What is stress testing?
Stress testing is a way of measuring your heart’s function when it’s working hard, like when you exercise. During the test, you’ll either walk on a treadmill or use a stationary bike to get your heart pumping hard.
Various devices around you take certain measurements, like your:
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate
- Heart rhythm
- Breathing pace
If you have a condition that prevents you from performing the necessary movements on a stationary bike or treadmill, like arthritis, the team at Life Imaging Fla can administer a drug to make your heart work as hard as it would during exercise.
What are the results of stress testing?
The results of stress testing show a few different parameters about your heart and cardiovascular functioning. The test can show:
- Normal blood flow during exercise and while resting
- Normal blood flow at rest, but not during exercise
- Low blood flow both at rest and during exercise
- A lack of blood flow in certain areas of the heart
If your blood flow is normal while at rest but not during exercise, you might have a clogged artery. If your blood flow is equally low during exercise and at rest, it could be a sign of coronary artery disease.
Further tests, like a low-dose CT scan of your heart, may be necessary if your stress test results raise concerns. While stress testing can provide lots of information, the results cannot always accurately assess or detect early signs of heart disease.
When should I consider getting a stress test?
Stress testing isn’t necessary for everyone, but there are a few reasons why your physician might recommend one. You might also decide to take a stress test without a recommendation for various reasons.
Getting a stress test might benefit you if you:
- Have symptoms of cardiovascular dysfunction (chest pain, trouble breathing)
- Need a heart treatment
- Need heart surgery
- Want to start a rigorous exercise program
The team at Life Imaging Fla analyzes and interprets the results of your stress test so they can go over them with you and answer your questions. They can also send the results to your physician to help with treatment planning.
How should I prepare for stress testing?
Preparing for a stress test is quite simple. You’ll need to take a few steps to be sure you can safely and successfully take part in the testing process, like:
- Avoiding caffeinated beverages on the day of the test
- Skipping certain medications
- Avoiding smoking
- Drinking only water and avoiding eating 2-4 hours before the test
- Bringing an inhaler to the appointment (if needed)
- Wearing comfortable clothes
- Wearing supportive walking shoes
Taking these steps helps to ensure accurate results and your comfort during the procedure. The test itself lasts 10 to 15 minutes, but you should let the Life Imaging Fla team know if you’re uncomfortable or unable to continue the test at any point in the process.
If you’d like to schedule a stress test on your doctor’s recommendation or for your own information, call Life Imaging Fla or request an appointment online today.
