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Healtheuniversity > English > Cardiac College > Treat Heart Disease > Diagnosing Heart Disease > Nuclear Stress Test

Nuclear Stress Test

Two images of blood flow through the heart. Image A is a full circle showing   complete blood flow through the heart at rest. Image B is an incomplete circle showing   lack of blood flow through the heart with exercise.
(A) Rest
(B) After Exercise

A nuclear stress test can help doctors find out more about the blood supply to the heart and the location of injured muscle after a heart attack.

  • During this test, a radioactive substance and a special camera are used to help determine how much blood is getting to the heart muscle.

The test may be carried out before and after you exercise on a treadmill. The resting scan (“A” below) is compared to the exercise or post-stress scan ("B" below).

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