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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