A stress test is a widely conducted test that provides valuable insights into the efficiency of your heart's blood-pumping function and the adequacy of blood supply to your heart. It is a parameter to gauge the physical...
Introduction
A stress test is a widely conducted test that provides valuable insights into the efficiency of your heart's blood-pumping function and the adequacy of blood supply to your heart. It is a parameter to gauge the physical performance relative to others of similar age and sex while engaging in activities like treadmill walking or stationary cycling. It can also examine the reproducibility of the symptoms (such as chest discomfort, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, or dizziness) during physical exertion.
How does a stress test help?
With the help of a stress test, by examining the above factors, doctors can identify and evaluate various cardiac issues in a person, including:
- Muscle or valve abnormalities in the heart
- Amount of blood flow to the heart muscle
- Electrical stability of the heart both at rest and during exercise
The results obtained from stress tests can help doctors to ascertain whether any additional, at times more invasive, diagnostic tests are required or not to confirm a diagnosis. Moreover, stress test helps in assessing the likely benefits of treatments provided for reducing the risk of heart attacks and improving the overall well-being of a patient.
Stress test: How does it work?
The modus operandi of a heart stress test starts with making your heart pump harder and faster. It could be a host of activities like walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bicycle at the facility. This is the reason why this test is often referred to as an exercise stress test.
With the help of this test, doctors and healthcare providers try to study the response to the increased workload by measuring:
- Heart rate
- Blood pressure
- Electrical activity in your heart
- Oxygen levels
- Working of a person’s heart compared with others of the same age and gender
When does a person need a stress test?
A person is given a stress test to detect heart problems like congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, heart valve disease, and Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Even people in certain occupations like airline pilots and professional athletes may be given stress tests.
When does a doctor advise a cardiac stress test?
A doctor orders a cardiac stress test when an individual has symptoms of heart disease, like:
- Angina: It is a kind of chest pain or discomfort resulting from inadequate blood flow to the heart
- Arrhythmia: It is a rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Dyspnea: It is shortness of breath
- Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
It is also given to people who have a diagnosis of heart disease. It is a test for those individuals who:
- Are keen to begin exercising
- Are receiving treatment and their doctors wanted to investigate how well the treatment is working
- Are more prone and have a genetic predisposition to heart disease
- Are plagued by diabetes or have underlying conditions that may increase the risk of heart disease
- May need non-cardiac surgery and their doctors wanted to assess their risk of complications
At times, doctors may also want a stress test to be conducted on people who may not have a heart ailment. It is because they want to see their risk of heart attacks and heart disease. It is especially done in the case of people who have other important risk factors like diabetes, high BP, high cholesterol, or a family history of earlier (young age) heart disease.
Stress test: Its variants
There is a bevy of stress tests doctors order to check a patient’s heart rate, oxygen levels, blood pressure, and electrical activity. They are:
Exercise stress test
This is the most common stress test, which is done with the person walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bicycle. The speed and elevation are then monitored which is an indication of one’s ability to walk and overall fitness level.
If one is unable to exercise, they are given medications to make the heart pump harder and faster. In this test, an electrocardiogram (ECG) captures the heart’s electrical activity of the person.
Exercise stress echocardiogram
This test is akin to the basic stress test but usually offers more details. Doctors perform an echocardiogram before and at peak exercise (it is the ultrasound of your heart). This test uses sound waves to study blood flow through the heart as well as the pumping chambers of the heart (muscle) and valve functions.
A person has to go through a stress echocardiogram when the earlier results are unclear.
Nuclear stress test
This is an advanced heart stress test, which makes use of safe levels of a radioactive substance along with a cardiac imaging scan to detect the heart’s function.
In this test, a technician clicks pictures of the individual’s heart before (at rest) and after the exercise. Post that, a cardiologist takes over and compare the amount of blood flow to the heart muscle when at rest and after stress. If there is a decrease in blood flow it is an indication of a blockage. It could be either in one or several arteries in the patient’s heart.
Nuclear cardiac stress tests
This test can detect the severity of blockage of coronary artery disease. It can also throw light on the efficacy of earlier treatments like bypass surgery or stents.
It is a protection against further invasive heart tests, such as cardiac catheterization. This test reveals whether a person’s heart is healthy to undergo non-cardiac surgery or exercise.
Cardiac rehabilitation stress test
Cardiac rehabilitation is a type of exercise program, which is medically supervised to help people with heart disease in becoming more physically active.
Conclusion
If your doctor has advised you to undergo a stress test, then it must be due to the above-discussed reasons. Check out the Stress test price in the facility you intend to go to beforehand. It will give you a clear idea about the cost.
FAQs
What is a stress test?
A stress test, also known as an exercise test or treadmill test, is a medical diagnostic test that studies the heart's response of a person to physical activity by monitoring its function and blood flow during exercise.
Why is a stress test performed?
A stress test is performed to look at the heart's overall health, diagnose heart ailments like coronary artery disease, evaluate exercise tolerance, gauge the effectiveness of heart treatments, and evaluate the risk of heart-related problems during physical activity.
How is a stress test conducted?
During a stress test, a person will have to walk or run on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bike. The technicians present will then monitor the changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and ECG (electrocardiogram) readings. It is conducted under the close watch of an expert or doctor.
Can anyone undergo a stress test?
Stress tests are usually advised for people who have a risk of or already have symptoms of heart disease. However, the suitability for a stress test is based on various factors, and a doctor is the best person to take a call on this.
Are stress tests painful?
No. These tests are generally safe and painless. If you feel any discomfort or face concerns, immediately inform the doctor who is conducting the test.
What happens if abnormalities are detected during a stress test?
When abnormalities are found during a stress test, the person will need to undergo further diagnostic tests. These may include tests like an echocardiogram or cardiac catheterization. It will provide further information about the heart's condition.
Are there any risks associated with a stress test?
Stress tests are considered safe, but there is a small risk of complications such as an irregular heartbeat, chest pain, dizziness, or fainting. These risks are closely monitored by the doctor during the test.
Can I eat or drink before a stress test?
People are generally advised not to eat heavy meals, caffeinated drinks, and smoke for a few hours before a stress test.
Are there alternatives to a treadmill for a stress test?
Yes, there are. If a person is not able to walk or run on a treadmill, doctors may use alternative methods such as a pharmacological stress test. In this, patients are given medications to simulate the effects of exercise on the heart.
How long does a stress test take?
It depends. However, it typically takes around 30 minutes to an hour. This includes the preparation, actual exercise, and the monitoring period.
