Stress Testing

Procedure

You will have a monitor attached and prior to your exercise, a resting echocardiogram will be performed. You will walk on a treadmill for approximately two to 10 minutes (depending on your physical ability). During your exercise, a cardiologist will monitor your EKG and the stress technician will take your blood pressure frequently. At your peak exercise, the cardiologist will slow down the treadmill and continue to monitor you for two to five minutes. The entire procedure will take approximately one hour.

Instructions

1. Arrive 30 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment. You may park in the Hospital Garage located on Brighton Avenue and walk directly across the Sky Bridge located on the 2nd floor to the Hospital.  Please go to Outpatient registration located on the 1st floor of the hospital in the new surgical tower.
2. You will register for your exam at the reception desk in the CardioVascular Institute.
3. Please bring the following items with you:
   • Drivers license or other photo identification
   • Insurance cards
   • Prescription or order from your physician and referrals if required
   • A list of your medications with dosages
   • A copy of a recent EKG (if available)
4. Eat a light breakfast (toast & juice) at least two hours prior to the test.
5. Do not drink caffeine.
6. Wear a rubber sole walking shoe or sneaker.
7. Ladies should wear slacks or shorts (weather permitting).
8. Check with your physician to see if you should be tested on or off your medications.

9. If you are diabetic, consult your physician for any special instructions about taking your medication. Please bring a snack for when you are finished with the test.

    

Nuclear Stress Tests

This is a semi-invasive procedure and is performed to evaluate the blood flow to your heart during exercise.

Procedure

The first day of the test is for the "rest" images. This involves an injection of an isotope and a 30 minute circulation period, where you will sit in a waiting area. You will then have a 16 minute scan of your heart under a camera. Please do not exercise or injest any caffeine before this part of the test. On the second day, or the exercise day of the test, you will have an IV inserted for administration of a nuclear isotope that will circulate to your heart muscle. (If you are aware that you have a difficult time with insertion of an IV, please let us know and we will arrange you to arrive early to allow adequate time.) You will then walk on a treadmill between two and 10 minutes, depending on your physical ability. The cardiologist will monitor your EKG’s and a stress technician will be taking your blood pressure frequently during your exercise. Or if you physician ordered a pharmacological stress test, then a pharmacological medication will be administered via your IV for a certain amount of time. Upon completion of your exercise/infusion, you will continue to be monitored for approximately two to five minutes. There will be a waiting period of at least 30 minutes, and then you lie under a camera, which will scan your heart for 16 minutes. Please plan to be at the hospital for at least one hour for day one of your test (the resting scan) and approximately two hours for day two of your test (the exercise part) .

Instructions for day 1 & 2

1. Arrive 30 minutes prior to your schedule appointment and register in the admissions office located in the hospital's main lobby.
2. Do not drink caffeine.
3. Wear a rubber sole walking shoe or sneaker on the exercise day.
4. Ladies should wear slacks or shorts (weather permitting).
5. Bring a list of your medications with dosages.
6. Bring a copy of a recent EKG (if available).
7. Check with your physician to see if you should be tested on or off your medications.
8. If you are diabetic, consult your physician for any special instructions about taking your medication. Please bring a snack for when you are finished with the test.