Exercise ECG / Stress Test
An exercise ECG is used to evaluate the heart and vascular system during exercise.
It provides information about how your heart works during physical stress. Some heart problems are easier to diagnose when your heart is working hard and beating fast. Some forms of cardiac disease are easily missed when the patient is at rest, because at rest the patient's physical examination and ECG are often entirely normal. In these cases, cardiac abnormalities may become apparent only when the heart is asked to perform at increased workloads.
The doctor will ask you some questions about your medical history and health and you will be asked to sign a consent form prior to the test.
Electrodes are placed on the chest to monitor the heart during the test and a blood pressure cuff is placed on the arm to take blood pressure measurements. After a baseline ECG is obtained, you will begin to perform a low level of exercise, by walking on a treadmill. The exercise is ’graded‘- that is, every three minutes, the level of exercise is increased. At each stage of exercise, the pulse, blood pressure and ECG are recorded, along with any symptoms the patient may be experiencing.
With a ‘maximal’ stress test, the level of exercise is gradually increased until the predicted 'target' heart rate has been achieved, or until symptoms ( fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, or lightheadedness) prevent further exercise, or until changes on the ECG indicate a cardiac problem.
During the stress test, if you can’t exercise for as long as considered normal for someone your age, it may be a sign that not enough blood is flowing to your heart. Other factors besides Coronary Heart Disease (CAD) can prevent you from exercising long enough , such as musculoskeletal problems or general fitness.
After the test,you will remain monitored until any symptoms disappear, and until your pulse, blood pressure and ECG return to baseline.
Other Tests Explaned
- Echocardiograms
- Contrast Echo/Bubble study
- Doppler ultrasound
- abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
- DVT screen
- Varicose vein screen
- 24hr ECG monitoring
- 24hr Blood pressure
- Sports screening
- Insurance medicals