The main reason for having a stress test is that many heart tests (such as listening through a stethoscope, taking heart beat and blood pressure, and so on) cannot detect all heart problems – because they’re given while the patient is at rest. Many problems of the heart and circulatory system only reveal themselves when under stress.

Cardiac stress tests are not routinely given to anyone. They’re mostly reserved for those who are considered at risk for heart disease. People with high blood pressure, diabetes, patients with a family history of heart problems, people who smoke or are overweight are all potential candidates having a cardiac stress test prescribed by their doctor. Also, anyone who has ever had a heart operation, will probably have follow-up cardiac stress tests as well. Should you take one or not? Only your doctor can best determine whether it’s a good idea for you.

The thallium stress test is a special kind of cardiac stress test. This test makes use of what is called a scintillation scan to monitor how well the heart functions. The scintillation scan uses a gamma camera for recording in combination with an intravenously administered radioisotope, thallium-201. This isotope is able to spotlight the affected areas surrounding the heart muscle. This lets a doctor identify extremely precisely the regions of the heart which may not be performing well. The supplemental information gained by this scan is huge as well. It shows heart muscle scarring, coronary blockages, lung circulation – just about everything the doctor needs to know to determine if any potential problems are on the horizon.

Even though of most use when a patient is exercising, a scintillation scan can be administered while the patient is at rest as well. If used when the patient is exercising, it can highlight the heart contractions and expansions letting the doctor see, in real time, which areas of the coronary arteries might not be receiving enough oxygen.

A normal stress test starts by having the patient hooked up to an electrocardiogram machine. The patient may ride a bike or walk on a treadmill. The symptoms monitored for are – changes in blood pressure, breathing rate, and heartbeat rate. The technician will also be on the lookout for signs of angina, or chest pain, as well as irregular heart beats. As the test progresses, the incline of the machine will be slowly raised to force the patient to work a little harder. The stress test will normally last between 15 and 20 minutes – enough time to collect all the pertinent data that the doctor may be interested in.

The blood pressure and heartbeat rate will be measured before and after the stress test as well as the amount of time it takes for both markers to return to their resting rate.

It’s worth noticing, however, that cardiac stress test are not 100% fail proof and just because you “flunk” the test, does not indicate that you positively have heart problems. About one out of every ten patients falsely test positive for heart problems. That’s why, if the test shows that you have problems, you may be asked to take the test again.

Heart disease is one of the most frequently seen problems in dogs. Different diseases involving the heart valves or heart muscle can lead to heart failure. Mitral insufficiency is by far the most common type of heart disease seen in dogs.

Mitral insufficiency involves the heart valve that separates chambers in the heart. If this valve becomes diseased and fails to close properly, blood is allowed to flow backward, which reduces blood flow forcing the heart to work harder to keep up with the body’s demand for blood. This over working of the hart eventually leads to premature heart failure.

This disease can result from normal wear and tear associated with age, or it can appear secondary to other diseases, normally periodontal disease. Bacteria from the diseased teeth and gums can enter the blood stream and attach to the heart valve, setting up infection and inflammation. Over time, the heart valve becomes damaged and scarred, making it unable to function properly. The end result is heart failure.

The clinical signs associated with a failing heart include coughing, especially at night and after exercise, breathing difficulties, distended abdomen, weight loss, and exercise intolerance. Your veterinarian can diagnose heart disease by x-rays and electrocardiogram.

Many forms of heart disease are accompanied by heart murmurs. A heart murmur is nothing more than an irregular sound caused by the disruption of normal blood flow within the heart. Heart murmurs are usually classified according to their intensity as heard by a stethoscope. Your veterinarian can identify which portion of the heart is affected by pinpointing the area on the dog’s chest where the murmur is the loudest.

Unfortunately, most cases of heart disease are nonreversible. The treatment for any dog suffering from such is to create an environment that relieves some of the workload on the heart. Special diets and medications can be used to improve the quality of life and extend the animal’s life expectancy. Early detection is the key here. At the first sign of clinical problems mentioned earlier you should get the dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible.