Medical Health Encyclopedia

Thallium and sestamibi stress tests

The entire nuclear imaging test may last about 4 hours, so you will need to prepare accordingly. At some point during your stay for the test you will likely be given a long break and be allowed to have lunch or a snack at a nearby cafeteria. During the test you will not be sedated and therefore once the test is completed you will be able to drive yourself home.

How the test will feel:

You may feel the same symptoms as with a regular stress test or with a session of strenuous exercise: fatigue, muscle cramps in your legs or feet, some shortness of breath, or chest pain.

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If you will not be exercising but will be receiving a vasodilator injection, you may feel a sting as the medication goes into the IV, which may be followed by a feeling of warmth. Some patients also develop a headache or nausea.

If any of the symptoms listed above appear during your test, let the lab personnel know immediately.

Why the test is performed:

The thallium and sestamibi stress tests are indicated when your doctor needs to evaluate for example:

• how well your heart responds to exercise
• the cause of your chest pains
• the degree of blockage in your coronary arteries
• what to expect after you have had a heart attack
• how well a heart procedure done to improve blood flow in your coronary arteries is working

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