Prueba de esfuerzo a través de la medicina nuclear

Si su corazón muestra signos de que no está latiendo como debería, la prueba de esfuerzo con talio puede revelar el problema. También se conoce como prueba de esfuerzo nuclear o prueba de esfuerzo cardíaco. Es un procedimiento mínimamente invasivo que permite observar en gran medida el rendimiento sanguíneo del corazón, especialmente, cómo fluye la sangre a través de su corazón durante los períodos de reposo y ejercicio.

Goshen Heart & Vascular Center proporciona a las comunidades a las que servimos servicios de diagnóstico cardíaco integrales y ofrece pruebas de esfuerzo con talio en Goshen, IN. Consulte con su proveedor de atención médica primaria sobre la prueba de detección cardíaca en nuestro centro. Si no tiene un proveedor de atención médica primaria, llame al (574) 537-5000 para obtener una referencia médica.

¿Necesito la prueba de esfuerzo con talio?

Los resultados de su prueba de esfuerzo con talio ayudarán a su equipo de atención médica a diagnosticar, tratar y controlar la afección cardiovascular.

Puede necesitar la prueba de esfuerzo con talio si:

• No puede mantener un alto nivel de intensidad durante el ejercicio.
• Tiene dolor en el pecho o arritmia.
• Su médico necesita evaluar algún tratamiento cardíaco previo.
• Le pusieron recientemente una endoprótesis.​

Su médico puede utilizar la prueba de esfuerzo nuclear junto con otra prueba cardíaca para obtener un panorama completo de su salud cardíaca.

How do I prepare for a nuclear cardiac stress test?

Your healthcare provider will give you specific instructions to help you prepare for the test. The instructions may include:

• Avoid foods, beverages and medications that contain caffeine for 12 hours before the test. Examples include coffee, tea, soft drinks, Excedrin medication, and chocolate. This includes decaffeinated versions of coffee, tea, and soda which have enough caffeine to alter the accuracy of your test.
• Bring anything with you that helps you breathe, such as your inhaler
• Fast (don’t eat or drink anything but water) for a few hours beforehand
• Inform your healthcare provider about any medications you take, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, illegal drugs and supplements
• Wear sneakers and comfortable, loose clothes

Your healthcare provider may ask you to skip certain medications before the test or change the dose. But don’t change the way you take prescription medications without talking to your doctor first.

What can I expect during a nuclear stress test?

Your nuclear stress test will be performed at Goshen Hospital.

A healthcare provider will:

1. Insert an IV into your arm to inject the tracer into your bloodstream
2. Wait approximately 30 minutes for the tracer to circulate and reach the heart
3. Place patches called electrodes on your skin, usually on the chest, arms and legs (They may have to shave some hair so the patches stick.)
4. Connect the patches to an EKG machine to measure the heart’s electrical activity
5. Put a cuff on your arm to monitor your blood pressure
6. Ask you to lie on a table and stay still so they can take pictures with a special camera (You will lie on your back with your arms up by your head.)
7. Instruct you to exercise on a treadmill, starting slowly and then increasing the intensity
8. Ask you to keep exercising until you reach a target heart rate or experience bothersome symptoms (You can stop the test anytime you aren’t comfortable continuing.)
9. Inject more tracer into your bloodstream
10. Ask you to lie down on a table again to take a second set of images after exercise and a break, where you may eat and drink again

What if I can’t exercise for a nuclear stress test?

If you have a medical condition that prevents you from exercising, a healthcare provider can inject a medication into your arm. The medication stimulates the heart and increases blood flow to mimic exercise conditions.

How long does a nuclear stress test take?

A nuclear stress test usually takes about three or four hours.

What should I avoid after a nuclear cardiology stress test?

People usually can go back to normal activities immediately. You may want to drink plenty of fluids to help flush the tracer out of your body.

What are the risks of nuclear stress testing?

Nuclear stress tests are generally safe. But the procedure can cause a problem in about 1 in 5,000 people, such as:

• Arrhythmia
• Chest pain
• Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)

The procedure involves a small amount of radiation exposure. Radiation exposure can cause cancer, but scientists believe that requires large or frequent doses.

You should not have a nuclear stress test if you have certain conditions that are severe or not controlled, such as:

• Angina
• Aortic dissection
• Aortic stenosis (narrowed aorta).
• Arrhythmia.
• Congestive heart failure.
• Heart infection
• Pulmonary embolism
• Pulmonary hypertension