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.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Risks

An exercise stress echocardiography has risks. Problems can happen during or after the test. Your blood pressure may rise or fall, and you may feel dizzy, lightheaded, and weak. Your may feel your heart throbbing or have extra heartbeats. You may have chest pain or a 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.
  
  
• Tell your caregiver if you have any allergies. These include allergies to food, dye, iodine, or any medicine.
  
  
• 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 are 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 these and other tests that you may need. Write down the date, time, and location of each test.

The day of your test:

• Write down the correct date, time, and location of your surgery.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• You or a close family member will be asked to sign a legal document called a consent form. It gives caregivers permission to do the procedure or surgery. It also explains the problems that may happen, and your choices. Make sure all your questions are answered before you sign this form.

Treatment

What will happen:

• You may be asked to change your clothes. A caregiver will put a thick gel on your chest which may feel cold. A transducer (wand-like device that receives and sends sound waves) will be placed directly above your heart. Your caregiver will press the transducer firmly as he moves it across your chest. Pictures will be taken using an echocardiogram (ultrasound). These pictures show what your heart looks like, and how it acts before exercise. Electrodes (sticky patches) will be put on your chest then attached with wires to the electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor.
  
  
• You will be asked to start exercising slowly on a stationary bicycle or a treadmill. Pictures are taken and recorded while you do the exercise. Your caregiver may tell you to speed up until you reach a target heart rate. Once you reach the target heart rate, then you will be asked to get off the bicycle or treadmill and lie down. Pictures will be taken again for several minutes and you may be asked to hold still. Your caregiver may also ask you to hold your breath while the pictures are taken.

After your test:

A caregiver will remove the electrodes from your chest, and you may be able to 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.
  
  
• 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.

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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.

Learn more about Exercise Stress Echocardiography (Precare)