What is Stress Thalium ?

Answer 1

This topic will help you out:

What is a Nuclear Stress test?

A nuclear stress test is a non-invasive procedure that your doctor will use to determine if you have coronary artery disease (CAD). You will be injected with Thallium, a radioactive material, and the camera detects the rays from the Thallium because it is absorbed differently in healthy and damaged tissue. The nuclear test is preferable because it results in a better image because of the color difference.
How is a Nuclear Stress test done?

There are many blockages can't be determined until a stress test is done. In a nuclear stress test you are injected with radioactive material Thallium, once at rest and once during exercise. After each injection pictures are taken of the heart to determine if there are any blockages or defects. The heart's activity is also monitored by an EKG at rest and during exertion. Your doctor may do this procedure in a slightly different order.
Why is a nuclear stress test given?

A nuclear stress test is used for patients with

* Atypical chest pain
* Left bundle branch block - impulses are slowed or blocked in the left bundle branch of the heart.
* Serious multi-vessel disease suspected
* Undergoing preoperative clearance for non cardiac surgery
* Unable to exercise, therefore at a high risk for CAD

What does a nuclear stress test show?

A nuclear stress test shows:

* The extent of the artery blockage
* The effectiveness of a cardiac procedure
* The level of exercise a patient can tolerate
* The prognosis of MI (heart attack) patients
* The cause of chest pain

What do the test results mean?

* If both the rest and exercise pictures are normal then there is no blockage.
* If the rest picture is normal but the exercise picture is not then there is a blockage
* If both are abnormal then there is damage to the heart.
* Chest pain and shortness of breath can be indications of blockages in the coronary arteries.

How do I know if I can take a nuclear stress test?

You cannot have a nuclear stress test if you have:

* A pulmonary infection
* Coaction of the aorta - a constricted segment of the aorta that blocks blood flow
* Heart failure
* You are pregnant

How do I know if I have a poor prognosis?

There is a poor prognosis if there are

* Multiple reversible or nonreversible effects
* Reverse dilation
* Increased lung uptake of imaging agent more than 50%.

Answer 2

Thallium Stress Test

What is a thallium stress test?

This is a type of nuclear scanning test or myocardial perfusion (mi"o-KAR'de-al per-FU'zhun) imaging test. It shows how well blood flows to the heart muscle. It's usually done along with an exercise stress test on a treadmill or bicycle.

The thallium stress test is useful to determine:

Extent of a coronary artery blockage
Prognosis of patients who've suffered a heart attack
Effectiveness of cardiac procedures done to improve circulation in coronary arteries
Cause(s) of chest pain
Level of exercise that a patient can safely perform
When the patient reaches his or her maximum level of exercise, a small amount of a radioactive substance called thallium is injected into the bloodstream. Then the patient lies down on a special table under a camera ("gamma camera") that can see the thallium and make pictures. The thallium mixes with the blood in the bloodstream and heart's arteries and enters heart muscle cells. If a part of the heart muscle doesn't receive a normal blood supply, less than a normal amount of thallium will be in those heart muscle cells.

The first pictures are made shortly after the exercise test and show blood flow to the heart during exercise. The heart is "stressed" during the exercise test -- thus the name "stress test." The patient then lies quietly for 2-3 hours and another series of pictures is made. These show blood flow to the heart muscle during rest.

What does the thallium stress test show?

If the test is normal during both exercise and rest, then blood flow through the coronary arteries is normal. The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle.
If the test shows that perfusion (blood flow) is normal during rest but not during exercise (a perfusion defect), then the heart isn't getting enough blood when it must work harder than normal. This may be due to a blockage in one or more coronary arteries.
If the test is abnormal during both exercise and rest, there's limited blood flow to that part of the heart at all times.
If no thallium is seen in some part of the heart muscle, the cells in this part of the heart are dead from a prior heart attack. (They have become scar tissue.)
What if I can't perform an exercise test?

Sometimes you can't do an exercise test because you're too sick or have physical problems. In this case, a drug such as dipyridamole (di-pi-RID'ah-mol) or adenosine is given. This drug increases blood flow to the heart and thus "mimics" an exercise test. Then the thallium test is given.

Related AHA publications:

"What Is a Stress Test?" in Answers By Heart kit

Answer 3

You have got very detailed reply above. It is less expensive in comparisonwith angiogram. It is non invasive. But, if you have to undergo bypass, angiogram will be a must. This is available only with bigger hospitals unlike angiogram test. There is one more test known as 3 dimensional cardio cartography test which gives detailed physiological report of the heart. It is still less expensive than stress thallium. Aurveda has got very good medicines for coronary artery disease. There are medicines which can avoid bypass pr angiplasty or stent surgeries.

Answer 4

Thallium scanning is a test to estimate the amount of blood reaching the heart muscle during rest and exercise. It is typically done to determine the cause of unexplained chest pain or to determine the location and amount of injured heart muscle after a heart attack. It shows how well blood flows to the heart muscle. It's usually done along with an exercise stress test on a treadmill or bicycle.

The thallium stress test is useful to determine the following:
Extent of a coronary artery blockage
Prognosis of patients who've suffered a heart attack
Effectiveness of cardiac procedures done to improve circulation in coronary arteries
Cause(s) of chest pain
Level of exercise that a patient can safely perform

Click these links if you would like for more info:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4743
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/tc/Cardiac-Rehabilitation-Exams-and-Tests
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nuclear-stress-test/AN00168

Answer 5

I hope this helps you. To Help with the attacks have you tried meditation? Reaffirm your "safeness": I am safe, my loved ones are fine, there is nothing wrong here. Take a few deep breaths, put a nice warm cloth over your nape of the neck. Sit down and recite a favorite poem, till the feeling leaves. It may take some time at first. Listening to soothing music sometimes helps the feelings pass. Watch your caffeine level, coffee, chocolate,soda pop, that can trigger episodes at times as well. I wish you well, and I hope this can help you.