You can do a lot to prevent the need for a more serious type of stress test. You may get a quick treadmill or stationary bike stress test once a year and that’s a good idea. If you have not received an annual medical physical ever or not within the past few years, talk to your doctor. If you don’t exercise regularly, then you should do a stress test which may reveal something even if you are symptom-free.

If you do have a condition, your doctor may recommend that a cardiologist give you an echocardiogram to test you out. It gives them a good idea in regard to what is happening with your heart at that time. Your heart will be in action, and the doctors will be able to see the results via the stress test itself. Sometimes problems are not well known in the person’s normal state of rest. Patients will be asked to exercise, getting your heart rate up, thus the purpose of the stress test. Once the heart rate is at exercise state, then they perform the echocardiogram. Your doctor will be able to see if there are any abnormal maladies in your heart at that time. Arteries and vessels leading to the heart, and also leaving it, can show signs of problems if blockages are there. Your cardiovascular system, including the heart, is viewed very much just like a mechanical process.

Essentially, your heart is the main pump and the plumbing consists of your arteries, veins and vessels. This means that measuring the blood flow becomes critical because any restrictions will reduce the flow of blood. The nuclear stress test, which is also referred to as the dual-isotope stress test, blood flow is monitored and measured. With the help of imaging equipment, doctors are able to follow the progress of your blood in your system in real time as well as watching your heart pump. If your blood is being blocked from flowing properly, the heart will have a reaction and start beating in a way that isn’t normal.

Unless you’re showing serious and strong symptoms of cardiovascular disease, you may want to get a second opinion. Many people do that when things are not so clear-cut. This matters and you need to know that few if any tests are 100% accurate and reliable 100% of the time. The diagnosis that you get, even if your cardiologist or physician is sure, they will never not recommend a second opinion when it comes to your health. As a general rule, doctors don’t want to be sued by their patients. What usually happens is the second doctor will agree with the first doctor just to take the most conservative position possible. You might want to go with a second stress test for imaging diagnostic test just to make sure the results were correct.

Preventing the need for a stress test in your life is something that you should have as a goal as you manage your personal health. Having severe stress in your life can actually cause conditions like angina to appear. If conditions like this arise, it may not be serious, but it should be monitored. External factors that cause stress can make your body emulate these conditions which are simply stress-induced.