What Exercise Stress Tests Evaluate

An exercise stress test works to see how well a patient’s heart responds when they are working it the hardest. This test usually involves putting patients on a treadmill to increase their heart rate. As they are walking or running, the electrocardiogram they are hooked up to will provide the professional performing the test with important information regarding the patient’s heart health. The primary use is to see if the patient’s heart is getting enough blood flow and oxygen when they are engaging in exercise or other types of vigorous activity. This test is typically done as part of a diagnostic series to look for clues that could indicate the patient may have specific cardiovascular health issues.

Measures Blood Flow To The Heart

The heart pumps approximately two thousand gallons of blood per day. If inadequate blood is flowing, it can cause a wealth of health issues in the body. This test works to measure blood flow to the heart to ensure it is operating efficiently. During this test, if not enough blood is flowing to the heart, it can cause a variety of symptoms that are indicative of this, such as shortness of breath, low blood pressure, and chest pain. Poor blood flow may indicate coronary heart disease. This disease increases the risk of a heart attack, which can be life-threatening.

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