Heart Disease is the number one cause of untimely deaths in the world. Bad lifestyle choices is the main cause for cardiac disease. Fatty food, lack of exercise, stress, smoking and alcohol are bad for heart health. Genetics also plays an important role in heart disease. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the most common amongst the heart diseases. In this the arteries supplying blood to the heart get clogged which reduces the supply of blood to the heart. This results in cardiac arrest and can cause sudden death.
Other heart diseases include defect in one of the heart valves, irregular heart beat, hole in the heart, increase in the heart size, reduced blood pumping etc.
A thallium stress test is a nuclear imaging test that shows functioning of the heart. This test is also called nuclear stress test. In this test a liquid is injected through a vein in your arm. This liquid contains a nuclear material which travels to the heart and then images of heart are taken through a Gamma Camera. The test can be done while the patient is at rest or at exercise. The exercise stage can be achieved through a walk on treadmill or through an injection of Dobutamine. The test gives excellent information about the flow of blood to the heart through the coronary arteries, pumping function of the heart and also about the heart muscle.
Other tests for heart are Treadmill Test, Echocardiography, Stress Echo, Muga Scan, CT Angiography and Cathlab Angiography. Each test gives vital information about the heart health.
Thallium Scan is an advanced test of the heart and is available at very few centres which have the facility of nuclear imaging. The cost of Thallium Scan in India is in the range of INR 5500 - 11000 which is equivalent to USD 80-160. The thallium scan of the heart is done on a Gamma Camera which costs in the range of USD 1,50,000 - 2,50,000 for the machine and is therefore installed at very few hospitals. The cost of other heart tests ranges between Rs. 1,500 - 15,000 which is equivalent to USD 20 - 200. Most of the tests for the heart are non-invasive in nature except Cath Lab Angigraphy.
Most of the tests for heart are done by Cardiologists. These are doctors who have done MBBS, MD (Medicine) and DM (Cardiology). However some of the tests like Echocardiography can also be done by doctors who hold a diploma in Cardiology.