An exercise stress test is used by many doctors to evaluate your heart and your risk for a future heart attack. The information provided below describes what happens during this test.
You’ll be asked to prepare for an exercise stress test by not eating for several hours, possibly abstaining from certain medications, and dressing appropriately.
Once you arrive at the hospital or doctor’s office, the test will be explained to you and you’ll be given a chance to ask questions. Specifically, mention any concerns you have about the test and any possible reasons you should not have the test to the staff.
You’ll then be asked to sign a consent form to acknowledge that you understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the test, have had a chance to ask questions, and have had them answered. This form will likely also be signed by the doctor and/or other medical staff member(s).
Electrocardiogram (ECG) leads will be attached to your chest. These are 12 sticky pads to which wires will attach. Men may need to have some of their chest hair shaved prior to attaching the ECG leads to allow them to stick properly.
When you and staff are ready for your test, you’ll be taken to a treadmill or bicycle (American physicians usually opt for a treadmill). Your blood pressure will be measured and an ECG (an electrical reading of your heart’s activity) will be performed.
The treadmill will start moving slowly at a slight incline. The speed and incline will increase every few minutes.
During the test, repeat blood pressures and printed ECGs will be obtained. An ECG recording will also be on the monitor throughout the entire test.
You’ll be asked by the doctor or medical staff how you feel during the test. It’s important to honestly describe any symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, pain, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, palpitations, and anything else that is concerning to you.
The test will stop when one of several things occurs:
- You develop concerning symptoms
- You reach your exercise limit and cannot go on
- An abnormality is noted on the ECG
- Your blood pressure either rises or falls excessively
- You wish to stop
Unless you must immediately sit or lie down due to the above conditions, you’ll be asked to “recover” by walking at a slow pace for several minutes. This allows your heart rate and blood pressure to gradually return to normal. I call this stage the “victory lap.”
Once the treadmill (or bicycle) stops, you’ll be asked to sit down. Several more blood pressure readings and ECG recordings will be done during this recovery stage.
Once you feel close to normal and the medical staff feels comfortable stopping the monitoring, you will be disconnected from the blood pressure cuff and ECG machine.
You’re done. Your results will be provided to you once a doctor has a chance to review them in detail.
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