A heart stress test is the process of obtaining an ECG while exercising, usually by walking on a treadmill. This provides a cardiac evaluation during the time of stress and high exertion. Constant monitoring of the patient's vital signs is necessary to observe for any signs of serious complications resulting from the exertion. If the test is given near a mealtime, it is recommended that the patient not eat until after the test and normal vital signs are present.

It may be necessary for the patient to refrain from taking certain medications prior to the stress test. This will be determined by the physician. It all depends on what information the physician needs from the test. Some medications mask the symptoms that he or she need to confirm or rule out. It is important to follow the instructions explicitly to get the most from the test.

Methods for Heart Stress Tests

Comfortable clothing and walking shoes are an absolute must. The technician will need access to apply the monitor patches for the ECG reading during the test. A device similar to a clothespin will probably be clipped on a finger to give a continual readout of the oxygen level in the blood during the workout. After an initial resting ECG is obtained, the test will start with increases in incline and speed every three minutes until maximum toleration or conclusion of the test is reached.

Some individuals are unable to walk on a treadmill for various reasons. In this case, the heart stress test is conducted by injecting a medication that makes the heart work as if it were being exercised. This gives the results the doctor needs to determine total heart function. Once the test is complete and vital signs return to normal, most patients can resume their normal level of functioning pending discussing the results with their physician.