Theexercisestresstest(stressECG,stresstest,gradedexercisetest,treadmilltestorexercise electrocardiogram)isusedtotestforheartdiseaseanditprovidesinformationabouthowyourheart respondtoexertion.Itinvolveswalkingonatreadmillorpedalingastationarybikeatincreasinglevelsof dificulty, while your blood pressure, heart rate and electrocardiogram are monitored by a doctor. Do You need a Stress Test?We recommend to have a stress test to:Check if there is adequate blood flow to the heart during increasing levels of activity. Assess the function of heart valves if they are not functioning properlyDetermine the likelihood of having coronary heart disease and the need for further evaluationCheck the effectiveness of procedures done to improve blood flow within the heart vessels in people with coronary heart diseaseIdentify abnormal heart rhythmsEvaluate the effectiveness of your heart medications to control angina and ischemiaHelp to know the kind and level of exercise appropriate for a patient.How Should You Prepare for the stress ECG?Before your Exercise Stress Test:Ask your doctor the protocol if you have diabetesWear soft-soled shoes suitable for walking and comfortable clothes. Do not bring valuables.If you use an inhaler for your breathing, bring it to the test.Don´t eat or drink anything except water for four hours before the test.Don´t drink or eat foods containing caffeine for 12 hours before the test. Onthedayofyourtestdon´ttakethefollowingheartmedicationsunlessyourdoctortellsyouotherwise,orifthemedicationis needed to treat chest discomfort the day of the test: Isosorbide and Nitroglycerin.What Happens During the Exercise Stress Test?Beforeyoustartexercising,wewilltakeyourbloodpressure.andwewillplaceelectrodesonyourchestthatareattachedtoan electrocardiogram and we will perform an ECG to measure your heart rate at rest. Youwillbegintoexercisebywalkingonatreadmillorpedalingastationarybicycle.Therateofexerciseordegreeofdifficultywillgradually increase.Youwillbeaskedtoexerciseuntilyoufeelexhausted.Atregularintervalswewillaskhowyouarefeeling.Pleasetellusifyoufeel chest,arm,orjawpainordiscomfort,shortofbreath,dizzy,lightheaded,oranyotherunusualsymptoms.Butwewillwatchforany symptoms or changes on the ECG monitor that suggest the test should be stopped.After the test you will walk or pedal slowly for a couple of minutes to cool down. Although the appointment lasts about one hour, the exercise time is usually between 7-12 minutes. Healthy people who take the test are at very little risk. It's about the same as if they walk fast or jog up a big hill.CONTRAINDICATIONSAbsolute contraindications include the following:Acute myocardial infarction (MI; within 2 days)Unstable angina not previously stabilized by medical therapy Uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias causing symptoms or hemodynamic compromiseSymptomatic severe aortic stenosisUncontrolled symptomatic heart failureAcute pulmonary embolus or pulmonary infarctionAcute myocarditis or pericarditisAcute aortic dissectionRelative contraindications can be superseded if the benefits of exercise outweigh the risks. They include the following:Left main coronary stenosisModerate stenotic valvular heart diseaseElectrolyte abnormalitiesSeverearterialhypertension–Intheabsenceofdefiniteevidence,thecommitteesuggestsanSBPhigherthan200mmHg,aDBP higher than 110 mm Hg, or bothTachyarrhythmias or bradyarrhythmiasHypertrophic cardiomyopathy and any other forms of outflow tract obstructionMental or physical impairment leading to an inability to exercise adequatelyHigh-degree atrioventricular (AV) block
If you would like additional information regarding our services or to request an appointment, you can contact us by phone (952 80 5368)orbyemail.
Theexercisestresstest(stressECG,stress test,gradedexercisetest,treadmilltestor exerciseelectrocardiogram)isusedtotestfor heartdiseaseanditprovidesinformation abouthowyourheartrespondtoexertion.Itinvolveswalkingona treadmillorpedalingastationarybikeatincreasinglevelsofdificulty, whileyourbloodpressure,heartrateandelectrocardiogramare monitored by a doctor. Do You need a Stress Test?We recommend to have a stress test to:Checkifthereisadequatebloodflowtothe heart during increasing levels of activity. Assessthefunctionofheartvalvesiftheyare not functioning properlyDeterminethelikelihoodofhavingcoronaryheartdiseaseand the need for further evaluationChecktheeffectivenessofproceduresdonetoimproveblood flow within the heart vessels in people with coronary heart diseaseIdentify abnormal heart rhythmsEvaluatetheeffectivenessofyourheartmedicationstocontrol angina and ischemiaHelptoknow the kind and level of exercise appropriate for a patient.How Should You Prepare for the stress ECG?Before your Exercise Stress Test:Ask your doctor the protocol if you have diabetesWearsoft-soledshoessuitableforwalkingandcomfortable clothes. Do not bring valuables.If you use an inhaler for your breathing, bring it to the test.Don´teatordrinkanythingexceptwaterforfourhoursbefore the test.Don´tdrinkoreatfoodscontainingcaffeinefor12hoursbefore the test. Onthedayofyourtestdon´ttakethefollowingheart medicationsunlessyourdoctortellsyouotherwise,orifthe medicationisneededtotreatchestdiscomfortthedayofthetest: Isosorbide and Nitroglycerin.What Happens During the Exercise Stress Test?Beforeyoustartexercising,wewilltakeyourbloodpressure.andwe willplaceelectrodesonyourchestthatareattachedtoan electrocardiogramandwewillperformanECGtomeasureyourheart rate at rest. Youwillbegintoexercisebywalkingonatreadmillorpedalinga stationarybicycle.Therateofexerciseordegreeofdifficultywill graduallyincrease.Youwillbeaskedtoexerciseuntilyoufeel exhausted.Atregularintervalswewillaskhowyouarefeeling.Please tellusifyoufeelchest,arm,orjawpainordiscomfort,shortof breath,dizzy,lightheaded,oranyotherunusualsymptoms.Butwe willwatchforanysymptomsorchangesontheECGmonitorthat suggest the test should be stopped.Afterthetestyouwillwalkorpedalslowlyforacoupleofminutesto cool down. Althoughtheappointmentlastsaboutonehour,theexercisetimeis usually between 7-12 minutes. Healthypeoplewhotakethetestareatverylittlerisk.It'saboutthe same as if they walk fast or jog up a big hill.CONTRAINDICATIONSAbsolute contraindications includethe following:Acute myocardial infarction(MI; within 2 days)Unstable angina not previously stabilized by medical therapy Uncontrolledcardiacarrhythmiascausingsymptomsor hemodynamic compromiseSymptomatic severe aortic stenosisUncontrolled symptomatic heart failureAcute pulmonary embolus or pulmonary infarctionAcute myocarditis or pericarditisAcute aortic dissectionRelative contraindications canbesupersededifthebenefitsof exercise outweigh the risks. They include the following:Left main coronary stenosisModerate stenotic valvular heart diseaseElectrolyte abnormalitiesSeverearterialhypertension–Intheabsenceofdefinite evidence,thecommitteesuggestsanSBPhigherthan200mmHg,a DBP higher than 110 mm Hg, or bothTachyarrhythmias or bradyarrhythmiasHypertrophic cardiomyopathyandanyotherformsofoutflow tract obstructionMentalorphysicalimpairmentleadingtoaninabilitytoexercise adequatelyHigh-degree atrioventricular (AV) blockIfyouwouldlikeadditionalinformationregardingourservicesorto request an appointment, you can contact us by phone (952 80 5368)orbyemail.