# Anyone have a chemically induced cardiac stress test? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 6, 2014, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-chemically-induced-cardiac-stress-test/694917 "2014-08-06T02:56:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PurpleClogs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@PurpleClogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleClogs)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-chemically-induced-cardiac-stress-test/694917/1 "2014-08-06T02:56:41Z")
How did it go? Did you die? šŸ˜ƒ Iā€™ve been referred for one but am scared out of my mind Iā€™ll die. Iā€™m only 45. Should I do it? YIKES! ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-chemically-induced-cardiac-stress-test/694917/2 "2014-08-06T03:47:35Z")
The usual stress test is done on a treadmill, is my understanding, and you work up to a Thatā€™s It point gradually. Because I couldnā€™t do the walking I had a chemically induced one. It was not pleasant. Within less than a minute I went from Still Okay to sudden Stop! Stop now! Flushed and clammy and my heart pounding out of my chest. And then we had the exchange ā€œAre you sure?ā€ etc. Everybodyā€™s different. Maybe somebody can report a better experience, but that was mine. They should have a safe word like for intense sex. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-chemically-induced-cardiac-stress-test/694917/3 "2014-08-06T03:57:45Z")
My wifeā€™s experience was similar to\*\* Beckyā€™s\*\*. Even if you did have some trouble, your heart is being monitored every second. My wifeā€™s was done in the Cardiac Unit at the local hospital. As for why you should do it, why are you having it done? ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-chemically-induced-cardiac-stress-test/694917/4 "2014-08-06T04:29:31Z")
I couldnā€™t do the regular stress test (cause I am out of shape), I had a nuclear stress test. I am not sure if that is what you are having or different. It was no problem although I was told I would set off a Geiger counter for awhile. Heart is fine, Cardiologist told me to go away for several years. I wondered if I had to go through airport security if I would look different to them. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-chemically-induced-cardiac-stress-test/694917/5 "2014-08-06T04:56:59Z")
My dad didnā€™t seem to mind his. He had to do the chemically induced one because his knees are crap and a treadmill was out of the question. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-chemically-induced-cardiac-stress-test/694917/6 "2014-08-06T05:19:43Z")
Me three, would have preferred the treadmill. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-chemically-induced-cardiac-stress-test/694917/7 "2014-08-06T05:54:41Z")
Iā€™ve had both, and I much prefer the treadmill. The treadmill felt normal, because you already know what itā€™s like to walk fast or up an incline, and your heart starts beating faster. And if you really need to, you can always step off the damn thing. But during the chemical one (I think it was called something different) I couldnā€™t help feeling that itā€™s not normal, but induced, and I-know-these-are-professionals-but-what-if-they-canā€™t-turn-it-off-and-OMG-this-can-KILL-me! ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-chemically-induced-cardiac-stress-test/694917/8 "2014-08-06T06:27:24Z")
Sheesh, I had the chemical one, since I knew what to expect, it was no big deal and they have a shot to stop the pounding heart thing in its tracks. Shot me up, did whatever they needed to, gave me the second shot. I hung out while they ran it past the interpreter on duty to make sure it got all the info they needed and I went out for lunch with my husband. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-chemically-induced-cardiac-stress-test/694917/9 "2014-08-06T10:59:16Z")
[thread=429109]Stress test thread from 2007[/thread], including my exercise induced stress test. [Wikipedia on stress tests](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiac_stress_test) IANAD, but Iā€™ve heard anecdotally that deaths from stress tests are extremely rare. A notable exception is [Rene Goscinny](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Goscinny), the writer of the famous French comic Asterix. His is the only death Iā€™ve heard of from a stress test, and there have been zillions of tests done. Relax, itā€™ll be OK! ---
**Author:** ![Jungian\_Camisole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@Jungian\_Camisole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jungian_Camisole)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-chemically-induced-cardiac-stress-test/694917/10 "2014-08-06T12:49:56Z")
I had a dobutamine stress test about five years ago. I would rather have ten colonoscopies in a row before I do that again. Everything turned out to be fine, but yeahā€¦I think Iā€™ll pass on the next opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-chemically-induced-cardiac-stress-test/694917/11 "2014-08-06T16:08:54Z")
I had one, and everything was reasonably fine, but I didnā€™t like the feeling. I also had a horrible headache right after and mentioned it to the nurse, who told me it was common and would soon disappear. And it did. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-chemically-induced-cardiac-stress-test/694917/12 "2014-08-06T16:35:18Z")
I had one. For some reason the hospital decided I should not do the treadmill, which I have done many times. I hated it, HATED IT. I have never felt anything like it and honestly thought I might die. The feeling didnā€™t last long but Iā€™d much rather raise my heart the old fashioned way. Like seeing a bear late at night.