A thallium stress test allows doctors to determine the status and health of the blood flow into the heart muscle. It is performed with a nuclear imaging device in a series of steps either at a medical center or a physician’s office.
Preventive cardiology Miami Beach specialists at Cardiovascular Longevity conduct a multitude of diagnostic test as part of their preventive heart disease care and the thallium stress test is part of their nuclear medicine cardiology testing services.
The first stage of the test involves an intravenous line (IV) so that a radiopharmaceutical, such as thallium or sestamibi, can be injected into one of the patient’s veins as the patient lies down. A camera especially designed for this process will scan the heart and create images to show how the radiopharmaceutical traveled through the blood and into the heart.
During the next stage of the testing that patient performs physical activity either by walking on a treadmill or pedaling on an exercise machine. First, the test is performed at a slow speed and then the patient will have to perform more vigorous activity such as walking on an incline or by pedaling faster. Cardiologist North Miami Beach professionals and other cardiology centers first make sure that patients can perform physical activity before this part of the exam. If a patient cannot exercise, then the doctor will use a vasodilator, medications that open blood vessels.
The patient’s blood pressure and heart rhythm are monitored while the patient exercises. At the point where the patient is exercising more vigorously, another radiopharmaceutical is injected to create images of the blood flood.
The two sets of images are then compared to each other in order to determine if the patient is at risk for heart disease or in the case that the patient has heart disease to see if it has further progressed.
Cardiovascular Longevity cardiologist Aventura practice offers a number of other cardiology diagnostic testing. To learn more about cardiology screening and diagnostics read Doctors Recommend Vascular Age Testing for Diabetics
If you think that you are at risk for heart disease, you should get a thallium stress test done by your cardiologist.
I guess is really important to get a test like this if you know you have a history of heart disease in your family.
GREAT INFO, THANKS!
Is thallium stress testing recommended at a certain age?