Stress Testing

What is stress testing?

Stress testing is a diagnostic test that tells your cardiologist how well your heart works when it pumps hard. Your doctor uses various tools (physical exercise or medication) to increase your heart rate during the test.

What are the types of stress testing?

Cardiology Specialists of Orange County is a state-of-the-art cardiology practice that performs many types of stress testing on-site.

Exercise stress test

The exercise stress test is the standard stress test. During this test, your cardiologist has you walk on a treadmill, slowly increasing the intensity of your workout until you reach your target heart rate.

Your cardiologist measures cardiac activity with an electrocardiogram (EKG) and blood pressure cuff. 

Stress echocardiogram

During a stress echocardiogram, your cardiologist uses ultrasound technology to evaluate how well your heart pumps and how blood moves through your arteries. 

Your cardiologist first performs a resting echocardiogram; then, you walk on a treadmill until your heart reaches the target rate. Your cardiologist repeats the echocardiogram to see how well your heart works when pumping harder. 

Exercise stress Cardiolite® 

The exercise stress Cardiolite test combines a myocardial perfusion scan with exercise to find areas of your heart that may not be getting an adequate blood supply. 

During the test, your cardiologist injects Cardiolite, an image tracing isotope with a low level of radioactivity, into a vein in your arm or hand while you exercise. Your doctor then uses a special gamma camera that takes pictures of your heart while lying still on a table. 

Lexiscan stress Cardiolite

Lexiscan is a medication that increases blood flow through the arteries in your heart. Your cardiologist combines the Lexiscan drug with a myocardial perfusion imaging study to see how well blood flows through your heart. 

Dobutamine stress Cardiolite

For patients unable to exercise, the cardiologists at Cardiology Specialists of Orange County offer dobutamine stress cardiolite. During this test, your cardiologist uses medication to increase your heart rate.

Then, they inject the radionuclide into your vein and capture the images needed to assess heart health and function. 

Why would I need stress testing?

Your primary care provider or cardiologist at Cardiology Specialists of Orange County reviews your stress test options at your consultation. Common symptoms that may indicate the need for stress testing include:

• Chest pain
• Heart palpitations
• Arrhythmia
• Shortness of breath
• Low tolerance for exercise

Your cardiologist also uses stress testing to monitor the effectiveness of your treatment plan for your heart condition.

For comprehensive cardiology care at a state-of-the-art cardiac practice, call Cardiology Specialists of Orange County or book an appointment online today.