Stress tests: MedlinePlus medical test (2023)

What are stress tests?

Stress tests show how well your heart handles physical activity. Your heart pumps faster and faster when you exercise. Anyheart diseasesare easier to find when your heart is working hard. During an exercise test, your heart is checked while you exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike. If you're not healthy enough to exercise, you're given medication that makes your heart beat faster and faster as if you were exercising.

If you're having trouble completing the exercise test in a certain amount of time, it may mean your heart is getting less blood flow. Reduced blood flow can be caused by a number of different heart conditions, some of which are very serious.

Other names: stress test, treadmill test, stress ECG, stress ECG, nuclear stress test, stress echocardiogram

What are they used for?

Stress testing is most commonly used to:

Why do I need a stress test?

You may need a stress test if you have symptoms of reduced blood flow to your heart. These include:

Angina, Kind ofchest painor ailments caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart
shortness of breath
fast heartbeat
Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). This can feel like a tremor in your chest.

You may also need a stress test to check your heart health if:

Are you planning to start an exercise program?
had recentlycardiac surgery
You are being treated for a heart condition. The test can show how well your treatment is working.
Had a heart attack in the past
Are due to health problems such as B. exposed to a higher risk of heart diseaseDiabetes, family history of heart disease and/or previous heart problems

What happens during a stress test?

There are three main types of stress tests: stress tests, nuclear stress tests, and stress echocardiograms. All types of stress tests can be performed in a doctor's office, ambulance, or hospital.

During a stress test:

A healthcare professional places several electrodes (small sensors that stick to the skin) on your arms, legs, and chest. The provider may need to shave off excess hair before applying the electrodes.
The electrodes are connected by wires to an electrocardiogram (ECG) machine, which records your heart's electrical activity.
You will then walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike, starting slowly.
So you will walk or pedal faster, with increasing incline and resistance as you ride.
You keep walking or riding until you reach a target heart rate set by your provider. You may need to stop earlier if you experience symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath,dizziness, orfatigue🇧🇷 The test can also be aborted if the ECG shows a heart problem.
After the test, you will be monitored for 10 to 15 minutes or until your heart rate returns to normal.

Both nuclear stress tests and stress echocardiograms are imaging procedures. This means that pictures of your heart will be taken during the test.

During a nuclear stress test:

You lie down on an examination table.
A healthcare professional will insert an intravenous (IV) line into your arm. The IV contains a radioactive dye. The dye allows healthcare professionals to view images of your heart. It takes between 15 and 40 minutes for the heart to absorb the dye.
A special camera scans your heart to create images that show your heart at rest.
The rest of the test is like a stress test. You'll be hooked up to an EKG machine and then walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike.
If you're not healthy enough to exercise, you're given drugs that make your heart beat faster and faster.
If your heart works harder, you'll get another injection of the radioactive dye.
You will wait about 15 to 40 minutes for your heart to absorb the dye.
You will train again and the special camera will take more pictures of your heart.
Your doctor will compare the two sets of images: one of your heart at rest; the other while working hard.
After the test, you will be monitored for 10 to 15 minutes or until your heart rate returns to normal.
The radioactive dye will leave your body naturally through your urine. If you drink a lot of water, it will be removed faster.

During a stress echocardiogram:

You lie down on an examination table.
The provider rubs a special gel onto a wand-like device called a transducer. He or she will hold the transducer against your chest.
This device creates sound waves that create moving images of your heart.
After these pictures are taken, do exercises on a treadmill or bicycle, as you would with other types of stress tests.
If you're not healthy enough to exercise, you're given drugs that make your heart beat faster and faster.
More pictures are taken when your heart rate increases or when you are working hard.
Your provider compares the two sets of images; one of his hearts at rest; the other while working hard.
After the test, you will be monitored for 10 to 15 minutes or until your heart rate returns to normal.

Do I have to prepare for the test?

You must wear comfortable shoes and loose clothing to facilitate the exercise. Your provider may ask you to do thisdo not eat or drinkseveral hours before the test. If you have questions about preparing, talk to your doctor.

Are there risks in the test?

Stress tests are generally safe. Exercise or medications that increase your heart rate can sometimes cause symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, ornausea🇧🇷 You will be closely monitored throughout the test to reduce the risk of complications or to quickly treat health problems. The radioactive dye used in a nuclear stress test is harmless to most people. In rare cases, allergic reactions can occur. A nuclear stress test is also not recommendedpregnantWomen, as the dye can be harmful to the fetus.

What do the results mean?

A normal test result means that no circulatory disorders were detected. If your test result is not normal, it could mean that there is blood in your heart. Reasons for reduced blood flow are:

coronary heart disease
Scar from a previous heart attack
Your current heart treatment is not working well
little physical fitness

If your stress test results are abnormal, your doctor may order a nuclear stress test or stress echocardiogram. These tests are more accurate than stress tests, but also more expensive. If these imaging tests show a heart problem, your doctor may recommend further testing and/or treatment.

If you have questions about your results, talk to your doctor.

learn more aboutLaboratory tests, reference ranges and understanding the results.

references

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