Treadmill Exercise Stress Test

A treadmill exercise stress test is used to determine the effects of exercise on the heart. Exercise allows doctors to detect abnormal heart rhythms and diagnose the signs or symptoms of coronary artery diseases.

A few sticky patches called electrodes are placed on your chest which are attached to an ECG monitor that follows the electrical activity of your heart during the test.

You will walk on a treadmill or pedal on an exercise bicycle while your heart rhythm, blood pressure and breathing are monitored. While you perform the exercise, the activity of your heart and blood pressure readings are taken.

Your doctor may recommend a stress test if you have signs or symptoms of coronary disease or an irregular heart rhythm.

Your doctor may recommend a stress test to:

· Diagnose coronary artery disease.

· Diagnose heart rhythm problems.

· Guide treatment of heart disorders.

· Determine the timing of cardiac surgery.

Your doctor may recommend a test with imaging, such as a nuclear test or echocardiographic stress test, if an exercise stress test doesn’t pinpoint the cause of your symptoms.

A stress test is generally safe and complications are rare. But, as with any medical procedure, there is a risk or complications including:

· Strain on heart(usually temporary)

· Abnormal heart rhythms

· Low Blood pressure

You may be asked not to eat, drink or smoke before a stress test. Strictly, caffeine should be avoided the day before and during the day of the test.

Ask your doctor if it’s safe to continue with the prescription and non-prescriptive medications before the test, because they might interfere with certain stress test.

If you are suffering from asthma or other respiratory disease, make sure to carry the inhaler to the test so that your doctor can monitor your stress test knowing that you use an inhaler.

Your stress test will take around an hour, including both prep time and the actual test time. The actual test takes only around 15 minutes wherein you have to walk on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bicycle. If you aren’t able to exercise, you’ll receive a drug through intravenous that mimics exercise by increasing blood flow to your heart.

First, your doctor will ask you questions regarding your medical history and how often you exercise. This helps in determining how much amount of exercise is needed during the test. Your doctor will also monitor to your heart or lungs abnormalities that might affect your test results.

If the exercise stress test report suggests normal functioning of your heart, you may not need any further tests.

However, if the results are normal and your symptoms continue to worsen, your doctor might opt for a nuclear stress test which is more accurate and provide more information about your heart function, but they are also more expensive.

If your stress test results reveal any coronary heart disease or an abnormal heart rhythm, the doctor can develop the treatment plan for the same.

If you had a stress test to help determine treatment for health condition, your doctor will use the results to plan or change your treatment.

Echocardiogram uses sound waves to display the image of your heart’s chambers, valves and the major blood vessels and detects cardio related diseases easily. A probe called a transducer is passed over your chest. The probe produces sound waves that reflects off your heart and “echo” back to the probe. These waves generate pictures which can be viewed on your display monitor. Echocardiogram uses standard two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and Doppler ultrasound to create images of the heart. Besides, Echocardiography is considered safe as it does not emit radioactive.

Early Detection of problems related to heart defects. The images generated on the display device can help the doctor’s spot:

· Blood clots in the heart

· Fluid in the sac around the heart

· Problems with the aorta, which is the main artery connected to the heart

Your doctor may suggest an echo cardiogram if he or she suspects problems with the valves or chambers of your heart or if you suffer from shortness of breath or chest pain. It can also be used to detect congenital heart defects in unborn babies.

Depending on what information your doctor needs, you may one of the following kinds of cardiograms:

· Transthoracic echocardiogram: A standard non-invasive echocardiogram in which a technician (sonographer) applies gel on your chest and using a transducer he produces an ultrasound beam which echoes from your heart. A computer coverts the echo into moving images and displays it on the monitor.

· Transesophageal echocardiogram: If it’s difficult to get a clear picture of your heart with standard echocardiogram, your doctor may recommend a transesophageal echocardiogram which gives in-depth detail of your heart and valves. In this test, a flexible tube called transducer is slided down your throat and into your esophagus. From there, the transducer can get detailed picture of your heart.

· Doppler echocardiogram: A Doppler echocardiogram measures the speed and direction of the blood flow within the heart. It screens the four valves for leaks and other abnormalities. Doppler techniques are used in most transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms, and they can be used to check blood flow problems and blood pressure in arteries that traditional Ultrasound fail to detect.

· Stress Echocardiogram: For stress echocardiogram, ultrasound images of your heart are immediately taken after undergoing a physical activity like walking on treadmill or riding a stationary bicycle.

Your doctor will look for healthy heart valves and chambers as well as normal heartbeats. Information from echo cardiogram may display:

· Heart size: Weakened or damaged heart valves, high blood pressure or other abnormalities can be easily evaluated by an echocardiogram.

· Pumping strength: An electrocardiogram can help your doctor determine your heart’s pumping strength. If your heart isn’t pumping enough blood that could result in heart failure.

· Damage to heart muscle: During an echocardiogram, your doctor can determine if all parts of heart wall are functioning normally. Parts that are functioning weakly or receiving too little oxygen may indicate coronary artery disease or various other conditions.

· Valve problem: An echocardiogram shows how your heart valves move as your heart beats. Your doctor can determine if valves open wide enough for adequate blood flow or close fully to prevent blood leakage.

Heart defects: Many heart defects including problems with the heart chambers, abnormal connections between heart and major blood vessels can be detected using Echocardiograms. Besides, Echocardiograms can even monitor a baby’s heart development before birth.