What is a good score on a stress test?
If your score is less than or equal to −11, you're at high risk of cardiac complications. If your score is −10 to 4, you're at intermediate risk of complications, and if your score is greater than 5, you're at low risk.
Stress testing detects arteries that are severely narrowed (70% or more). This is what causes symptoms. Heart attacks often result from lesser blockages that rupture and form clots.
What does an abnormal nuclear stress test mean? An abnormal stress test usually means that you have blockage in heart arteries. A nuclear stress test result should be interpreted in the light of a person's symptoms, his risk for coronary artery disease etc.
► Scores ranging from 0-13 would be considered low stress. ► Scores ranging from 14-26 would be considered moderate stress. ► Scores ranging from 27-40 would be considered high perceived stress.
“Most people think a stress test identifies blockages to the heart, but it does not,” explains Aristotelis Vlahos, M.D., director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Riverview Medical Center. “It looks at blood flow to the heart muscle and determines if blood flow is adequate or not. The operative word is 'stress.
A nuclear stress test can diagnose coronary artery disease and show how severe the condition is.
Nuclear stress tests are generally safe. But the procedure can cause a problem in about 1 in 5,000 people, such as: Arrhythmia. Chest pain.
The test can show the size of the heart's chambers, how well the heart is pumping blood, and whether the heart has any damaged or dead muscle. Nuclear stress tests can also give doctors information about your arteries and whether they might be narrowed or blocked because of coronary artery disease.
Abnormal results will require further diagnosis and/or treatment that will be discussed with your cardiologist. Some patients may be referred for a cardiac catheterization, which is a procedure to see if there are any blockages in the arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood.
Stress tests are most often used to: Diagnose coronary artery disease, a condition that causes a waxy substance called plaque to build up in the arteries. It can cause dangerous blockages in blood flow to the heart. Diagnose arrhythmia, a condition that causes an irregular heartbeat.
How serious is an abnormal stress test?
Abnormal results may also mean your heart is not strong enough for exercise or surgery. Additional therapies may be necessary to help you avoid a heart attack or heart failure. A heart stress test is a method for evaluating heart function and blood flow.
Of the 171 stress tests, 150 (88%) were normal, 16 (9%) were non diagnostic, and 5 (3%) were positive according to cardiology. According the the Duke Treadmill Score, 119 (70%) were low risk, 51 (30%) were intermediate risk, and 1 was high risk.
Physical symptoms associated with stress can include headaches, high-blood pressure, aches and pains, racing heart, chest pain, muscle tension, jaw clenching, digestive issues, and more. The physical symptoms of stress are plentiful and may vary from person to person.
“Generally a test should last 8 to 12 minutes, unless it is prematurely stopped due to fatigue or abnormal signs/symptoms. Patients who remain on the treadmill for 7 minutes or longer are in good to excellent physical condition.”
Minor symptoms of heart blockage include irregular or skipped heartbeats, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Other symptoms may include pain or numbness in the legs or arms, as well as neck or throat pain.
A stress test can show problems with blood flow within the heart. A stress test usually involves walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike. A health care provider watches your heart rhythm, blood pressure and breathing during the test.
A normal stress test result only shows that there is not a significant coronary artery blockage. A smaller blockage could be present that isn't picked up by the stress test.
Your target heart rate during a stress test depends on your age. For adults, the maximum predicted heart rate is 220 minus your age. So, if you're 40 years old, the maximum predicted heart rate is 220 – 40 = 180.
Nuclear stress tests are ordered by cardiologists and other types of physicians for patients that may be at risk for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), a condition in which the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle can become blocked, which could lead to a myocardial infarction, more commonly known as a heart ...
A CT coronary angiogram can reveal plaque buildup and identify blockages in the arteries, which can lead to a heart attack. Prior to the test, a contrast dye is injected into the arm to make the arteries more visible. The test typically takes 30 minutes to complete.
What is a good METs score for a stress test by age?
A healthy 50-year-old man should have a capacity of at least 9.2 METs; a healthy 50-year-old woman should clock in at 8.2 METs or higher, according to a recent study on women's fitness in the New England Journal of Medicine. For men age 20, 13.5 METs; age 30, 11.4 METs; age 40, 10.3 METs.
| CLASSIFICATION | FROM (mL/(kg · min)) | TO (mL/(kg · min)) |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 49 | 55.9 |
| Above Average | 43 | 48.9 |
| Average | 40 | 42.9 |
| Below Average | 35 | 39.9 |
You will be asked to walk on a treadmill for approximately 5 to 15 minutes. The test begins slowly and increases gradually in speed and incline every two to three minutes. During this time, your heart rate, blood pressure and EKG will be monitored.