Latest Cardiac Stress Test Costs And Risks You Must Know

A cardiac stress test is a diagnostic treatment, which is done to determine how your heart works when faced with physical stress. In such a test, you will be made to perform such things as walking on the treadmill or riding the stationary bike that adds strain to your heart. This enables the doctors to check on the responsiveness of your heart to any exercise and the level at which it can have an improved activity.

Medical Experts Opinion: Experts of American Heart Association says that a cardiac stress test is necessary in the diagnosis of heart disease in that it helps in the location of parts of the heart that is not getting sufficient oxygen supply either through clogged arteries or other problems in the heart.

The heart stress test is important in giving information on blood flow, heart rate and rhythm. It is particularly helpful in the identification of coronary artery disease (CAD), a disease, which causes the blood vessels of the heart to get blocked or constricted, risking a heart attack or other heart problems.

Why Do I Need a Cardiac Stress Test?

Your doctor might order a heart stress test when you have an illness that produces symptoms of chest pain, dizziness or breathing difficulties or when you meet the risk factors of contracting heart diseases such as family history, high cholesterol and blood pressure levels. The test also works to determine the effectiveness of your heart when it comes to functioning after being subjected to some procedures like having a bypass procedure or a stent inserted.

Case Study: The study that was conducted by American College of Cardiology found that, cardiac stress testing to be effective in detecting heart disease at its earliest stage, even before any symptoms reveal themselves, hence diminishing the risks of heart attack or any other major cardiovascular incident.

Another effective way used to determine how your heart reacts to exercise is a stress test that is conducted to know how your heart can cope with the exercising activities particularly when you are starting a fitness program or dismissed by surgery. The test may give important data on how well your heart can respond to haunt exertion with safety.

4 Types of Cardiac Stress Tests

1.     Treadmill Stress Test

Among the most used types of stress testing on the heart is a treadmill stress test. In a test, you will be taken on a treadmill as the heart is monitored with ECG electrodes. There is an increment in the speed and the inclination of the treadmill to impose more pressure on your heart. This test assists your doctors to determine how your heart reacts to physical stress.

Expert Insight:

William Roberts is a famous cardiologist of American College of Cardiology, who acknowledges that the treadmill test is vital in depicting cardiac illness such as coronary artery in a patient with no signs or manifestations of the disease.

2.     Stress Echocardiogram

Stress echocardiogram is a form of stress test, which involves a standard stress test and ultrasound of your heart. On applying stress to your heart, either by exercise or medicine, ultrasound images help doctors monitor the rate at which your heart is pumping and the flow of blood in case it is sufficient. Such a kind of test is especially helpful when it comes to diagnosing such issues as valve problems or the abnormal movement of the heart wall.

Case Study: According to the study published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association stress echocardiogram can be more precise than the treadmill test to identify heart failure or cardiomyopathy.

3.     Nuclear Stress Test

During a nuclear stress test, a thin stream is injected into your bloodstream to create an image of the flow of blood to the heart. It is a test that is conducted through the help of specialized imaging devices by observing the movement of dye in the heart, so the doctors can determine any clog in the arteries. Nuclear stress testing is best suited to diagnose coronary artery disease and other cases of heart diseases which interfere with blood circulation.

Expert Opinion:

Mayo Clinic indicates that nuclear stress tests are very effective in diagnosing heart disease among patients who do not portray the conventional symptoms and is therefore a very helpful instrument in fast-tracking the condition.

4.     Dobutamine Stress Test

Dobutamine stress tests are performed on patients who lack physical capability of exercising. You get a medication known as dobutamine instead of going on a treadmill which will excite the heart and reproduce the effects of physical activity. It is also a common test used with echocardiogram or nuclear to determine how much stress the heart can take.

Expert Quote:

You should know that dobutamine stress tests are perfect among patients with mobility problems or recovering surgery patients and Dr. Andrew Freeman, a cardiologist at National Jewish Health is so much confident that the patients will still be able to obtain a thorough cardiac study.

Purpose of a Stress Test

A cardiac stress test is chiefly used to determine the effectiveness of the heart when subjected to stress. Doctors can also measure the heart by checking its capability to handle in increase in physical demands which in turn determines blockages, blood flow in the heart and the areas lacking sufficient supply of oxygen.

Expert Opinion:

American heart association has stated that stress tests are very critical in the diagnosis of a coronary artery disease (CAD) whereby the patient may not show any signs of the disease yet he or she may be at a risk of heart attacks or cardiac arrests.

Risks and Contraindications of a Stress Test

Cardiac stress tests are safe in the normal sense but risky. Their most common adverse effects are dizziness, irregular heart rhythm, and chest pains. They generally pass after the test is concluded but sometimes, there are more life-threatening complications like a heart attack or arrhythmia.

Some individuals are not supposed to go through a heart stress test. As an illustration, individuals who have severe heart disease or have unstable angina are not likely candidates to test. Consult your doctor every time in order to ascertain whether this test suits you.

