Why Have an Exercise Nuclear Stress Test?
• Your doctor can learn the condition of your coronary arteries (the blood vessels that carry blood to your heart muscle). • To determine an acceptable, safe heart-rate zone for increased physical activity or exercise. • To evaluate how your heart and blood pressure respond to increasing levels of walking and/or exercise. • To evaluate medications used to control angina if present. • To determine if angina will occur when you walk or exercise. • The Nuclear portion of this test helps to differentiate between ischemia (heart muscle in need of oxygen) and infarction (damaged heart muscle).
