WHAT IS A TREADMILL STRESS TEST?

 

A stress test, also called an exercise stress test, shows how

your heart works during physical activity. Because exercise makes

your heart pump harder and faster, an exercise stress test can reveal

 problems with blood flow within your heart.

 

A stress test usually involves walking on a treadmill or while riding a

stationary bike your heart rhythm, blood pressure, and breathing

are monitored. Or, you'll receive a drug that mimics the effects

of exercise.

 

Your doctor may recommend a stress test if you have signs or

symptoms of coronary artery disease or an irregular heart rhythm

(arrhythmia). The test may also guide treatment decisions, measure the

 effectiveness of treatment, or determine the severity if you've already

been diagnosed with a heart condition.

 

Your doctor may recommend a stress test to:

 

diagnose coronary artery disease. Your coronary arteries are the

major blood vessels that supply your heart with blood, oxygen, and

nutrients. Coronary artery disease develops when these arteries

become damaged or diseased — usually due to a buildup of deposits

 containing cholesterol and other substances (plaques).

 

diagnose heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias). Heart arrhythmias

 occur when the electrical impulses that coordinate your heart

rhythm don't function properly, causing your heart to beat too fast,

too slowly, or irregularly.

 

guide treatment of heart disorders. If you've already been

diagnosed with a heart condition, an exercise stress test can help

your doctor find out how well treatment is working. It may also be

used to help establish the treatment plan for you by showing how

much exercise your heart can handle.

 

Your doctor may use a stress test to help determine the timing of

cardiac surgery, such as valve replacement. In some people with

heart failure, stress test results may help the doctor determine whether

 you need a heart transplant or other advanced therapies.

 

Your doctor may recommend a test with imaging, such as a nuclear

stress test or echocardiographic stress test, if an exercise stress test

 doesn't pinpoint the cause of your symptoms.

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