What is a cardiac exercise test? A comprehensive guide to examining heart function during exercise

Introduction The heart may function normally at rest, but under conditions of stress or physical activity, some of its hidden problems are revealed. Exercise testing (or cardiac stress testing) is designed for exactly this reason: to examine the heart's response to controlled physical activity.

This test is one of the standard and important methods in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases, especially coronary artery stenosis, and it helps doctors to assess the heart's function live when the heart rate increases and the need for oxygen increases. In this article, we will fully familiarize ourselves with the sports test, its applications, implementation method, interpretation of the results, prohibitions, preparation before the test, and essential points.

What exactly is an exercise test?

Exercise Stress Test is a method to check heart function during physical activity. Usually, the patient walks or runs on a treadmill, and at the same time, his ECG, blood pressure, and clinical symptoms are continuously recorded.

This procedure is completely controlled and the activity level is gradually increased so that the doctor can see if the heart is responding normally to the increased demand for oxygen and blood circulation.

What is the use of exercise test?

The exercise test provides valuable information about the health of the heart and vascular system. Some of the most important applications of this test are:

Diagnosis of coronary artery disease (narrowing or blockage of heart vessels)
Check the cause of shortness of breath or chest pain
Evaluation of heart tolerance to activity
Checking the effectiveness of drug treatments or cardiac surgery
Control of patients after heart attack or angioplasty
Evaluation of the safety of exercise in people with mild heart disease

How is the exercise test done?

First step: preparation

Electrodes are attached to the patient's chest to record the electrical signals of the heart.
A blood pressure cuff is placed on the arm.
The patient is placed on a treadmill or stationary bike.

Second stage: start of activity

The test starts at low speed.
Every 3 minutes, the speed and incline of the treadmill are slightly increased (according to the Bruce protocol or other standard protocols).
At all stages, heart rate and blood pressure are recorded continuously.

Third step: stop the test

The test continues until one of the following occurs:
- The patient reaches his maximum capacity
- Warning symptoms (for example, chest pain, pressure drop or irregular heartbeat) appear
- The doctor should stop the test

How are the results of the exercise test interpreted?

Results are interpreted based on changes in ECG, heart rate, blood pressure and patient symptoms:

Normal cardiac band: is usually a sign of healthy functioning coronary arteries
Decreasing ST Segment on ECG: may indicate stenosis or occlusion in the coronary arteries
Abnormal increase or decrease in blood pressure: can be a sign of poor pumping or problems with heart valves
Arrhythmias during exercise: need further investigation

Who should not do an exercise test?

In some patients, exercise testing is prohibited or should be performed with extreme caution. These conditions are:

Recent heart attack (in the past few days)
Severe uncontrolled arrhythmias
Severe heart failure
Severe valvular problems
Acute infections or high fever
Uncontrolled very high or low blood pressure

In such cases, the doctor may use a drug stress test or a nuclear heart scan instead of an exercise test.

Is exercise testing dangerous?

In most cases, exercise testing is completely safe and performed under strict supervision. But like any other diagnostic test, in certain circumstances there may be side effects such as:

Feeling dizzy or weak
chest pain

occur which is immediately controlled by the medical team. Usually, before performing the test, the doctor takes a complete history from the patient and checks whether it is safe to perform the test.

Preparation before sports test

Eat a light breakfast on the morning of the test (avoid strong tea or coffee)
Wear comfortable sports clothes and suitable shoes
Take or stop taking your medications as recommended by your doctor
Avoid smoking or hookah on the test day
If you have diabetes or use insulin, be sure to inform your doctor

How long is the exercise test?

In total, the test takes about 20 to 30 minutes; which includes preparation, testing, and recovery phase. The physical activity itself usually lasts 8 to 15 minutes.

What is the difference between exercise test and echocardiography and angiography?

FeaturesExercise testEchocardiographyAngiographyType of examination Heart function during activity Structure of the heart at rest Direct image of the heart vessels Being non-invasive Non-invasive Non-invasive No use of dye or radiation During quick and in the office and in the hospital, with prior preparation Final accuracy medium to good good very high
Summary

Cardiac exercise test is a simple and effective diagnostic method to check the reaction of the heart to physical activity. This test is especially useful for early diagnosis of coronary artery diseases, checking for shortness of breath, chest pain, and evaluating the appropriate level of physical activity for the patient. By performing an exercise test in reputable centers under the supervision of a cardiologist, you can prevent heart attacks in the future and plan more effective treatments.

Source:https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/stress-test/about/pac-20385234

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yes 0 no 0 Dr. Majid Faraji #test Cardiac exercise, stress test, treadmill test, heart function, coronary artery disease, electrocardiogram, heart problems, chest pain examination
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