Stress Test/Nuclear Treadmill
The Exercise Treadmill Test is an electrocardiogram test performed while you exercise with increasing intensity. Usually these tests are done on a treadmill, but a bike can be substituted if necessary, or in some cases a medication will be used to cause the same stress on the heart as exercise. This is a very safe and effective way for the physician to evaluate potential abnormalities while your heart is working hard. The physician will look at the electrocardiogram that was printed while you were exercising, and from this detect possible blocked arteries, or rhythm abnormalities. If your baseline electrocardiogram is abnormal, a "tracer" may be used to increase the sensitivity of the test. The "tracer" is radioactive (it is very low dose radiation and very safe) called tetrofosmin or thallium that will circulate in your bloodstream. If the arteries in your heart are occluded, the tracer will not circulate into the walls of the heart when you are exercising. The physician can evaluate this by looking at the radio-nuclear images (pictures) that are taken by a large "Geiger Counter" like device before and after you exercise.