Modified and Chemical Stress Tests

Patients who cannot exercise can be allowed to undergo modified or chemical stress tests. These tests use drug, such as dobutamine, to create an effect of an exercise on the heart. Such tests are generally applicable in patients who have mobility problems or after they have undergone surgery and as such, anyone who cannot stress his heart physically is able to receive the needed tests.

Before the Stress Test

A cardiac stress test requires preparation beforehand. There is a good chance that you will be asked to avoid food and water during a few hours before the exam especially not to take caffeine or alcohol since it can be an obstruction of findings. You are also supposed to wear comfortable clothes and shoes to aid free movement, particularly when you are going to walk in a treadmill.

Clinical Takeaway:

famous cardiologist Dr. Eric Topol advises appropriately preparing to get accurate test results, as caffeine and some kinds of medications might affect the performance rate and heart rate during the test.

During the Cardiac Stress Test

The procedure used in the heart stress test is simply having healthcare professionals monitor the heart rate, blood pressure, and ECG readings as you exercise. The treadmill or medicine will accelerate your heartbeat and doctors will detect the responses of the heart.

Expert Insight:

Cleveland Clinic also advises patients to report any discomfort or signs during a test to include chest pain, dizziness, or fatigue, as there may be complications in underlying cardiovascular problems.

After the Cardiac Stress Test

A short-term observation will be carried out after the test is over in which your pulse and blood pressure may improve. You must follow the recommendations of your physician and report all strange situations, such as throbbing in the heart or dizziness much longer than normal. In the majority of cases, you can resume regular activity a few hours after the examination but under certain rare circumstances, you can experience some complications which may require additional supervision or even new tests.

Case Study:
A 2019 prospective study published in the American Journal of Cardiology revealed that, overall, patients who demonstrated abnormal stress test results were at a much greater risk of improvising on the interventions at the earlier stage and lifestyle adjustments to avoid severe heart events.

How Much Does a Cardiac Stress Test Cost?

The charges of cardiac stress tests may be extremely different in accordance with the kind of test that is conducted. A treadmill stress test can be affordable costing between 200 dollars and 500 dollars; more complex tests can cost between $800-$1500 such as nuclear stress tests. Insurance coverage and location are the other factors that affect costs. It is important to discuss the pricing with your healthcare provider and with the insurance company.

Expert Opinion:
Health Affairs found that the price of nuclear stress test has dropped over the years because newer forms that are less invasive have become available thus resulting in cheaper and more people can afford the heart assessments.

Is a Cardiac Stress Test Worth It?

Yes, it is worth taking a cardiac stress test especially to those prone to heart disease. As some disorders such as coronary artery disease are detected early, they could be treated earlier thus saving people of major cases of heart attacks. The test will be also useful to enable the doctors to know the most appropriate treatment plan regarding the way the heart responds to physical pressures.

What Does It Cost to Get a Cardiac Stress Test

As it was previously stated, the price of a cardiac stress test differs. Nuclear stress test is likely to cost more and a simple treadmill stress test may be less expensive. It is important to verify in your insurance plan to know the extent of your coverage during any heart tests and there is always the need to ask about the costs first.

What is Better, an ECG or a Cardiac Stress Test?

ECG gives the electrical activity in the heart but not the performance of the heart under stress, though it keeps the arrhythmias but it does not give the performance of the heart. In contrast to that, cardiac stress test examines the capacity of the heart to endure physical activity and is more appropriate at diagnosing coronary artery disease or heart attacks. Both tests are supplementary to each other and they are usually done hand in hand to compose a complete heart image.

When to Seek Medical Attention After a Cardiac Stress Test

At the time of a heart stress test is when you feel prolonged chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness or other unusual symptoms; seek medical attention as soon as possible. The individual may have a serious underlying condition which can be prevented by early intervention.

Interpreting Results

As soon as the results of the stress test have been obtained, your health professional will examine them in order to determine the condition of your heart. During a nuclear stress test, radiographs of your blood flow will be examined to detect blockages whereas during a treadmill stress test, your heart reaction to exercise will be examined. Other tests or treatment can be prescribed depending on the outcome.

Expert Insight:

Dr. Robert Harrington, a physician at Stanford University, suggests that abnormal results warrant additional testing to support the diagnosis of coronary artery disease as well as to prescribe effective therapy, including angiography.

Conclusion

A stress test on the heart is critical in determining heart functionality during stress. It assists in revealing such conditions as coronary artery disease and the third outcome of treatment or surgery. Since there are many types of stress tests and each test has its purpose, it is important to discuss with your healthcare provider what stress test you have to perform. Heart health can be dramatically saved by early diagnostic measures, which could save lives and further complication. Consult a professional doctor in order to make your heart be at its optimal performance at all times.

Call to Action:

In case you notice manifestations of the heart disease or you have risk factors such as high blood pressure or cholesterol level, it is necessary to discuss the possibility of the cardiac stress test with your healthcare giver. To prevent your heart and enhance your wellbeing, it is of significance to detect and treat early.