A stress test helps your doctor see how your heart performs when it is working harder than usual. It is sometimes called an exercise stress test. Physical activity makes the heart beat faster and pump more blood, which can reveal how well blood flows through the heart.
During a stress test, you may walk on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bike while a healthcare professional monitors your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. If you are unable to exercise, your doctor may give you a medicine that mimics the effects of exercise on your heart.
Your doctor may suggest a stress test if you have symptoms of coronary artery disease or an irregular heartbeat, also called arrhythmia, to better understand your heart’s condition.
A stress test (also called a cardiac stress test or heart stress test) is a medical test that measures how well your heart works when it is working hard. Usually, this means exercising on a treadmill or a stationary bike while your heart’s rhythm, blood pressure, and breathing are closely monitored.
If you cannot exercise, your doctor may give special medicine to mimic the effects of exercise. This test helps your doctor detect problems like coronary artery disease or irregular heartbeats early.
Your cardiologist may recommend a stress test for several reasons:
At BMB Heart Hospital, our expert cardiologists use stress tests to provide accurate diagnoses and guide the best treatment plans.
There are multiple types of stress tests, depending on what your heart needs to be checked for:
Your cardiologist at BMB Heart Hospital will choose the most suitable type of stress test for you.
A stress test may be suggested if you:
Even if you feel fine, your cardiologist might recommend a stress test to find heart problems early, before they become serious.
Getting ready for a stress test is simple, but following a few steps helps give accurate results:
These small steps make the test safe and reliable.
At BMB Heart Hospital, here’s what you can expect during a heart stress test:
The whole process usually takes 30–60 minutes, and our staff ensures your comfort and safety throughout.
People with severe heart conditions, recent heart attack, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or serious lung disease should avoid a stress test unless cleared by a cardiologist.
Chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or an irregular heartbeat may indicate the need for a stress test.
Stress tests are generally reliable for detecting heart issues but may not catch every problem; additional tests may be needed.
No, stress tests mainly detect blocked arteries and abnormal heart rhythms but cannot identify all heart conditions.
A stress test evaluates heart function under activity, while angiography uses imaging to directly view blood vessel blockages.
Not always, but most stress tests require avoiding food, caffeine, and certain medications for a few hours before the test.
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