What is TMT / Stress Test?
A TMT stress test is a nuclear medicine imaging procedure used to evaluate the blood flow to your heart muscle. The test is also known as a cardiac stress test, nuclear stress test or myocardial perfusion stress test.
Services
Life Care Hospital uses the TMT stress test to help diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD is the most common type of heart disease and occurs when the arteries that supply blood to your heart muscle become blocked or narrowed. It can lead to chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, heart attack and other symptoms.
The TMT stress test can help us determine if you have CAD and its severity. The test is usually done in two stages – an exercise stage and a resting stage.
How to prepare for an exercise stress test
A stress test, also called a treadmill test or exercise test, helps a doctor determine how well your heart handles work. It also shows if there’s enough blood flow to your heart during exercise.
How to prepare for an exercise stress test
- To check for coronary artery disease
- After you’ve had a heart attack
- When you have chest pain that doesn’t go away with rest or medicine
- To see how well your heart functions after a heart transplant or other surgery
- To check for an irregular heartbeat
- To find out the cause of shortness of breath during exercise
If you have coronary artery disease, your arteries are narrowed by plaque buildup. It limits the amount of blood and oxygen reaching your heart muscle.
How is an exercise stress test performed?
The test is usually done on a treadmill or an elliptical machine.
Before the test, you’ll be asked to remove any jewelry and lose clothing. You’ll be given a hospital gown to change into. You’ll also be hooked to an electrocardiogram (EKG) machine, which monitors your heart’s electrical activity during the test.
During the test, you’ll start out walking slowly on the treadmill. The speed and incline of the treadmill will gradually be increased over time. You may be asked to jog or run during the test.
The goal of the exercise stress test is to see how well your heart functions when it’s working hard.