Your doctor will discuss the results of your nuclear stress test with you. Your results could show:

  • Normal blood flow during exercise and rest. You may not need further tests.
  • Normal blood flow during rest, but not during exercise. Part of your heart isn't receiving enough blood when you're exerting yourself, which may indicate one or more blocked arteries (coronary artery disease).
  • Low blood flow during rest and exercise. Part of your heart isn't getting enough blood at all times, which could be due to severe coronary artery disease or previous heart attack.
  • Lack of radioactive dye in parts of your heart. Areas of your heart that don't show the radioactive dye have tissue damage from a heart attack.

If you don't have enough blood flow through your heart, you may need to undergo coronary angiography — a test to look directly at the blood vessels supplying your heart. If you have severe blockages, you may need a coronary intervention (balloon angioplasty and stent placement) or open-heart surgery (coronary artery bypass).

Oct. 27, 2015