Cardiac Stress Test

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• A cardiac stress test is also called an exercise test or a treadmill test. This test may help your caregiver see how well your heart works during exercise. Exercise is a form of body stress. The longer you exercise, the harder your body needs to work. The heart must work double time to pump more blood to supply the body with more oxygen. A cardiac stress test may check for risks of a possible heart problem or diagnose an existing heart problem. It will also tell caregivers the type and level of exercise that will be best for you.
  
  
• During a cardiac stress test, you may be asked to exercise on a stationary bicycle, or to walk or jog on a treadmill. While doing this, your heart will be watched on a monitor. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is used to have tracings of your heart activity. Your caregiver will be watching you during this test. Your breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate are also checked while you are exercising. You may get tired, have trouble breathing, or start having chest pains while doing the test. Your caregiver may give you medicines or ask you not to continue doing the test.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

A cardiac stress test has risks. Problems can happen during or after the test. Your blood pressure may decrease, and you may feel dizzy, lightheaded, and weak. Your may feel your heart throbbing or have extra heartbeats. You may have a chest pain or heart attack. Caregivers are there before, during, and after the test to help you. Call your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about the test, your medicine or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Before your test:

• Informed consent: You have the right to understand your health condition in words that you know. You should be told what tests, treatments, or procedures may be done to treat your condition. Your doctor should also tell you about the risks and benefits of each treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives caregivers permission to do certain tests, treatments, or procedures. If you are unable to give your consent, someone who has permission can sign this form for you. A consent form is a legal piece of paper that tells exactly what will be done to you. Before giving your consent, make sure all your questions have been answered so that you understand what may happen.
  
  
• Vital signs: This includes taking your temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeat), and respirations (counting your breaths). To take your blood pressure, a cuff is put on your arm and tightened. The cuff is attached to a machine which gives your blood pressure reading. Caregivers may listen to your heart and lungs by using a stethoscope. Your vital signs are taken so caregivers can see how you are doing.

During your test:

• You may be asked to change your clothes. Electrodes (sticky patches) are put on your chest and attached to the electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor and recorder. A wrap or belt is placed around your waist to hold the cables in place. A baseline ECG is then recorded on paper. Additional recordings are made during and following exercise. You are asked to start mild exercise on the stationary bike or treadmill. The exercise gets harder as the test progresses.
  
  
• During the test, your heart rhythm is always shown on a heart monitor. This allows your caregiver to watch out for ECG changes and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). When you reach your highest exercise level, your caregiver asks you to slow your exercise. The test is continued until you reach a target heart rate. It may be stopped early if you develop symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, tiredness, or dizziness. More ECG recordings are done after you stopped exercising. The electrodes are removed from your chest after the test is done.

After your test:

• Heart monitor: This is also called an ECG, electrocardiogram, or telemetry. Sticky pads are placed on your chest or different parts of your body. Each pad has a wire leading to a small portable box (telemetry unit), or to a TV-type screen. This lets caregivers see a tracing of the electrical activity of your heart. The heart monitor may help caregivers see problems with the way your heart is beating. Do not remove any wires or sticky pads without asking your caregiver first.
  
  
• Vital signs: This includes taking your temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeat), and respirations (counting your breaths). To take your blood pressure, a cuff is put on your arm and tightened. The cuff is attached to a machine which gives your blood pressure reading. Caregivers may listen to your heart and lungs by using a stethoscope. Your vital signs are taken so caregivers can see how you are doing.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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