Exercise Stress Test (EST)
A stress exercise test shows how the heart works during physical activity. During exercise, the heart pumps harder and faster, which can reveal problems with blood flow within the heart. A stress test usually involves walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike. During the test, the heart's rhythm, blood pressure, and breathing are monitored. Additionally, the test can indicate if there is a reduced blood supply in the arteries that supply the heart.
Who should get an Echocardiogram
Who are over 40 years of age, with or without risk factors for coronary artery disease such as smoking, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, or diabetes, and who frequently experience chest pain during exercise
Benefits of Exercise Stress Test
- - Diagnose potential heart-related causes of symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or light-headedness.
- - Assess and diagnose coronary artery disease.
- - Predict the risk of serious heart-related conditions, such as a heart attack.
- - Evaluate the effectiveness of procedures designed to improve coronary artery blood flow in individuals with coronary artery disease.
- - Determine a safe level of exercise for patients.
- - Identify any blockage or narrowing of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart.
- - Determine your risk of heart disease
How to prepare before do exercise stress test (EST)
- Do not to eat, drink or smoke 3 hours before an exercise stress test
- Do not to eat and drink foods containing caffeine at least 12 hours before an exercise stress test
- Check with doctor which medication should be withheld on the test day. If use an inhaler for breathing, bring it to the test day.