What should I wear on the day of the test?
Please wear or bring comfortable clothes and shoes to exercise in.

Can I eat or drink on the day of the test?
Yes. However, DO NOT eat or drink anything except water for 2 hours before the test. Diabetics are allowed to bring a snack

DO NOT drink or eat caffeinated, decaffeinated or caffeine-free products (cola, Mountain Dew, chocolate products, coffee or tea) for 24 hours before the test. Caffeine will interfere with the results of your test.

Should I take my medications the day of the test?
Since many over-the-counter medications contain caffeine (such as diet pills, No Doz, Excedrin and Anacin), DO NOT take any over-the-counter medication that contains caffeine for 48 hours before the test. Ask your physician, pharmacist or nurse if you have questions about other medications that may contain caffeine.

DO NOT take the following heart medications on the day of your test unless your physician tells you otherwise or if it is needed to treat chest discomfort the day of the test:

• Isosorbide dinitrate (for example: Dilatrate, Isordil)
• Isosorbide mononitrate (for example: Imdur, Ismo, Monoket)
• Nitroglycerin (for example: Minitran, Nitropatches, Nitrostat)

Your physician may also ask you to stop taking other heart medications on the day of your test. If you have any questions about your medications, ask your physician.

NOTE: Do not discontinue any medication without first talking with your physician.

If you use an inhaler for your breathing, please bring it to the test.

Guidelines for diabetics
If you take insulin to control your blood sugar, ask your physician what amount of your medication you should take the day of the test. Often, your physician will tell you to take only half of your usual morning dose and to eat a light meal 4 hours before the test. If you take pillss to control your blood sugar, do not take your medication until after the test is complete.

Do not take your diabetes medication and skip a meal before the test.
If you own a glucose monitor, bring it with you to check your blood sugar levels before and after your test. If you think your blood sugar is low, tell the lab personnel immediately. Plan to eat and take your blood sugar medication following your test.

What happens during the test?

• Your test will take place in Nuclear Medicine located at in the Testing Center. The testing area is supervised by a physician.
• During the first part of the test, an IV is placed into a vein in your arm or hand and a small amount of Myoview is injected. Thallium and sestamibi are radioactive tracers – they are not dyes. It will be necessary for you to wait approximately 30 minutes after the thallium or sestamibi injection to allow it to circulate.

You will then be asked to lie very still under a camera with your arms over your head for about 20 minutes. The camera will record images that show the physician how efficiently blood is circulated through the coronary arteries to each area of the heart muscle at rest.

• When the camera has finished recording the images, the technologist will tell you what time you need to report to the Stress Lab for the second part of the test.
• During the second part of your test, a stress lab technician will gently rub (12) small areas on your chest and place electrodes (small, flat, sticky patches) on these areas. The electrodes are attached to an electro-cardiograph (EKG) monitor that charts your heart’s electrical activity during the test.
• Before you start exercising, the technician will perform a resting EKG and take your blood pressure.
• The lab personnel will ask you to start exercising. At first the exercise is very easy. The rate of exercise will increase gradually. You will be asked to continue until you are exhausted. The lab personnel will watch for any changes on the EKG monitor that suggest the test should be stopped.
• Two minutes before you stop exercising, a small amount of Myoview will be injected into the IV. When you have finished exercising, the IV will be removed.
• About 30 minutes after you have finished exercising, you will be asked to again lie very still under the camera with your arms over your head for about 15 minutes. The camera will record images that show your physician how well blood circulates through the coronary arteries to each area of the heart muscle during exercise.

How will I feel during the test?
You will be encouraged to exercise until you are exhausted. It is normal for your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate and perspiration to increase.

How long does the test take?
The appointment will take about 3 to 4 hours.

How do I get the results of my test?
Your physician will mail the test results to you or discuss them with you after a cardiologist has reviewed the information.