Treadmill Exercise Stress Test

• No restrictions. You may eat and drink, except two hours prior to the test. Take all morning medications as usual.
• You will walk on a treadmill that increases in speed and incline every 3 minutes until heart rate reaches peak level. Blood pressure and ECG are monitored throughout the procedure by the cardiologist.
• Common side effects include, but are not limited to, shortness of breath and fatigue.

Nuclear Treadmill Stress Test

• Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before, with the exception of morning medications which should be taken with a sip of water. Diabetics should not take insulin that will peak during this time since they will be NPO.
• An imaging agent is injected through an intravenous line at least 30 minutes prior to being scanned in radiology. Then you exercise in cardiology on a treadmill that increases in speed and incline every 3 minutes until heart rate reaches peak level. The imaging agent is re-injected 1 or 2 minutes prior to the end of exercise. Blood pressure and ECG are monitored throughout the procedure by the cardiologist. After a minimum 30-minute wait, you are then re-scanned in radiology.
• Typical time from start to finish is four to six hours; most is just waiting.
• Common side effects include, but are not limited to, shortness of breath and fatigue.

Nuclear Persantine Stress Test

• Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before, with the exception of morning medications which should be taken with a sip of water. Diabetics should not take insulin that will peak during this time since they will be NPO. No caffeine for 48 hours prior to the test, to include regular coffee, chocolate, caffeine soda, and cold medicines containing caffeine. Also, you cannot take these medications for 48 hours prior to the test, Theophylline, Theodur, Aminophylline, and Uniphyl. Nitroglycerin patches should be taken off one hour before the stress part of the test.
• An imaging agent is injected through an intravenous line at least 30 minutes prior to being scanned in radiology. You are then brought to cardiology where a cardiology nurse gives an intravenous infusion of Persantine. This infusion takes 4 minutes to complete. The imaging agent is re-injected 2 minutes after the Persantine infusion. The nurse monitors blood pressure and ECG throughout the procedure. A cardiologist is available if a need arises. You are then taken back to radiology where re-scanning is done.
• Typical time from start to finish is four to six hours; most is just waiting.
• Common side effects you may have from Persantine include, but are not limited to, chest tightness, flushed face, and shortness of breath. If symptoms persist, aminophylline is used to reverse the Persantine effect.

Nuclear Adenosine Stress Test

• Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before, with the exception of morning medication which should be taken with a sip of water. Diabetics should not take insulin that will peak during this time since they will be NPO. No caffeine for 48 hours prior to the test, to include regular coffee, chocolate, caffeine soda, and cold medicines containing caffeine. Also, you cannot take these medications for 48 hours prior to the test, Theophylline, Theodur, Aminophylline, and Uniphyl. Nitroglycerin patches should be taken off one hour before the stress part of the test.
• An imaging agent is injected through an intravenous line at least 30 minutes prior to being scanned in radiology. You are then brought to cardiology where a cardiology nurse gives an intravenous infusion of adenosine. This takes 5 minutes to complete. Halfway through the adenosine infusion, the imaging agent is re-injected. The nurse monitors blood pressure and ECG throughout the procedure. A cardiologist is available if a need arises. You are then taken back to radiology where re-scanning is done.
• Typical time from start to finish is four to six hours; most is just waiting.
• Common side effects from adenosine include, but are not limited to, a feeling of pressure in your throat, which could radiate into your chest or head and difficulty breathing. These symptoms will stop immediately when the infusion is stopped.

Nuclear Dobutamine Stress Test

• Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before, with the exception of morning medication which should be taken with a sip of water. Blood pressure medications can be taken, but do not take heart rate medications, such as, Beta-blockers, etc. Diabetics should not take insulin that will peak during this time since they will be NPO. Nitroglycerin patches should be taken off one hour before the stress part of the test.
• An imaging agent is injected through an intravenous line at least 30 minutes prior to being scanned in radiology. You are then brought to cardiology where a cardiology nurse infuses the medication dobutamine. This medication is given intravenously with the dose increasing every 3 minutes until your heart rate reaches its peak level. The imaging agent is re-injected when heart rate reaches its predicted maximum. Atropine is a medication that is available for use if your heart rate does not reach the predicted maximum. The nurse monitors blood pressure and ECG throughout the procedure. A cardiologist is available if a need arises. You are then taken back to radiology where re-scanning is done.
• Dobutamine stress testing is the recommended test for patients with a history of asthma, COPD or for patients who regularly use inhalers.
• Typical time from start to finish is four to six hours; most is just waiting.
• Common side effects you may have from Dobutamine include, but are not limited to, shortness of breath and nausea. Common side effects from atropine include, but are not limited to, dry mouth, a quick increase in heart rate, and eyes that are temporarily sensitive to light.

Stress Echo

• No restrictions. You can eat or drink, up to two hours prior to the test. Take morning medications as usual. Blood pressure medications can be taken, but do not take heart rate medications, such as, Beta-blockers, etc.
• Resting echocardiography images will be taken in 4 different views. Then you will exercise on a treadmill where the speed and the incline will increase every 3 minutes until your heart rate reaches its peak level. You are then taken quickly back to the echo bed where repeat echocardiographic images are obtained. Blood pressure and ECG are monitored throughout the procedure by the cardiologist.
• Common side effects include, but are not limited to, shortness of breath and fatigue.

Dobutamine Stress Echo

• Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before, with the exception of morning medications which should be taken with a sip of water. Blood pressure medications can be taken, but do not take heart rate medications, such as, Beta-blockers, etc. Diabetics should not take insulin that will peak during this time since they will be NPO.
• Resting echocardiography images are taken in 4 different views. A cardiology nurse then infuses the medication dobutamine. This medication is given intravenously with the dose increasing every 3 minutes until the heart rate reaches its predicted maximum based on age. Echo images are taken at each increasing dose of the medication and at peak heart rate. Atropine is a medication that is available for use if your heart rate does not reach its predicted maximum. Once your heart rate has returned to normal, a fourth set of echo images will be taken. The nurse monitors blood pressure and ECG throughout the procedure. A cardiologist is available if a need arises.
• Common side effects you may have from Dobutamine include, but are not limited to, shortness of breath and nausea. Common side effects from atropine include, but are not limited to, a quick increase in heart rate, a dry mouth, and eyes that are temporarily sensitive to light.