Prepare for Your Cardiovascular Test
Cardiovascular tests often are an important part of screening and diagnosing heart disease and related heart conditions. If you have an upcoming cardiovascular test at North Kansas City Hospital, we want you to feel ready and confident.
Take a look at our tips and resources for how to prepare for your cardiac test.
What to Bring to Your Cardiac Test
Please bring these materials and information with you to your cardiac test visit at NKCH:
- Photo ID (driver’s license, passport, military ID or other government-issued documentation)
- Insurance card
- A list of your medications
- Past medical records related to your condition
- Lab results, test reports and imaging (on a compact disc (CD)) of any recent tests performed at another facility
- Name and contact information of your referring and primary care doctors
- Questions for your doctor
Guidelines for Cardiac Tests & Procedures
Before you arrive at NKCH for a cardiac test or procedure, you’ll receive guidelines that explain what to do or not to do to prepare for your test. It’s important to follow the guidelines, so your test results are accurate.
See the information below for guidelines specific to common tests.
- Avoid certain foods, drinks and substances:
- No caffeine for 12 hours before your appointment. Includes drinks labeled “caffeine-free” or “decaffeinated”, as well as tea, chocolate, Excedrin, Anacin, all forms of Cafergot®, Darvon® and Fiorinal®
- No juice, water or milk for six hours before your appointment
- No food after midnight for a morning test, but you may have a light breakfast in the morning if your test is in the afternoon
- No nicotine after midnight before your appointment
- Avoid certain medications:
- Don’t take dipyridamole medications (Persantine, Aggrenox, Pletal) or theophylline (all forms) for 24 hours
- Don’t take oral diabetic medications (Glucophage, glyburide, Avandia) or half of your dose of insulin in the morning (do bring a half dose of insulin with you to your appointment)
- Don’t take long-acting nitrates for 12 hours, and remove nitro patches two hours before your appointment
- Hold long-acting nitrates for 12 hours; remove nitro patches two hours prior
- Wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes
- Don't wear lotions or powders
- Bring your inhaler, if you use one
- No nicotine after midnight
- No caffeine for six hours before the exam
- Avoid certain foods, drinks and substances:
- No caffeine for 12 hours before your appointment. Includes drinks labeled “caffeine-free” or “decaffeinated,” as well as tea, chocolate, Excedrin®, Anacin®, all forms of Cafergot®, Darvon® and Florinal®
- No juice, water or milk for six hours before your appointment
- No food after midnight for a morning test, but you may have a light breakfast in the morning if your test is in the afternoon
- No nicotine after midnight before your appointment
- Avoid certain medications:
- Don’t take beta and calcium blocker medications for 48 hours before your appointment (check with your doctor if you aren’t sure which medications are beta and calcium blockers)
- Don’t take dipyridamole medications (Persantine®, Aggrenox®, Pletal®) or theophylline (all forms) for 24 hours
- Don’t take oral diabetic medications (Glucophage®, glyburide, Avandia®) or half of your dose of insulin in the morning (do bring a half dose of insulin with you to your appointment)
- Don’t take long-acting nitrates for 12 hours, and remove nitro patches two hours before your appointment
- Wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes to your appointment
- Don't wear lotions or powders to your appointment
- Bring your inhaler, if you use one
- Have a light meal before your appointment (there are no restrictions on how much caffeine, juice, milk or water you drink)
- Avoid nicotine after midnight before your appointment
- Avoid certain medications:
- Don’t take beta and calcium blocker medications for 48 hours before your appointment (check with your doctor if you aren’t sure which medications are beta and calcium blockers)
- Don’t take your morning nitrate dose
- Wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes to your appointment
- Don't wear lotions or powders to your appointment
- Bring your inhaler, if you use one
Where to Find Us
We provide outpatient services at the following locations. Get maps and directions.
- Pre-Surgery Clinic, 1st Floor Pavilion
- Outpatient Cardiology, 2nd Floor Pavilion
- Tremont Imaging, 5501 NW 62nd Terrace
If you have any questions about these guidelines, please contact the Cardiology Department at 816.691.5401.