| If you have a cardiac stress test scheduled, or if | | | | having any symptoms. |
| you have concerns about your heart, you may | | | | The ideal stress test is one that is performed |
| want to understand how a cardiac stress test is | | | | with the incremental increases in intensity until the |
| performed. This article provides you with the | | | | patient is not able to continue, whether that is |
| basic background information you need to | | | | from fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, light |
| understand how these tests are performed. | | | | headedness or chest tightness. The stress test |
| A cardiac stress test is used to evaluate the way | | | | can also be considered ideal or maximal if there |
| your heart and vascular system respond and | | | | are changes noted in the EKG during the test. |
| work together under stress. By stress, what is | | | | Remember, that symptoms are not necessarily |
| meant is exercise or exertion. This helps answer | | | | indicative of a problem, and lack of symptoms is |
| two very important questions, 1. Is there any | | | | not indicative of there be no problem. |
| underlying heart disease, how bad is it and | | | | A stress test that is considered less then ideal or |
| secondly is there only underlying heart disease | | | | submaximal is a cardiac stress test where the |
| that is obvious when the heart is stressed. | | | | patient is only able to exercise to a |
| A cardiac stress test is performed by hooking the | | | | pre-determined level. One may wonder why a |
| patient up to an EKG machine. This EKG machine | | | | doctor would have a test performed purposely |
| constantly monitors the electrical activity of the | | | | that is submaximal. If it is known that the patient |
| heart. There is also a blood pressure cuff placed | | | | has coronary artery disease the cardiac stress |
| on the arm of the patient so that blood pressure | | | | test then is not used to determine the presence |
| is monitored at periodic intervals through the test. | | | | of the disease just to see if there is any |
| Some facilities may also attach a little machine to | | | | progression of the disease. |
| the finger to monitor the level of oxygen in the | | | | Once the test is finished the patient is monitored |
| blood. | | | | until any and all symptoms go away. Technicians |
| Once there is a baseline EKG, which is an EKG | | | | also make sure that all vital signs return to normal |
| showing what your heart is like daily the patient | | | | or baseline vital signs. Once the testing is done |
| will begin low level exercise. This usually means | | | | you are free to go and it can take a few days |
| that the patient is walking on a treadmill and a | | | | before the results are available to your doctor. |
| fairly slow pace or the patient could be pedaling a | | | | You will be contacted by your doctor once he or |
| stationary bike. At three minute intervals the level | | | | she has had the chance to fully interpret the |
| of intensity of the exercise will increase. At each | | | | results. Good luck with your stress test, and |
| interval the heart rate, blood pressure and EKG | | | | here's to a healthy and strong heart! |
| are recorded, you will also be asked if you are | | | | |