Expert Cardiology Services

At Coastal Cardiovascular Institute, Inc., we prioritize personalized care and patient education. We work closely with each patient to develop an individualized treatment plan that best meets their needs.

To schedule a stress test at Coastal Cardiovascular Institute, Inc., a physician referral is typically required. Once we receive the referral, we will contact you to schedule a test at a convenient time.

To schedule a stress test at Coastal Cardiovascular Institute, Inc., a physician referral is typically required. Once we receive the referral, we will contact you to schedule a test at a convenient time.

• Digitalis or Lanoxin
• Sotalol or Betapace
• Atenolol or Tenormin
• Metoprolol or Lopressor/Toprol
• Carvedilol or Coreg
• Pindolol or Visken
• Timolol or Blocadren
• Propranolol or Inderal
• Carteolol or Cartrol
• Betaxolol or Kerlone
• Nadolol or Corgard

This test is designed to: help your Doctor determine if your chest pain is coming from your heart not getting enough blood supply, to evaluate your exercise capacity, to test the effectiveness of your medical therapy, to see if you may have any exercise induced cardiac electrical problems or to follow up on previous stent, angioplasty or bypass procedures prior to cardiac rehabilitation.

There are a two different stress tests that provide different information to your cardiologist: exercise stress testing and pharmacological stress testing. The former derives stress from loading the heart with exercise and the latter chemically elicits stress response from the heart. 

Do not eat within 6 hours before testing

First of all, wear something that you can exercise comfortably in.  This may mean shorts, T-shirt, loose fitting pants and most importantly, jogging or tennis shoes.  Ladies should wear a comfortable brassiere, which you will need to remove it is a stress echocardiogram for the ultrasound to be performed.  If your test is scheduled in the morning, don't eat breakfast (diabetics may need to decrease their morning diabetes medication).  If scheduled in the afternoon, eat a light breakfast and skip lunch. 

You will exercise on a treadmill or a recumbent stationary using a protocol to slowly and steadily put more stress on your heart.  You should expect to get hot, sweaty and fatigued by the end.  It is very important to get your heart rate up to a certain level which is determined by your age, otherwise the test may be inconclusive.  FOR THIS REASON, IF YOU ARE TAKING ANY OF THE MEDICATIONS LISTED BELOW, PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THEM THE NIGHT BEFORE, OR THE MORNING OF YOUR STRESS TEST. 

IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO NOT JUMP OFF THE TREADMILL UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO BY THE DOCTOR!  Failure to follow these instructions could lead to SERIOUS injury!

Do not eat within 6 hours before testing

DOBUTAMINE STRESS TESTING: 
Dobutamine is an agent that will make your heart pound harder and faster, without exercising.  You will likely feel palpitations and it may give you chest discomfort and a headache.   It is a short acting agent, and will be out of your system in a few minutes.  There is an antidote if you should have problems tolerating the infusion.  The antidote is a drug called a Beta Blocker, that's why the list of medications at the bottom should be avoided for this test as well.