Nuclear Cardiology Stress Testing

We perform two types of cardiolite stress tests:

1. Exercise cardiolite stress test
2. Pharmacologic cardiolite stress test. The pharmacologic cardiac stress test can be performed with either Adenosine or Lexiscan.

Can I eat or drink on the day of the test?

• Yes. However, DO NOT eat or drink anything except water for 4 hours before the test.
• Avoid caffeinated products (cola, Mountain Dew, chocolate products, coffee or tea) for 24 hours before the test, as caffeine will interfere with the results of the test.

DO NOT SMOKE OR TAKE MARIJUANA THE DAY OF THE TEST, as these substances will interfere with the results of your test.

Should I take my medications the day of the test?

Since many over-the-counter medications contain caffeine (such as diet pills, No Doz, Excedrin and Anacin), DO NOT take any over-the-counter medication that contains caffeine for 24 hours before the test. Ask your physician, pharmacist or nurse if you have questions about other medications that may contain caffeine.

Discontinue medications as directed by your physician

These medications may include:
Coreg, Toprol, Lopressor, Metoprolol, Atenolol, Tenormin, Inderal, Propranolol, Diltiazem, Cartia, Verapamil, Diltia XT, Cardizem, Dilacor, Calan

Do not discontinue any medication without first talking with your physician.

Guidelines For People With Diabetes

If you take insulin to control your blood sugar, ask your physician what amount of your medication you should take the day of the test. Often, your physician will tell you to take only half of your usual morning dose and to eat a light meal 4 hours before the test. If you take pills to control your blood sugar, do not take your medication until after the test is complete.

Do not take your diabetes medication and skip a meal before the test.

If you own a glucose monitor, bring it with you to check your blood sugar levels before and after your test. If you think your blood sugar is low, tell the lab personnel immediately. Plan to eat and take your diabetes medication following your test.

What should I wear on the day of the test?

Please avoid wearing singe-piece clothing like a one-piece dress or overalls. We encourage you to wear or bring comfortable clothes and shoes for walking.

How is the nuclear cardiolite stress test performed?

Cardiolite is a nuclear radioactive isotope termed Technetium Tc99m Sestamibi. Cardiolite is injected through an IV and it travels in the bloodstream and through the coronary arteries until it is picked up by the heart muscle cells. The areas of the heart that have an adequate blood supply pick up the tracer right away and more completely. Areas that do not have adequate blood supply pick up the tracer very slowly or not at all.

Cardiolite gives off a small amount of radiation that is detected with a nuclear scanning camera. A computer processes the information and produces the images of the radioactivity distributed in the heart.

If an area receives less blood than the rest of the heart (because of a blocked or narrowed artery), it will pick up a lower level of radioactivity and will show up as a lighter area, called a "defect."

As coronary artery disease (CAD) progresses, the heart muscle may not receive enough blood when under stress (exercise for example) which may results in chest pain.  If CAD is limiting blood flow to part of your heart, the stress test with Cardiolite may be useful in detecting the presence and significance of CAD.

Cardiolite is injected while you are at rest and while your heart is under stress. Rest and stress images are taken to allow doctors to compare how much blood flows through the heart muscle during rest and under stress.

The amount of radiation you will be exposed to is comparable to that from an X-ray or CAT (CT) scan. The half-life of Cardiolite is 6.02 hours. This means that half of the dose you are given will decay in 6.02 hours.

Generally, Cardiolite is cleared from your body in 24 hours by natural processes. You won't feel any different after you are injected with Cardiolite. Most patients experience no side effects.

What is Adenosine and Lexiscan?

Adenosine and Lexiscan are pharmacological stress agent used to put your heart under exercise like conditions when you are unable to walk on a treadmill.

You can experience a multitude of different side effects from these pharmacologic stress drugs – like leg cramps, shortness of breath, chest pressure, headache and/or nausea. Please know that these side effects are short lived (within a few min) and are quickly resolved. 

How do I get the results of my test?

After a cardiologist has interpreted your test, the results will be sent to your primary care physician and/or you will be called directly with results.