Exercise Stress Echocardiography

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• An exercise stress echocardiography is a test that shows the action of the heart during exercise. It is also called exercise echo or stress echo. This test may show how well your heart can handle stress. Exercise is a form of body stress. The longer you exercise, the more oxygen will be needed by the body. Certain conditions may block arteries (blood vessels) of the heart, and damage heart muscles. These problems make the heart work even harder to pump oxygen-rich blood to the body. An exercise echo may help your caregiver find and treat your heart condition.
  
  
• During the test, a baseline picture of your heart is taken using an echocardiogram (ultrasound) before the exercise. You may be asked to do the exercise on a stationary bicycle, or to walk or jog on a treadmill. While doing the exercise, pictures of the heart are taken and its activity watched on an electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor. A caregiver will check your blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. You will do the exercise until your caregiver tells you to slow down or stop. Pictures of your heart will be taken for several minutes after the test.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Take your medicine as directed:

Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not working as expected. Tell him if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why you take them. Take the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency. Throw away old medicine lists.

Ask for information about where and when to go for follow-up visits:

For continuing care, treatments, or home services, ask for more information.

Lifestyle changes:

After the test results are looked at, caregivers may suggest that you make lifestyle changes such as the following:

• Diet changes: Eat a variety of healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads, low-fat dairy products, beans, lean meat and fish. Eating healthy foods may help you have more energy. Ask your caregiver if you need to be on a special diet.
  
  
• Drinking liquids: Adults should drink about 9 to 13 cups of liquid each day. One cup is 8 ounces. Good choices of liquids for most people include water, juice, and milk. Coffee, soup, and fruit may be counted in your daily liquid amount. Ask your caregiver how much liquid you should drink each day.
  
  
• Start exercising: Talk to your caregiver before you start exercising. Together you can plan the best exercise program for you. It is best to start slowly and do more as you get stronger. Exercising can help make your heart stronger, lower your blood pressure, and keep you healthy.
  
  
• Quit smoking: It is never too late to quit smoking. Smoking harms the heart, lungs, and the blood. You are more likely to have a heart attack, lung disease, and cancer if you smoke. You will help yourself and those around you by not smoking. Ask your caregiver for more information about how to stop smoking if you are having trouble quitting.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You feel dizzy and lightheaded.
  
  
• You have nausea (upset stomach) or vomiting (throwing up).
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your test or medicine.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You have trouble breathing all of a sudden.
  
  
• You have chest pain even after taking medicines.

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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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