A stress test can determine if you have heart disease. A doctor or trained technician performs the test. He’ll learn how much yourheart can manage before an abnormal rhythm starts or bloodflow to your heart muscle drops. (Your doctor may call that last thing ischemia.)
♥ What Is an Exercise Stress Test
It lets your doctor know how your heart responds to being pushed. You’ll walk on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bike. It’ll get more difficult as you go. Your electrocardiogram, heart rate, and blood pressure will be tracked throughout.
♥ Why Do I Need It?
Your doctor uses the test to:
- See if enough blood flows to your heart as you get more active
- Learn how your heart medications are working
- Find out if it’s likely that you have coronary heart disease and need more testing
- See if things you’re doing are working if you have coronary heart disease
- Identify abnormal heart rhythms
- See how well your heart valves are working
- Help you develop a safe exercise program
It may be used to diagnose:
- Atrial Fibrillation or Flutter
- Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia
- Palpitations
- Paroxsymal Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Reasons for fainting
- Slow heart rate (bradycardia)
- Ventricular Tachycardia
♥ What happens during the Exercise Stress Test?
First, a technician will gently clean 10 small areas on your chest and place small, flat, sticky patches called electrodes on them. They’ll be attached to an electrocardiogram monitor — called an EKG — that charts your heart’s electrical activity during the test..
Before you start exercising, the technician will perform an EKG to measure your heart rate at rest. He’ll also take your blood pressure
Once you start on the treadmill, you’ll be asked to exercise until you feel exhausted.
At regular intervals, the lab personnel will ask how you are feeling. Tell them if you feel:
Chest or arm discomfort
Short of breath
Dizzy
Lightheaded
Any other unusual symptoms
It’s normal for your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, and perspiration to increase during the test. The lab personnel will watch for anything on the EKG monitor that suggests the test should be stopped.p>
After the test, you’ll walk or pedal slowly for a couple of minutes to cool down. Your heart rate, blood pressure, and EKG will continue to be monitored until the levels begin returning to normal.Before you start exercising, the technician will perform an EKG to measure your heart rate at rest. He’ll also take your blood pressure
Although the appointment lasts about 60 minutes, the exercise time is usually between 7 and 12 minutes.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about the exercise stress test.
♥ Patient preparation
- Don’t eat or drink anything except water for 4 hours before the test.
- Don’t drink or eat anything with caffeine for 12 hours before the test.li>
- Wear comfortable clothes and running shoes.