Treadmill tests, also known as exercise stress tests, are monitored exercise sessions designed to gauge blood and oxygen flow to your heart under the stress of physical activity. In addition to a treadmill, they require the use of a specialized monitoring device called an electrocardiogram, or EKG, which measures your heart's function.
Reasons for Testing
In most cases, treadmill tests are done to diagnose the presence of coronary artery disease, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine's Medline Plus website. You might also undergo testing if you have experienced a heart attack, undergone any form of heart surgery, have a suspected heart valve disorder, have a suspected heart rhythm irregularity or have chest pain that is worsening in intensity or occurring more frequently. In addition, you might undergo treadmill testing to gauge a safe level of exercise if you have known heart problems.
Testing Procedure
Before your treadmill test begins, your doctor will place a series of wired, flat patches called electrodes on your chest. These patches are connected to an EKG machine, which interprets and records your blood and oxygen flow in the form of electrical readouts. Your doctor will also check your blood pressure and heart rate. During testing, you will walk on a treadmill for approximately 10 minutes while your heart's function is measured. At various points during the test, your doctor will alter the speed and slope of the treadmill to increase the workload on your heart and gauge its response to varying levels of required effort.
Results
If an EKG readout shows poor blood flow to any area of your heart and testing provokes symptoms such as dizziness, chest discomfort and shortness of breath, you probably have some form of coronary artery disease, Harvard Medical School reports. Conversely, if you experience no discomfort during exercise and have a normal EKG, you likely do not have any serious coronary disease. In some cases, you can experience physical symptoms during testing while maintaining a normal EKG. You can also display significant EKG changes without any physical symptoms. If these situations occur, your doctor may ask you to undergo additional types of testing to clarify your health status.
Considerations
For most people, treadmill testing is a safe procedure, Medline Plus notes. In some cases, individuals undergoing testing may experience complications that include fainting, chest pain or physical collapse. However, individuals with known serious heart weaknesses are typically excluded from treadmill testing and life-threatening complications such as severe heartbeat abnormalities or heart attack rarely occur. If you experience adverse reactions during testing, tell your doctor immediately so he can stop the procedure and evaluate your health.
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