Nuclear Stress Test Side Effects

A nuclear stress test is similar to any other exercise stress tests with the only striking difference that it lets your doctor see the images of your heart and the various arteries while you are resting and just after you have exercised. The pictures in the nuclear stress tests can reveal the size of the heart's chambers and its ability to pump blood to the various organs of the body. The information about any damaged cell or a dead muscle in the human heart can be found out with the help of the images obtained in these tests. The nuclear stress test results also provide information regarding the blockage of arteries that is beneficial for patients of coronary heart diseases. In fact, nuclear stress test for hearts, are used to diagnose the causes of chest pains and coronary heart diseases.

How is the nuclear stress test procedure carried out? The nuclear stress test procedure is carried out by two methods. Firstly, your doctor will attach the metal electrodes to your chest and back, and will ask you to run on a treadmill while he will record the readings displayed by the electrocardiogram machine. Secondly, after the exercise part is finished, an injection (containing traces of radioactive material) will be given to you and you will be asked to lie under a gamma ray camera, that will take pictures of your heart. Radiations from the radioactive elements are believed to cause harm to the body, though in this case, the quantity is very small and experts don't consider it to be harmful. Let's now discuss nuclear stress test side effects.

Side Effects Of Nuclear Stress Test
The nuclear stress test side effects are as follows.

Headaches
It has been found that many people complain of mild to severe headaches after the injection containing radioactive material is given to them. Though, the quantity of the radioactive material is negligible to cause some harm to the body, few patients can complain of headaches that may last for few hours. Many people also complain of dizziness and nausea after the nuclear stress tests. It is to be remembered that before going for the nuclear stress test, one must consult a physician for complete medical checkup. Headache is a common nuclear stress test side effect.

Bitter Taste
Few patients have reported to have experienced a metallic taste in their mouths, that is quite bitter and is believed to cause a discomfort to the person. This nuclear stress test side effect has been experienced by a few percentage of people, that have undergone the nuclear stress test.

Chest Pain
One of the most common nuclear stress test side effects is that the person suffers from chest pain or a discomfort in the heart, immediately after the nuclear test.

Erratic Heart Rate
Few people have also faced problems of erratic heart rate and difficulty in breathing after the tests. This is to be noted that every individual responds differently to the nuclear stress tests and so some people can show no side effects after the nuclear stress tests, whereas some can show the nuclear stress test side effects in varying intensities.

Nuclear Stress Test Preparation
Following are the important points that must be followed before the nuclear stress test.

• The person going for the nuclear test is expected not to eat or drink 3 to 4 hours before the test.
• Your doctor will ask you to stop taking medicines (if you are taking any) temporarily, so that the effectiveness of nuclear stress test is more pronounced.
• You will be asked to wear comfortable clothes, as you have to run on a treadmill.

Nuclear stress test accuracy is excellent and better than the other stress tests, and that is why doctors use it to determine accurate results. Nuclear stress test costs are very expensive (relative to other tests). Nuclear stress tests have rarely caused deaths or some serious trouble in any case, however, if somebody experiences the nuclear stress test side effects, one should not panic and must immediately consult a doctor. The side effects are occasional and go away with time. Pregnant women and other people who are unwell, must consult the doctor before they opt for nuclear stress tests.