you may have a light meal, as long as it is consumed 4 hours prior to your scheduled test time.
- NO CAFFEINE FOR 12 HOURS PRIOR TO TEST TIME: This includes sodas, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Many prescriptions and over-the-counter headache remedies, such as BC powder, Excedrin, Fiorinal, Wigraine, and Anacin, contain caffeine and should be avoided. Also, be mindful that many “decaffeinated” teas, sodas, and coffee do contain a small amount of caffeine. The only true caffeine-free sodas are Sierra Mist Free, Sprite, 7up, and ginger ale.
- WHAT TO WEAR: Please wear loose-fitting, short-sleeved shirt/top, and shorts or pants, no dresses; Please do not wear jewelry. Ladies- a wireless bra may be more comfortable, as electrodes will be placed on your bare chest.
- MEDICATIONS: We prefer that you take your regular medicines except for the following:
- Diabetic Medicines Diabetics should delay their AM dose of their diabetic medications but can bring their medicine with them. A light snack will be provided during your stress test, and the diabetic medicines can be taken at that time.
- Beta Blockers are a type of heart medication used to treat high blood pressure, fast heart rates, and other heart conditions. Examples include: Toprol, Metoprolol, Coreg, Inderal, Lopressor, Tenormin, Atenolol, Propranolol, Labetalol, Sotalol, Betapace, Corgard, Timolol, Carvedilol, Acebutolol, and Bystolic. We ask that you stop these medications 48 hours prior to your test time because they can prevent your heart from reaching the target heart rate while on the treadmill. Failure to do so may result in rescheduling your test.
What happens the day of my Exercise Stress Test?
Please report to the 3rd floor reception area at Wilmington Health, 1202 Medical Center Dr. Once you have been checked in, a staff member in the nuclear medicine department will explain the procedure, apply the electrodes to your chest and start an IV so the radioactive tracer (Myoview) can be injected into the bloodstream. Once injected, you will be asked to wait in the nuclear waiting area for appx 45 mins so that the radioactive tracer has time to attach to the heart muscle. You will then be taken to a special camera that will take images of your heart. You will then be taken to the stress test room, where a heart monitor and blood pressure cuff are attached to you. You will walk on the treadmill following a protocol, where the treadmill gradually increases in speed and incline every 3 minutes until your target heart rate is achieved. Times on the treadmill vary from patient to patient based on exercise tolerance. While still exercising, when heart rate achieved, a 2nd dose of Myoview will be given to prep you for the 2nd set of images taken 45 min after the stress test. A cardiologist will compare the two sets of pictures and evaluate the electrical cardiac tracings. The health care provider that ordered your test will be notified by the cardiologist of the results within 5-7 business days and advised of any follow-up care that may be required.