The nuclear stress exam is a more specific test that will test your heart’s response to exercise as well as the amount of blood flow to your heart muscle at rest and at exercise. A small needle will be placed in your vein so that the special nuclear material called thallium can be administered.

You can expect to be scanned by the camera before and after exercise on the treadmill. Each scan takes about 30 minutes and the treadmill portion will usually take about 20-30 minutes. Drug administered nuclear exam is used if a patient cannot exercise on a treadmill due to physical limitations. Various medications can be administered to simulate exercise so that the physician can see how your heart will respond.