How fast treadmill stress test

Treadmill Exercise Stress Test Also called: cardiac stress test, treadmill stress test. A technologist will explain the test to you, take a brief medical history, and answer any questions you may have. Your blood pressure, heart rate, and electrocardiogram ECG will be monitored before, during, and after the test. You will be asked to remove all upper body clothing, and to put on a gown with the opening to the front.

Adhesive electrodes will be put onto your chest to capture an ECG. The sites where the electrodes are placed will be cleaned with alcohol and shaved if necessary. A mild abrasion may also be used to ensure a good quality ECG recording.

Your resting blood pressure, heart rate, and ECG will be recorded. Your responsibility is to exercise to the best of your ability it is not an absolute maximum effort but should be a level higher than you would typically perform at home and to inform the test supervisor of any developing symptoms leg pain, chest pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, shortness of breath. The exercise portion will end once you have attained a target heart rate pre-determined by age unless the EKG shows signs of adverse effects of the exercise on your heart, if your blood pressure becomes too high or if you develop significant symptoms beforehand.

A minimum six-minute recovery period is then done as a cool-down with continued heart rate, blood pressure and EKG monitoring. As soon as these measurements are close to your initial or resting values, you will be disconnected from the monitor. However, if the results are normal and your symptoms continue to worsen, your doctor might recommend a nuclear stress test or another stress test that includes an echocardiogram before and after exercise or medications to increase blood flow to your heart.

These tests are more accurate and provide more information about your heart function, but they are also more expensive. If your stress test results suggest that you might have coronary artery disease or show an arrhythmia, your doctor will use the information to develop a treatment plan. You may need additional tests, such as a coronary angiogram. If you had a stress test to help determine treatment for a heart condition, your doctor will use the results to plan or change your treatment.

Explore Mayo Clinic studies of tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview A stress test, also called an exercise stress test, shows how your heart works during physical activity. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Exercise stress test Open pop-up dialog box Close.

Exercise stress test In an exercise stress test, electrodes are taped to your chest to detect your heart's rhythm. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Stress test. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Accessed April 2, The person will then undergo an imaging test that involves a small amount of radiation, such as a single photon emission computer tomography or cardiac PET test.

The doctor will take two sets of images, each covering 15—30 minutes. They will take the first just after the person has exercised and the second when their body is at rest, either later that day or the next day.

In this way, the doctor can compare how the heart looks and functions normally and while under stress. This test is not suitable for anyone who is or may be pregnant, as radiation may harm the fetus. Anyone who is breastfeeding should let the doctor know beforehand.

In rare cases, however, they could trigger adverse effects. These include a heart attack or changes in heart rhythm that do not disappear after the test.

Statistics suggest that this happens in around 1 in 10, cases. For this reason, doctors do not recommend this test unless a person meets certain criteria. If the results are unclear or suggest that damage is present, the doctor may recommend further tests or treatment. This can be helpful when planning for heart surgery or a vigorous exercise program. The test usually involves walking on a treadmill while a doctor monitors heart activity.

However, people with reduced mobility may need to receive a certain medication to produce a similar effect. Read this article in Spanish. Here, learn about the structure of the heart, what each part does, and how it works to support the body.