If you've been having chest pain or other symptoms that make your doctor wonder if you have a cardiac condition, they might set up an appointment for a stress test. This is a test that requires you to exercise while the doctor monitors you to see how your heart responds to the stress of riding a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill. This test might be ordered along with other tests if you start having chest pain when you're exercising or running. Here's what stress testing involves.
Your Heart Is Frequently Monitored
You may have an EKG done before you go in for your stress testing so the doctor has a baseline for comparison. When you arrive at your doctor's office or cardiac clinic for the test, you'll have your heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure taken. These will be monitored frequently throughout the test so the doctor can monitor how your heart is responding in real time.
You'll also be hooked up to an EKG monitor, so you'll wear electrodes on your chest. The EKG monitors your heart's rhythm so your doctor can find abnormalities associated with physical exertion if there are any.
You'll Exercise For Several Minutes
The goal is for you to exercise long enough to get your heart rate up to the target rate for your age. Then you'll have a cool-down period where your heart continues to be monitored to see how long it takes it to recover. However, if you have chest pain or get dizzy, the test will be stopped early, so it's important to let the doctor know how you're feeling the entire time.
If the doctor sees concerning activity on the EKG or if your blood pressure rises too high, the test will be stopped. This ensures you can exercise and stay safe. Walking on a treadmill is the most traditional exercise for stress testing, but if you can't walk very well due to an injury, balance issues, or some other reason, you can choose to cycle on a stationary bike instead.
You Might Repeat The Test To Monitor Treatments
When you've recovered and are feeling well, you'll be allowed to go home. The cardiologist has to examine the results of the EKG to determine if the test shows any abnormalities and gives a clue to the condition of your heart. Your doctor may order other types of cardiac tests as well so they can gather as much information as possible about your heart. If a problem is found, and you undergo treatment, stress testing may be done again at a future date to determine how well your treatment is working and to see if your condition has improved.
For more information about stress testing, reach out to a local clinic.
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