Heart conditions are usually risky, with most of them being the leading cause of death globally. However, you can lower your risk through preventive measures like living healthy lifestyles and regular health check-ups. It is also wise to stay alert of heart conditions and warning signs such as shortness of breath to get the right treatments immediately.
Various tests are also necessary to enhance your heart health, including stress testing in Covington at Louisiana Heart and Vascular. The cardiology and internal medicine practice offers advanced care in stress testing to evaluate your heart’s condition. Call their offices today to find out more about stress testing.
What Is Stress Testing?
Stress testing is a test to examine your heart’s functioning during physical activity. Usually, the heart pumps the blood faster the more you exercise.
Stress testing is essential since most heart conditions are easier to diagnose when the heart is under stress. At Louisiana Heart and Vascular, Dr. Aduli recommends a stress test when he suspects coronary artery disease or if you have the following symptoms.
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid heartbeat
- Chest pain
- Irregular heartbeat
A stress test is also essential to assess your heart disease treatment progress, diagnose heart rhythm problems, and evaluate your heart before surgery.
What to Expect During a Stress Test?
The cardiologist and internal medicine expert at Louisiana Heart and Vascular, Dr. Aduli, provides two types of stress tests, exercise, and nuclear stress tests.
Exercise Stress Test
Dr. Aduli performs an exercise stress test by attaching various electrode sensors on your chest, legs, and arms. The sensors connect to an electrocardiogram that measures and records the electrical activity of your heart.
During the exercise stress test, you walk on a treadmill to elevate your heart rate. It would be best to stop when you experience chest pain, dizziness, and other symptoms during the test.
Nuclear Stress Test
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Your provider conducts a nuclear stress test while you lie on an exam table. Then, starts an intravenous line in your arm and injects a dye into your heart. Then scans your heart while you rest using special camera technology.
The procedure also involves exercising on a treadmill to increase the heart rate as the ECG records the heart’s activity.
How to Prepare for Stress Testing?
Before stress testing, your provider advises you on how to take medications and recommends no eating or drinking some hours before the procedure.
It is best to wear comfortable clothing and shoes that support your physical activity.
After completing your test, your provider will review the results to check if you need to undergo more tests or require treatment for your existing heart condition.
What Are the Risks Involved With Stress Testing?
Stress testing is usually safe, with scarce complications. However, it is possible for issues such as:
- Low blood pressure
- Heart attack
- Arrhythmias
Contact a Stress Test Specialist Today
Heart conditions are a primary cause of death in many people, but you can lower your death risk with proper evaluation, prevention measures, and treatments. Stress testing at Louisiana Heart and Vascular allows you to evaluate your heart health during physical activity to bring out any warning signs. Call the practice today to book your consultation.