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Have a Stress Test Scheduled Soon? Here's What to Expect

Cardiology Specialists of Orange County Blog Have a Stress Test Scheduled Soon? Here's What to Expect
Have a Stress Test Scheduled Soon? Here's What to Expect

A stress test is a diagnostic tool that forces your heart to work harder, which may help diagnose a heart condition that isn't visible while you are at rest. By using physical exercise or medication to increase your heart rate, your cardiologist can see exactly how well your heart pumps and how blood moves through your arteries under pressure.

At Cardiology Specialists of Orange County, with offices in Santa Ana, Irvine, and Newport Beach, California, our board-certified physicians offer several types of state-of-the-art stress testing on-site to ensure you get the answers you need.

Why you might need a stress test

Your primary care provider or your cardiologist may recommend a stress test if you are experiencing symptoms that suggest an underlying heart issue. Common indicators include:

We also use these tests to monitor the effectiveness of your current treatment plan, ensuring your heart is responding well to medication or lifestyle changes.

Understanding our advanced testing options

We offer a variety of specialized tests tailored to your physical abilities and medical history:

Exercise stress test

This is the standard test where you walk on a treadmill. We slowly increase the intensity until you reach your target heart rate while measuring cardiac activity with an electrocardiogram (EKG) and blood pressure cuff.

Stress echocardiogram

We use ultrasound technology to evaluate your heart's pumping action. We perform a resting echocardiogram, have you walk on the treadmill, and then repeat the ultrasound to compare how your heart functions under stress.

Exercise stress Cardiolite®

This combines a myocardial perfusion scan with exercise. An image-tracing isotope called Cardiolite is injected while you exercise, followed by a special gamma camera taking pictures of your heart to find areas with inadequate blood supply.

Lexiscan stress Cardiolite

For this test, we use the medication Lexiscan to increase blood flow through your heart's arteries, combined with imaging to see how well blood is moving.

Dobutamine stress Cardiolite

If you’re unable to exercise, we use the medication dobutamine to increase your heart rate safely while capturing the necessary images to assess your heart health.

Preparing for your appointment

Regardless of the type of test you are scheduled for, it’s important to follow all preparation instructions provided by our team. This usually includes avoiding caffeine for 24 hours before your test and wearing comfortable clothing and walking shoes if you are performing an exercise-based test.

During the procedure, our team monitors you closely. If you develop symptoms like chest pain or significant breathlessness, or if your EKG shows concerning changes, we will stop the test immediately. After a nuclear test (using Cardiolite), we recommend drinking plenty of water to help flush the isotope from your system.

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