EKG Stress Tests: What to Expect

So, you’ve just been told you are going to have to go through a stress test EKG; first off, take a moment and relax because it’s a completely painless test! Stress testing is a completely safe and painless form of test that measures how your heart responds in your body’s demand for oxygen.

Here is the brief and the basics regarding an EKG Stress Test

• It’s painless, safe, and does not use any radiation.

• Exercise is the common method used to create increased stress on the heart.

• It’s the second most performed heart diagnostic test around!

• If you are the individual taking the test, you can stop at any time you would like.

While being observed by your physician, you will undergo the EKG stress test. The test itself is monitoring your heartbeat both at rest and during exercise; this exercise is generally performed on a treadmill. The physician will observe you during the entire test while carefully monitoring the exercise level; he or she will record data until your heart has reaches its maximum predicted heart rate. The heart will be monitored during the cool-down phases as well as the recovery phase (which will immediately follow exercise). All of the recordings that your physician will take will be show any subtle changes in your heart’s electrical activity.

The data derived from the test will help your physician evaluate your prognosis after a possible heart attack, verify the effectiveness of any medical therapies or treatments you may have undergone, determine an appropriate exercise program for your, determine your physical fitness level, locate all if any areas of your heart that are not receiving a sufficient supply of blood and oxygen, as well as reveal any possible heart rhythm abnormalities you may be having. It’s safe to say that there is a lot of data that can be derived from a simple EKG stress test.

After the stress test is performed and finished, most patients will and can resume regular daily activities. The test itself also has very little if any risk factors, which can be relieving for many. In the case that you are not able to perform the test in regards to exercise, there are medication-induced ECGs available. These medications will stress the heart temporary for necessary testing. There are a few possible brief side effects such as headache, dizziness, and nausea depending on the medication your physician provides you with. If you have any questions regarding your previous or an upcoming EKG stress test, please contact your regular physician who will be more than happy to go over the entire procedure for you.