Austin Regional Clinic offers non-surgical cardiology services, including stress tests. Housing cardiologists with other specialists and primary care physicians at ARC facilities helps patients receive the benefits of a coordinated team approach to health care.
Heart disease can mimic and aggravate other conditions; therefore, having same-office access to a cardiologist can speed diagnosis and close treatment gaps. Other benefits for patients with complex needs may include faster interventions, and fewer repetitive diagnostic tests such as labs and X-rays.
If your physician has suggested that you receive a stress test, Austin Regional Clinic offers stress testing at ARC Far West Medical Tower
What is a Stress Test
A stress test shows how your heart works during physical activity, revealing problems with blood flow within your heart.
We offer three basic types of stress testing: exercise stress tests, nuclear stress tests, and stress echocardiograms. An exercise
stress test involves walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike while your heart rhythm, blood pressure, and breathing are monitored. A nuclear stress test and a stress echocardiogram both include exercise stress test, with the
added component of heart imaging.
You may hear stress tests referred to by different names,
such as exercise stress test, treadmill test, stress EKG, stress ECG, nuclear
stress test, and stress echocardiogram.
Why Get a Stress Test
Your doctor may recommend a stress test if you have signs or
symptoms of coronary artery disease, or for other reasons, such as to guide
treatment decisions, measure the effectiveness of treatment or determine the
severity if you've already been diagnosed with a heart condition.
Symptoms of coronary artery disease may include:
- Angina, a type of chest pain or discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid heartbeat
- Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
Other reasons to check your heart health may include if you:
- Are planning to start an exercise program
- Have had recent heart surgery
- Are being treated for heart disease
- Have had a heart attack in the past
- Are at a higher risk for heart disease due to
health problems such as diabetes, family history of heart disease, and/or
previous heart problems
What to Expect During a Stress Test
The amount of time the test
takes is dependent on the type of test you are receiving. In general, the
exercise stress test will take about an hour.
- A health care provider will place several
electrodes (small sensors that stick to the skin) on your arms, legs, and
chest
- The electrodes are attached by wires to an
electrocardiogram (EKG) machine, which records your heart's electrical
activity
- Are being treated for heart disease
- Have had a heart attack in the past
- You will then walk on a treadmill, starting slowly and then gradually increasing in pace,
resistance, and incline until you reach your target heart rate set and/or reach your maximum exercise tolerance as determined by
our staff who are supervising the
test.
Both nuclear stress tests and stress echocardiograms are
imaging tests. That means that pictures will be taken of your heart during
testing.
Stress Echocardiogram
- Resting images using an ultrasound machine are
acquired at before walking on the treadmill.
- After these images are taken, you will exercise
on a treadmill or bicycle, to your maxium effort or target heart rate.
When this occurs, you will quickly transfer to the imaging bed so more images
can be acquired at peak heart rates.
- The images acquired at rest and exercise are
processed and reviewed by your cardiologist.
Nuclear Stress Test
- A health care provider will insert an intravenous
(IV) line into your arm that contains a radioactive dye. The dye makes it
possible for the health care provider to view images of your heart. It takes
between 15–40 minutes for the heart to absorb the dye.
- You will then sit upright in a chair with a
camera which will take images of your heart at rest.
- The rest of the test is just like an exercise
stress test. You'll be hooked up to an EKG machine, then walk on a treadmill
- When your heart is working at its hardest,
you'll get another injection of the radioactive dye, again waiting 15-40
minutes for your heart to absorb the dye.
- You will then be placed back on the chair with
the camera which will acquire more images of your heart at high heart rates.
- After these images a processed which takes at
least one day, a cardiologist will compare the two sets of images.
Note: The radioactive dye will naturally leave your body
through your urine. Drinking lots of water will help remove it faster.
Preparing for the Stress Test
Prior to your stress test, you will receive preparation instructions.
- Food: You may be asked not to eat, drink or smoke for a period of
time before a stress test. You may need to avoid caffeine the day before and
the day of a nuclear stress test (only).
- Medication: Your doctor will let you know if it's safe for you to
continue taking all of your prescription and over-the-counter medications
before the test; some may interfere with certain stress tests.If you use an inhaler for asthma or other breathing
problems, bring it to the test. Make sure your doctor and the health care team
member monitoring your stress test know that you use an inhaler.
- Clothing: Wear or bring comfortable clothes and walking shoes. If
you're having a nuclear stress test, don't apply oil, lotion or cream to your
skin that day.
Stress Test Risks
A stress test is generally safe, and complications are rare.
But, as with any medical procedure, there is a risk of complications,
including:
- Low blood
pressure. Blood pressure may drop during or immediately after exercise,
possibly causing you to feel dizzy or faint. The problem should go away after
you stop exercising.
- Abnormal
heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Arrhythmias brought on by an exercise stress
test usually go away soon after you stop exercising.
- Heart
attack (myocardial infarction). Although exceedingly rare, it's possible
that an exercise stress test could cause a heart attack.
- Allergic
reaction. In rare cases, the radioactive dye used in a nuclear stress test
may cause an allergic reaction. Also, a nuclear stress test is not recommended
for pregnant women, as the dye might be harmful to an unborn baby.
You will be monitored closely throughout the test to reduce
your risk of complications or to quickly treat any health problems.
Results
A normal test result means no blood flow problems were
found.
If your test result was not normal, it can mean
there is reduced blood flow to your heart.
If you had a plain exercise stress test without imaging and
your results were not normal, your health care provider may order a nuclear
stress test or a stress echocardiogram. These tests are more accurate than
exercise stress tests, but also more expensive. If these imaging tests show a
problem with your heart,your provider will refer you to a cardiologist if you
are not already under the care of one.
Providers
At ARC, our cardiology team works in close collaboration with
your primary care physicians. As we use the same EMR system, communication is
quick and you will often see our cardiologist the same day or within the week
if your test is abnormal. Procedure
scheduling, follow-up and details are made easy by our coordinated care
philosophy.