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.