PET scan

A PET scan

The PET (positron emission tomography)  scan involves a small amount of radioactive material that must enter your body. This substance will help to reveal what part of your body has an abnormally high or low chemical activity.

When receiving a PET scan to look for indication of heart disease the goal is to see where there might be areas in the heart that have a decreased blood flow. The radioactive material enters your body intravenously. You might feel a cold sensation moving up your arm. This is typical and temporary.

When trying to determine damage to the heart this test is often so indicate if angioplasty or coronary artery bypass surgery might beneficial.

·         Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) a

·         Heart scan (coronary calcium scan) a

·         C-reactive protein test a

·         Stress test  a

·         Nuclear stress test a

·         Positron emission tomography (PET) scan

·         SPECT scan

·         Blood tests for heart disease

8 common diagnostic tests for the Heart #5: Nuclear stress test

Nuclear stress test   

A Nuclear stress test may be ordered to help your doctor determine treatments for your condition. A nuclear stress test is similar to a regular stress test (discussed earlier) but it also incorporates the use of a radioactive dye that is injected into your blood stream during the highest activity rate of your heart. This dye travels throughout your veins and enables an image (similar to an X-ray) to be taken of your heart muscle. This image will show where the blood flows freely and where it does not. Any damaged heart tissue or damaged or diseased arteries will also show up.

This test will help your physician in treatment and diagnosis of coronary heart disease, enlarged heart, or other heart disorders. This test also measures your hearts pumping function.

A typical nuclear stress test includes images taken of your heart during high activity and at rest. The first images are routinely taken when your heart reaches its active level, and then another set of images are taken about 2 hours later when your heart is at rest.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/HeartDiseaseScreening/story?id=4222350

8 common  diagnostic tests for the Heart

·         Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) a

·         Heart scan (coronary calcium scan) a

·         C-reactive protein test a

·         Stress test  a

·         Nuclear stress test

·         Positron emission tomography (PET) scan

·         SPECT scan

·         Blood tests for heart disease

8 common diagnostic tests for the Heart #4

STRESS TEST

A stress test or an exercise test is used to gather information about how well your heart works when it is exerted.

A stress test may be ordered to aid in diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease (damaged or diseased arteries), or Heart Arrhythmia (irregular electrical impulses of the heart). 

A stress test may also be used to help guide the doctor on the path to treating previously diagnosed heart disorders.

During a stress test you will have electrodes attached to your chest, leg and arm. Tour heart is monitored through an ECG/EKG, and your blood pressure is monitored through a cuff that you wear on your arm.

The test begins by slowly walking on a treadmill or riding a stationery bike. Resistance will increase as the test progresses to raise your heart rate. Tests vary, but ordinarily the desire is to raise your heart rate for approximately 12 minutes in order to thoroughly examine its performance.

8 common  diagnostic tests for the Heart

·         Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) a

·         Heart scan (coronary calcium scan) a

·         C-reactive protein test a

·         Stress test 

·         Nuclear stress test

·         Positron emission tomography (PET) scan

·         SPECT scan

·         Blood tests for heart disease