- Standard Treadmill Exercise Stress Test
During this type of stress your heart rhythm will be recorded by EKG throughout the test while you walk on a treadmill. The treadmill increases in height and speed every three minutes. Changes in the recorded EKG pattern can help your cardiologist determine if there are any problems that may be present with the heart arteries or its electrical system.
Your doctor will choose the method by which the heart will be “stressed”, either using a treadmill or a medicine. This type of stress test then has two parts:
- An EKG tracing will be recorded throughout the stress portion of the exam just the same as during a standard exercise tolerance exam. This again gives information about the possibility of blockages being present.
- Second, a radiotracer material will be injected into a small IV which is taken up by the heart for a temporary period of time. This is done twice (both at rest and during the stress portion of the exam), and pictures are taken of the heart during both portions with a special camera.
The pictures at rest and stress are compared to one another and this gives your cardiologist information about the possibility of heart blockages being present as well as insight as to how well the heart is pumping.