The stress test is the one tool that cardiologist use with which to diagnose heart disease. Doctors, looking to achieve the best results, must work with highly trained technicians while performing the stress test. There are unique types of stress tests and each one has very specific requirements. The tests that are performed to identify specific cardiac diseases are greatly influenced by the specific tests as well as other conditions.
One thing health professionals want to discover is just how much stress the heart can take before it impacts the behavior or functioning of the heart. The most widely familiar to the general public is the exercise stress test but it has one application that it is primarily suited for.
The nuclear stress test measures blood flow to the heart. This test measures the flood flow of interest in exercise as well as "at rest" condition. The radioactive compounds used in the test to create the images are the reason for the "nuclear" name. There are two conditions that need to be tested which is why it is important to conduct the test at rest as well as during exercise.
This means that the images will capture the heart in a still stressed state. There is a variety of various situations that could compel your health care professional to have you undergo a stress test. No doctor wants to feel that he or she has overlooked something important. As a result they order tests that allow them to eliminate heart disease or may confirm their suspicions. When other symptoms and/or indicators of heart disease are present this is very commonly ordered as a test. These tests are also commonly ordered with patients who exhibit risk factors for heart disease that are above average. Sometimes people exhibit symptoms that are common among different diseases; in these cases regular stress tests may be prescribed.
A stress test can also be used, for example, to determine how much exercise is safe for one to perform. The stress test can be used to make a possible determination regarding any possibilities of an event such as a heart attack. However, since a stress test is primarily used to check the condition of the heart, then obviously the medical professional wants to have it done for a reason. Just because your doctor has demanded such a test doesn't mean you should presume that something is wrong.
An electrocardiogram, or EKG, is used during a regular cardiac stress test. This device leaves a little room for interpretation. EKG results can pick up changes that are not at all related to heart disease. When the results show something out of the ordinary during the "at rest" stage of testing there is something health professionals need to address. Most of the time, medical practitioners in this situation will simply order a different type of stress test. Most patients will find that the traditional test is still very reliable. Every kind of cardiac stress test has its benefits and a possible purpose. They aid in helping medical practitioners achieve the best available diagnosis. Keep in mind that there are optimum conditions involved with each test that will, or could potentially, have an effect on the accuracy of the results and diagnosis.
iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software
