The stress test is a type of test that is done on your heart to show how your heart works during physical activity.
The stress test is also known as an exercise stress test where you'll be hooked up to wires and usually run on a treadmill to measure your hearts activity during the physical activity.
A cardiac stress test is a cardiological test that measures the heart's ability to respond to external stress in a controlled clinical environment.
The stress response is induced by exercise or by intravenous pharmacological stimulation.
A stress test usually takes about an hour, including both prep time and the time it takes to do the actual test.
The actual exercise test takes only around 15 minutes.
You'll usually walk on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bicycle.
A primary reason why a stress test is performed is to assess the patient's blood and oxygen flow to their heart.
A stress test can potentially diagnose medical conditions like coronary artery disease.
During a stress test, a patient may have an irregular heartbeat or their heart rate might speed up or slow down.
What HAPPENS IF I FAIL THE STRESS TEST?
The short answer is, nothing happens.
It is fairly common for some people to not be able to exercise enough to get their heart to work hard enough.
When this happens, it is impossible for us to accurately assess the patients' functional capacity.
A cardiac stress test can reveal blockages in your arteries through the various types of information it collects.
If your blood oxygen level is below normal, the test reveals that your blood flow is partially blocked.
In the nuclear stress test with exercise, a radionuclide, such as thallium or technetium, is injected into a vein in the hand or arm.
When the radionuclide has circulated through the blood stream, a gamma camera takes pictures of the heart while the patient is lying down.
This is known as the “rest scan” of the heart.
You are also given medicine (local anesthetic) to numb your throat.
This helps you feel more comfortable during the procedure.
An exercise stress test measures how your heart deals with the stress of physical activity.
You will not be allowed to eat or drink until the medicine used to numb your throat wears off.
This usually takes 30 to 60 minutes.
You may not drive yourself home after your test.
Before coming for your test, arrange for someone to take you home afterwards.