Radioactive dye is an essential component of a nuclear stress test, as it’s used to produce vivid images of your heart and your blood flow as the heart is pumping. Radioactive dye is injected into the body to capture images of internal structures and to look for abnormalities.
The radioactive nature of the dye is the main reason why some patients feel uneasy about undergoing the procedure. However, the test is primarily safe, and there are rarely any associated complications.
Why Should I Trust a Nuclear Stress Test?
Below are several factors to keep in mind to relieve any personal anxieties about having a nuclear stress test:
Patients Are Carefully Monitored
Patients are constantly monitored during and after a nuclear stress test. If the doctor administering the test notices anything out of the ordinary, the test will be stopped immediately.
If a patient completes a nuclear test and that test wasn’t interrupted, then it’s safe to leave the testing site. However, if the patient experiences cardiac stress or chest pain, then it is important to seek immediate medical attention.
Tracers that are injected into the patient, though radioactive, don’t pose an allergic threat to anyone who is commonly allergic to iodine or to the contrast dye used in CAT scans. However, there are chemicals attached to the radioactive isotopes which, in extremely rare cases, can cause an allergic reaction.
Pay attention to how you feel following a nuclear stress test. If you do experience anything that concerns you, as with any other abnormal or allergic reaction, seek medical attention right away.
Drinking Fluids Flushes Out the Radioactive Dye
Some patients don’t like the idea of a radioactive substance coursing through their veins. However, the amount of radiation to which a patient is exposed during a nuclear stress test is roughly the same amount of radiation exposure during a chest X-ray.
If the patient is concerned about the radiation, drinking plenty of water following the test can assist in flushing out what remains from their system.
No Side Effects from a Nuclear Stress Test
There are absolutely no side effects associated with a nuclear stress test. If a patient experiences any type of discomfort or odd symptoms, these are simply coincidences.
This doesn’t mean that the patient should ignore those symptoms. Seek a health professional’s opinion. Visit your health care provider or your local hospital emergency room. Inform the doctor and the emergency room personnel that you recently underwent a nuclear stress test.
Trusted Doctor in South Carolina
The factors listed in this article are to help soothe an uneasy patient’s mind. A nuclear stress test is harmless and poses no threat to the patient. Following the test, nothing is required – only what is soothing to an uneasy patient.
SC Internal Medicine Associates and Rehabilitation is a one-stop comprehensive medical clinic. In addition to a thorough physical exam, we provide routine health screenings. Plus, our patients can receive diagnostic testing right here on the premises.
Call us today to schedule an appointment at (803) 749-1111, or fill out our appointment request form now. If you have any questions regarding what to expect from a nuclear stress test or any other type of health test, we can help. We’re here to provide you with the most comprehensive health care from our leading-edge facility.
