Tuesday, June 18, 2013
What Is a Stress Test?
Stress Test
A stress test, sometimes called a treadmill test or exercise test, helps to find out how well your heart handles its workload. Because exercise makes your heart pump harder and faster than it does during most daily activities, an exercise stress test can reveal problems within your heart that might not be noticeable otherwise.
An exercise stress test usually involves walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike while your heart rhythm, blood pressure and breathing are monitored. Taking a stress test also helps your doctor know the kind and level of physical activity that’s right for you.
An exercise stress test usually involves walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike while your heart rhythm, blood pressure and breathing are monitored. Taking a stress test also helps your doctor know the kind and level of physical activity that’s right for you.
Why do people need stress tests?
Doctors use exercise stress tests to find out:
- Diagnose heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias). If you have an irregular heartbeat.
- If your symptoms (such as chest pain or difficulty breathing) are related to your heart. How hard you should exercise when you are joining a cardiac rehabilitation program or starting an exercise program.
- If treatments you have received for heart disease are working.
- If you need other tests (such as a coronary angiogram) to detect narrowed arteries.
How to prepare for a stress test?
- Tell your doctor about any medicines (including over-the-counter, herbs and vitamins) you take. He or she may ask you not to take them before the test. Don’t stop taking them unless the doctor says to.
- You may be asked not to eat, drink or smoke for two to four hours before the test. You may drink water.
- Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and walking shoes with rubber soles. Shorts or sweatpants and jogging or tennis shoes are good choices.
- If you use an inhaler for asthma or other breathing problems, bring it with you to the test. Make sure your doctor and the health care team member monitoring your stress test know that you use an inhaler.
What happens during the test?
- You’re hooked up to equipment to monitor your heart.
- You walk slowly in place on the treadmill.
- It tilts so you feel like you’re going up a small hill.
- It changes speeds to make you walk faster.
- You may be asked to breathe into a tube for a couple of minutes.
- You can stop the test at any time if you need to.
What is monitored during the test?
- Your heart rate
- Your breathing
- Your blood pressure
- Your electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
- How tired you feel
What equipment is used?
- The electrocardiography machine will record your heartbeat and heart waves in an electrocardiogram (ECG).
- Wires, or electrodes, will be hooked up to your chest and arms or shoulders. The wires are connected to the ECG machine.
- Near the end, you may breathe into a mouthpiece that will measure the air you breathe out.
Is there a risk?
An exercise stress test is generally safe, and complications are rare. But, as with any medical procedure,There’s very little risk — no more than if you walked fast or jogged up a big hill. Medical professionals are on hand in case anything unusual happens during the test.
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Which types of doctor do I need for my stress test? Would you plz tell me.
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