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Our Services / Stress Test

Cardiovascular Disease Specialist & Interventional Cardiology in Brandon, Sun City Center, Sun City Center, Riverview, Riverview and EAST TAMPA, Tampa, FL

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Stress Test

When you experience shortness of breath or other signs of heart disease, a nuclear stress test can be a useful diagnostic tool. At Bay Area Cardiology Associates PA, the cardiology specialists use advanced technologies to evaluate the health of your heart when you’re exercising and when you’re at rest. Call the office in Brandon, Sun City Center, Riverview, or Tampa, Florida, today to set up a consultation for a nuclear stress test. You can also schedule an appointment online.


Stress Test Q & A


What is a stress test?

A nuclear stress test is a diagnostic procedure that uses radioactive dye and imaging technology to evaluate the blood flow to your heart.

This test allows the Bay Area Cardiology Associates PA providers to measure how well your blood flows into your heart while you’re at rest and when you’re physically active.

Why would I need a stress test?

You need a nuclear stress test if you have shortness of breath, chest pain, or other symptoms of heart disease.

The Bay Area Cardiology Associates PA physicians use the results of a nuclear stress test to diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD develops when the arteries that supply the blood to your heart become diseased, damaged, or blocked by cholesterol.

A nuclear stress test can also be used to monitor your condition once you start treatment. You might need additional stress tests to ensure that your treatment is working well and determine how much exercise your heart can handle.

What can I expect during a stress test?

Before your nuclear stress test, you might need to avoid food and drink for several hours. You might also need to stop taking some medications if your cardiologist asks you to.

The providers inject a radioactive tracer into your body through an intravenous (IV) line that travels to your heart. They then place electrodes on your chest, arms, and legs to record electrical signals from your heart during the test.

The providers take images of your heart with a positron emission technology (PET) scanner while you’re lying on an exam table and while you’re exercising. If you’re not able to walk on a treadmill, the providers can inject a medication that will speed up your heart as if you’re being physically active.

After your test is complete, you can expect to go home and get back to your usual activities without limitations. If your stress test reveals a problem with your heart health, the providers at Bay Cardiology Associates PA will recommend additional testing to confirm your condition. They can also customize a plan to treat it.

Call the Bay Cardiology Associates PA office nearest you today or book a consultation online to find out more about the diagnostic benefits of a nuclear stress test.

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Bay Area Cardiology Associates PA