Cardiac Stress Test
Assessing your arteries
A treadmill exercise stress test is used to determine the effects of exercise on the heart. Exercise allows doctors to detect abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and diagnose the presence or absence of coronary artery disease.
This test involves walking in place on a treadmill while monitoring the electrical activity of your heart. Throughout the test, the speed and incline of the treadmill increase. The results show how well your heart responds to the stress of different levels of exercise.
Tests commonly used to diagnose coronary artery disease include:
Electrocardiogram: to identify problems with heart rhythm or signs of a heart attack
Treadmill testing: to measure how well the heart functions when challenged to work harder than normal (during exercise)
Nuclear perfusion imaging: to identify areas of the heart that are receiving less blood
Echocardiogram: to determine the volume of blood pumped by the heart. This test may be done during exercise or after the administration of medication to stimulate the heart
CT coronary angiography: to identify blockages in the arteries in the heart
Cardiac catheterization: to identify blocked or restricted arteries