Lake Champlain Cardiology Associates
52 Tom Miller Rd., Plattsburgh, NY 12901  (518) 563-2404
www.lccahearts.com

Stress Tests – Which Kind?

Stress tests are a valuable test to see whether or not there may be serious problems with your heart. There are now a lot of choices when it comes to stress testing.

Regular stress tests, using a treadmill, are relatively inexpensive, take less than 30 minutes, and are very helpful for people who are not at very high risk, have not had a heart attack, and have a normal ECG.

For people who are considered to be at higher risk, have an abnormal ECG, cannot walk well, or have had a previous heart attack, a regular stress test may not be accurate. In those situations, there are 2 main options. Both involve taking pictures of the heart in addition to monitoring the ECG.

A nuclear stress test involves injecting a small amount of a radioactive substance intravenously. This test used to be called a thallium scan; nowadays we use materials called Myoview or Cardiolite. This test is the most expensive, involves an IV, takes 3-4 hours, and exposes the patient to a small amount of radioactivity. For this reason, it should usually be avoided in people under 30-40 years old, especially in women.

Another option is a stress echo. This involves doing an echocardiogram, or sonogram of the heart, immediately before and after walking on the treadmill, and comparing the images to see if there are any changes in the heart with exercise. A stress echo is less expensive than a nuclear test, usually doesn’t require an IV, and takes about 1½ hours. There is no radiation. Unfortunately, some people, especially large people or heavy smokers, may have blurry pictures.

For people who cannot walk on the treadmill, we can administer medication intravenously with either nuclear or echo stress testing.

All these tests are available at Lake Champlain Cardiology Associates, supervised and interpreted by Board Certified cardiologists. We are happy to help you or your doctor determine which test might be best for you.