What is a nuclear stress test?

According to the Mayo Clinic, a nuclear stress test measures the amount of blood flow to the heart during stress and compares it to the amount at rest. This involves injection of a radioactive dye into the blood and imaging the heart at rest and under stress.

The heart can be stressed with exercise or certain medications. Stress tests can help to diagnose heart problems, such as coronary artery disease or arrhythmia. The stress test can show whether or not the heart is working efficiently or requires treatment. The nuclear test generates powerful images that can identify areas of tissue damage and low blood flow.