The key to managing any type of disease is to catch it early on so treatment can start right away. This is especially true with heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in adults in the U.S. One way to test how well the heart is working is through a stress test. This test is usually performed while working out on a treadmill, which may be challenging for some. The good news is that a stress test can also be done without having to exercise.
Identification
The heart muscle is responsible for supplying the body with the blood and oxygen it needs to survive. It must also be strong enough to increase the supply when extra demands are placed on it, such as when working out, climbing stairs or performing other forms of activity. A well conditioned heart also quickly returns to its normal heart rate when the activity stops. If disease is affecting the heart muscle, its valves or the blood vessels the heart will not be able to do their jobs. This can result in symptoms such as chest pain and tightness, shortness of breath and dizziness. Problems with this system can also result in a heart attack or stroke. According to the American Heart Association, a stress test can be performed to help determine how well the heart is working. A stress test can be done with or without exercising to detect problems with the heart muscle or the blood vessels.
Benefits
A stress test is designed to place stress on the heart in a controlled fashion. The Cleveland Clinic states that this is done while the patient is hooked up to machines that record blood pressure, rate of breathing, electrical activity of the heart and heart rate. The goal is to see how well the heart handles the stress and how well it recovers. This test can be done to help determine if heart disease is causing any symptoms, evaluate the risk for a cardiac event or determine a safe level of exercise after a heart attack or stroke has occurred. It involves stimulating the heart to work harder, which can be done through exercising or by injecting a substance that artificially stimulates the heart. An additional low level nuclear substance may be injected that will show how the blood flows through the system during and after the test. This can help to identify areas that are not getting enough blood flow or oxygen.
Considerations
In some cases a patient may be unable to tolerate exercise, may have a medical condition that makes it difficult or painful to walk or have another issue that would make an exercise stress test unsafe. In these cases an injection can be given to stimulate the heart in the same way exercise would. The Carondelet Heart Institute states that common substances used include persantine, adenosine or dobutamine. Persantine and adenosine increase blood flow while dobutamine stimulates the heart to beat faster. The goal is to use the medication to cause reactions in the body that are similar to those that happen while exercising.
Significance
The results of a stress test either with or without exercise will be evaluated by a cardiologist who can assess the health of the heart and cardiovascular system. The American Academy of Family Physicians claims that telltale signs include blood pressure readings that go too high or too low or take a long time to return to pre-test levels, abnormal heart rate rhythms during or after the test, any symptoms such as chest pan or breathing difficulty that occur during testing or signs of blockages in the blood vessels. The above findings may suggest the presence of heart disease that requires treatment.
Warnings
Even non-exercise stress tests can have complications. Since medications are stimulating the circulatory system, cardiac events can happen during and after the test. It is important to tell the cardiologist and technicians right away about any symptoms that occur. The medications used can also have other side effects. The Carondelet Heart Institute recommends being on the lookout for chest or throat tightness, trouble breathing, flushed skin, dry mouth and disturbances in vision. Some of these side effects will resolve after testing, but in some cases additional medications may be required.
