What is a stress test?
Coronary artery disease (hardening of the arteries to the heart) continues to be the
number one cause of death and disability in our
country.
A stress test, sometimes called a treadmill test or exercise test, helps your doctor
find out how well your heart handles stress (or work). As your body works harder
during the test, it requires more fuel (blood and oxygen) and your heart has to pump more
blood in order to keep up with this demand. The test can show if there is a
lack of blood supply through the arteries that feed the heart muscle.
Taking a stress test can help your doctor know what kind and what level of exercise is
right for you.
What is monitored during the
test?
- Your heart rate
- Your breathing
- Your blood pressure
- Your electrocardiograph (ECG)
- Any symptoms that you may have
- How tired you are
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Before Your Test
- When you schedule your stress test, you will be asked to bring a current list of your
medications with you.
- Ask if there are any medications that you should not take before your test.
- Make sure that your last meal is well digested before taking a stress test.
- Make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes and a two-piece out fit.
- Females will be asked to wear a paper cape from the waist up.
- Although you will not have to exercise for long, the entire test takes about 30 minutes.
- You should allow extra time to check in at the front desk.
Preliminary rests are available immediately after the test. The final results
will be sent to your physician within a few days. The information that is provided
by the stress test will help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis of your heart and
develop your treatment plan. Your doctor can review your test results and your
treatment plan with you in detail.
Report any symptoms
- Chest, back, arm or jaw discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Leg cramps or muscle fatigue
During Your Test
- You will be asked to read and sign a consent form
- Small electrodes will be applied to your chest for monitoring your
heart.
- A blood pressure monitor will be applied to your arm.
- A pulse oximeter will be applied to one of your right fingers.
- You will be shown how to use the treadmill. The treadmill
starts out slowly and gets faster and steeper at three minute intervals.
- You should try to exercise on the treadmill as long as possible.
- It is important that you tell the physician if you have any
symptoms.
- The treadmill will be stopped when you reach your target heart
rate or if you have any symptoms.
- Your blood pressure, heart rate and oximetry will be monitored
before, during and after the test.
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