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.

GETTING READY:

The week before your test:

• Ask a family member or friend to drive you home after your stress test. Do not drive yourself home.
  
  
• Ask your caregiver if you need to stop using aspirin or any other prescribed or over-the-counter medicine before your procedure or surgery.
  
  
• Tell your caregiver if you are taking blood pressure medicines or medicines for your blood vessels. He may ask you to stop taking these for at least 48 hours before your test.
  
  
• If you have diabetes, ask your caregiver for special instructions about what you may eat and drink before your tests. If you use medicine to treat diabetes, your caregiver may have special instructions about using it before the tests. You may need to check your blood sugar more often before and after having your tests.
  
  
• If you are a female, tell your caregiver if you know or think that you might be pregnant.
  
  
• You may need to have some other tests done before the stress test. Ask your caregiver for more information about tests that you may need. Ask your caregiver for more information about these and other tests that you may need. Write down the date, time, and location of each test.

The day of your test:

• Ask caregivers about directions for eating and drinking.
  
  
• What to bring: You may want to bring items such as a toothbrush and bathrobe.
  
  
• Ask your caregiver before taking any medicine on the day of your procedure. These medicines include insulin, diabetic pills, high blood pressure pills, or heart pills. Bring all the medicines you are taking, including the pill bottles, with you to the hospital.
  
  
• Do not wear tight-fitting clothes on the day of your test. Wear walking shoes or sneakers so that you are comfortable during the test.
  
  
• If you wear contact lenses, do not wear them on the day of your procedure or surgery. Glasses may be worn.
  
  
• You or a close family member will be asked to sign a legal piece of paper (consent form). It gives your caregiver permission to do the procedure or surgery. It also explains the problems that may happen, and your choices. Be sure all your questions have been answered before you sign this form.

TREATMENT:

What will happen:

• You may be asked to change your clothes. Electrodes (sticky patches) will be put on your chest. If you have hair on parts of your chest or back, it may need to be shaved to help the patches stick to your skin. The electrodes will be attached to wires that carry the electrical activity of your heart to the electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor. A wrap or belt may be placed around your waist to hold the cables in place. An ECG will then be recorded on paper. This is known as the resting ECG. Additional recordings will be made during and after exercise. You will be asked to start mild exercise on the stationary bike or treadmill. The exercise will get harder as the test progresses.
  
  
• During stress testing, the heart rhythm will be shown on a heart monitor. This allows your caregiver to watch out for changes in the ECG and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). When you reach your highest exercise level, your caregiver will ask you to slow your exercise. The test will continue 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. Your caregiver will tell you when to stop exercising. After the exercise, you will be asked to get off the exercise machine and lie down. Your vital signs and heart readings will be taken again during the next several minutes.

After your test: Before you leave, your caregivers will remove the electrodes from your skin. You can then get dressed. Ask for help if you need it. If you are staying in the hospital after the test, caregivers will take you to your room. If you plan to go home after the test, but need to wait for test results, bring a friend or family member to wait with you. They can help support you during and after the test.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You cannot make it to your test.
  
  
• You have a fever (increased body temperature).
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your test or medicines.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You have nausea (upset stomach).
  
  
• You have chest pain or discomfort that spreads to your arms, jaw, or back.
  
  
• You are sweating more than the usual or have trouble breathing all of a sudden.

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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