Exercise Stress Test

Definition

An exercise stress test is a screening tool to test the effect of exercise on your heart.

Alternative Names

Exercise ECG; ECG - exercise treadmill; EKG - exercise treadmill; Stress ECG; Exercise electrocardiography; Stress test - exercise treadmill

How the test is performed

You will walk on a treadmill or pedal on an exercise bicycle while the electrical activity of your heart is measured with an electrocardiogram (ECG), and blood pressure readings are taken. This will measure your heart's reaction to your body's increased need for oxygen.

The test continues until:

You reach a target heart rate
You develop complications such as chest pain or an exaggerated rise or drop in blood pressure
ECG changes show that your heart muscle is not getting enough oxygen

You will continue to be monitored for 10 - 15 minutes after exercising, or until your heart rate returns to baseline.

How to prepare for the test

You must not eat, smoke, or drink beverages containing caffeine or alcohol for 3 hours (or more) before the test.
You should continue all medications unless instructed otherwise (several types of medications are often avoided before an exercise stress test).
Wear comfortable shoes and loose clothing to allow you to exercise.

Tell your doctor if you are taking sildenafil citrate (Viagra) and have taken a dose within the past 24 hours. This is necessary because nitroglycerin, which is sometimes given during a stress test to relieve chest pain, should not be given to a person who has recently taken Viagra. The combination can cause a serious drop in blood pressure.

How the test will feel

Electrodes (conductive patches) will be placed on your chest to record the heart's activity. The preparation of the electrode sites on your chest may produce a mild burning or stinging sensation.

The blood pressure cuff on your arm will be inflated every few minutes, producing a squeezing sensation that may feel tight. Baseline measurements of heart rate and blood pressure will be taken before exercise starts.

You will start walking on a treadmill or pedaling a stationary bicycle. The pace and incline of the treadmill (or the pedaling resistance) will gradually be increased.

Rarely, people experience the following during the test:

Chest discomfort
Dizziness
Palpitations
Shortness of breath

Why the test is performed

An exercise test is most often done to evaluate for coronary artery disease.

Reasons why an exercise stress test may be performed include:

You are having chest pain (to evaluate for coronary artery disease -- narrowing of the arteries that feed the heart muscle)
Your angina is becoming more severe or is occurring more often
You have had a heart attack
You have had angioplasty or heart bypass surgery
You are going to start an exercise program and you have heart disease or certain risk factors, such as diabetes
To identify heart rhythm changes that may occur during exercise
To evaluate the significance of a heart valve program (such as aortic valve stenosis or mitral valve stenosis)

There may be other reasons why your health care provider requests this test.

Normal Values

Normally, heart rate increases in proportion to the workload. Your endurance levels should be appropriate for your age and conditioning level.

What abnormal results mean

Abnormal results may indicate:

Arrhythmias during exercise
Lack of aerobic fitness
Possible coronary artery disease (blockage in the arteries)
Stress on the heart triggered by exercise

What the risks are

Stress tests are generally safe. Some patients may have chest pain or may faint or collapse. A heart attack or dangerous irregular rhythm is rare.

Persons who are likely to have such complications are usually already known to have weak hearts, so they are not given this test.

Special considerations

A stress test is less accurate in young or middle-aged women with symptoms that are not typical of heart disease.

References

Chaitman BR. Exercise stress testing. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 13.

Review Date: 6/21/2010

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