To relax for a stress test start by drinking plenty of fluids the day before the stress test and get enough sleep.
Also breathe deeply and slow your breathing which can help reduce your heart rate and your blood pressure and activate your relaxation response.
Wear comfortable clothes such as light clothing and comfortable and sturdy shoes like sneakers.
While feeling nervous and anxious about the stress test is normal it can affect the stress test results.
The throat is numbed before a stress test if the test is a Transesophageal Echocardiogram test where a probe is inserted down your throat to get detailed images of your heart.
The numbing spray used to numb the throat before the stress test is done to prevent discomfort during the procedure and make the throat less sensitive to the probe insertion.
The throat is numbed before a stress test to help you feel more comfortable during the stress test.
The different types of stress tests are nuclear medicine stress test, echocardiogram stress test and electrocardiogram stress test.
A woman should wear a lightweight bra and a lightweight blouse to the stress test and loose fitting pants or shorts.
Also wear some comfortable walking shoes or sneakers to the stress test.
You don't need to wear shorts for a stress test although shorts are best to wear for a stress test but loose fitting pants are also okay for a stress test.
You can wear pants to a stress test although it's best to wear loose fitting pants such as sweat pants or jogging pants.
Shorts are better but pants are fine to wear to a stress test.
You won't get the results of the stress test the same day as it can take up to 24 hours for the stress tests to be gone over and then be returned to you.
If the doctor notices any abnormalities that concern them then they will most often discuss these issues with you.
After a stress test your blood pressure should not exceed a maximum of 250 mmHG in healthy people.
Normal systolic and diastolic responses to stress test exercise and stress testing should not exceed 220 and 100 mm Hg, respectively.
The Systolic blood pressure of >230 mm Hg is generally considered hazardous.
During a stress you will walk on the treadmill for up to 5 minutes to 15 minutes.
The stress test begins slowly at first and then gradually increases in speed and incline every 2 minutes to 3 minutes which is around .82 miles.
During this time the heart rate and blood pressure as well as the EKG will be monitored.
A stress test is good for around 2 years and you may need to have another stress test after 2 years.
The reasons a cardiologist would order a stress test are to assess your blood and oxygen flow to your heart or to check for any other medical conditions such as coronary artery disease or other heart problems.
During the stress test you may have an irregular heartbeat or your heart rate may speed up or slow down.
Chemical stress tests are better than treadmill stress tests as the chemical stress test tends to give better results.
Still a treadmill stress test is also very accurate and is good for those who prefer to do the exercise or can do the exercise on the treadmill.
Chemical stress tests are more commonly used now than treadmill stress tests.
The disadvantages of stress testing are baseline ST depression, LVH, preexcitation, LBBB, cannot be used with certain baseline ECG abnormalities, poor performance (sensitivity 68 percent and specificity 77 percent.
Exercise tolerance tests can help detect an artery blockage in coronary artery disease, but they can't predict things like how much of the artery has thickened or if and when a person may have a heart attack.
You can take a sedative or be given a sedative before a stress test for the scanning although you should speak with your doctor prior to taking the sedative before the stress test.
Also if you do take a sedative before the stress test you should and must have someone drive you home as you will not be able to drive after taking the sedative before the stress test.
You should rest for at least a few hours after the stress test as you may feel tired, dizzy or have a headache after the stress test which will go away within a few hours to a day with rest.
Some people can return to their normal activities right away but some people need some rest after the stress test.
You can drink water before a stress test but the reason you can't drink other drinks before a stress test is because it may cause nausea.
You can drink some water the morning of a stress test but you should not eat or drink other foods or drinks.
Water is okay to drink before the stress test but not other drinks.
Medication that is used for stress tests are Dobutamine and Regadenoson.
Regadenson is a newer vasodilator agent that is approved by the FDA in 2008 and is the common medicine used during stress tests.
The two major complications associated with stress testing are possible heart attack or myocardial infarction and irregular heart rhythms called arrhythmias.
Low pressure is also another complication associated with stress testing as the blood pressure may drop during or right after the exercise.
You can hold onto the treadmill handrails to balance yourself but you should hold onto the treadmill handrails gently.
If you grip the treadmill handrails too tightly then the test results can turn out wrong and be negatively affected.
It's best to avoid holding onto the treadmill if possible during the stress test.
After a stress test you won't get the stress test results immediately although you should get the stress test results within 24 hours.
Although if the stress test shows any abnormalities then the cardiologist will usually discuss any of the concerns with you after the stress test.
A stress test takes 1 hour which includes the prep time and the time it takes to do the actual stress test.
The exercise part of the stress test takes around 15 minutes and most often involves walking on a treadmill or even pedaling on a stationary exercise bike.
The reason they numb your throat for a stress test is to help you feel much more comfortable during the procedure.
During an exercise stress test it will measure how your heart deals with the stress of physical exercise and you will be connected by wires to an ECG monitor as well.
Someone should accompany you to a stress test as you may not feel well enough to drive home and need someone to drive you home after the stress test.
You can sometimes drive yourself too and from a stress test although it's best to have someone to at least drive you home.
The medications that are given to stress your heart can cause you to feel unwell enough to not be able to drive although some people are okay to drive home after the stress test.
The 3 types of stress tests are.
Electrocardiogram Stress Test.
Echocardiogram Stress Test.
Nuclear Medicine Stress Test.
The electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) stress test uses small adhesive electrode patches that are placed on the chest and connected to an ECG recording device to measure heart function during exercise.
A nuclear stress test uses a substance called a radioactive tracer.
It's given by IV and then the doctor takes two sets of pictures of the heart — one at rest and another after exercise.
A stress test usually involves walking on a treadmill or using an exercise bike.
The speed and incline of the treadmill will go up gradually.
During the stress test you are carefully monitored to see what your heart rate and your blood pressure is doing.
During a stress test the heart will be stressed, either through exercise or through the use of medication.
During the test you will be constantly monitored by a Nurse Practitioner or a Physician.
The actual stress portion of the test takes about 10 to 15 minutes, however the preparation takes longer (up to 30 minutes).