Heart Stress & Heart Rest Test's - British Heart Fou...

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Heart Stress & Heart Rest Test's

HeartMatters profile image
7 Replies

I am due to be having both a heart stress test done and then the following week there is booked a heart rest test !

However I am told in my heart stress appointment letter that depending on results of the stress test I may then not need the rest one done.

Any idea's as to possible causes that would have a cardiologist not require a heart rest test done too ?

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HeartMatters profile image
HeartMatters
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7 Replies
MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

You do not say why you are having the tests done and what type they are, ECG, imaging, etc. A friend went straight from stress test to angiogram to Papworth and had a bypass five days after the (failed) stress test. If it is a stress ECG and the results show no problems they will probably do no more tests. If there are issues you will go on to the "test zone"!

stevejb1810 profile image
stevejb1810

Per michaelJH’s comment, if you fail the first one, the stress test, it is highly likely they will seek to address the cause of failure quickly (by whatever means is deemed appropriate). As far as I can tell, the rest test is a test to how your heart recovers post stress

BigT2013 profile image
BigT2013

Which sort of stress test are u having?

Is it a stress echo?

Is it stress MRI? OR Exercise stress test?

I have had all of the above both before and after open heart surgery would be happy to advise

HeartMatters profile image
HeartMatters

All I know is Cardiology have booked me in to have a drip put in my arm for some medication to get my heart under stress as though I was exercising then scan pictures taken with some radioactive tracer injected.

It's been arranged due to having pain twinges in the chest area and a tachycardic pulse rate when at rest.

Cardiologist said I may have blockages that show up, but being diabetic I could still have blockages that may not show up.

So I am just puzzled with it all.

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

It all sounds a little disorganised and unprofessional to me. Normally information is sent out with the appointment letter. You could always ring the cardiology department and ask. Where a dye is used you should not eat for a couple of hours before. I have been Type I diabetic for decades and had to adjust my insulin to cope. If you are Type II on metformin you should not take it on the day of the test and for two days after as the dye and metformin could overstress your kidneys with serious results. Everyone who had responded has had an array of scans but cannot really add more until you determine the type of scan.

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply to MichaelJH

Fatty deposits can calcify - this is more common where diabetes is present. It also occurs with other diseases and as a side effect of some drugs. CT scans are the gold standard for calcium scoring so it sounds as if yours is not a CT scan. It was after a CT scan that my planned stents became a multiple bypass because of the calcification.

Katboglil profile image
Katboglil

Hi I had this done and nine times out of ten you do not need to go the following week if they capture images on first attempt. Try not to worry it's not that bad of a test.

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