An ECG treadmill test, also called a stress test, checks for changes in heart function during physical stress. ECG treadmill tests are typically performed in a testing lab and take about 60 to 70 minutes to complete. The results, which are usually available immediately but may require interpretation, can help diagnose cardiovascular abnormalities and predict heart attack risk.
Function
ECG treadmill tests determine how well your heart handles physical stress by forcing your heart to work harder than it does during rest. Exercise causes your muscles and body to require more oxygen, which means your heart must pump more blood to meet the demands of your body. A treadmill test can show if your arterial blood supply is reduced, and it is useful for diagnosing coronary artery disease, finding the cause of chest pain, shortness of breath and other heart-related symptoms, and as a follow-up measurement for heart procedures.
Process
You will begin the test by walking slowly in place on a treadmill, with the pace and incline gradually increasing to mimic walking uphill. Electrodes attached to your body measure your heart rate, blood pressure and breathing, and then transmit this data to monitoring equipment.
About halfway through the test, your doctor may instruct you to breathe into a tube for several minutes, and your blood pressure and heart will be checked once the test is complete. It is extremely important to report any dizziness, tiredness or pain during or immediately after the test.
Benefits
Cardiac symptoms are not always noticeable, even in the presence of significant heart disease. This makes the ECG treadmill test an important tool in determining what, if any, heart conditions exist in patients with vague symptoms. The treadmill test can also help determine the severity of cardiac illness and can predict the risk of suffering a potentially fatal heart event. ECG treadmill tests also assist doctors in designing exercise programs for people with poor health.
Considerations
There is some risk for ill patients during ECG treadmill testing. For this reason, a medical professional should be present during all stages of testing. Risks of ECG treadmill tests include angina, irregular heartbeat, fainting, falling and heart attack. Both false positives and false negatives are possible, and the test should never be used in place of a full diagnostic evaluation.
