{"id":56971,"date":"2023-02-07T10:00:11","date_gmt":"2023-02-07T15:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=56971"},"modified":"2025-02-20T09:39:25","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T14:39:25","slug":"stress-test-results","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/stress-test-results\/","title":{"rendered":"What do your stress test results mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve been told that you need a stress test, you probably have some concerns. That\u2019s understandable\u2014being told that you need an evaluation of how your heart works can be stressful. You can rest assured that these tests are common, especially if you have any <\/span>risk factors for cardiac disease<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Still, as you prepare for your test, you may want to know what stress tests are like, and what to expect at the doctor\u2019s office when you get the test done. You might also have questions about why you need this test, and what your stress test results will tell you about your heart and your overall health. Here, you\u2019ll learn everything you need to know about stress tests, including why this test is done and how to interpret the results of a stress test.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Signs of heart problems<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What is a stress test?<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u201cA stress test is a non-invasive diagnostic modality primarily to identify the presence of coronary artery disease, which involves blockages of the vessels that supply blood\/oxygen to the heart,\u201d explains<\/span> Vicken Zeitjian, MD<\/span>, a cardiologist in San Antonio, Texas. Stress tests can also be used to help identify other heart problems, such as<\/span> irregular heart rhythms during exercise,<\/span> or to help your physician determine what degree of exercise is safe for your body.<\/span><\/p>\n

The purpose of a stress test\u2014sometimes referred to as an exercise stress test or a cardiac stress test\u2014is to see how your heart handles physical exertion. Physicians recommend wearing comfortable clothes and running or walking shoes to your appointment. Before your appointment, your physician will discuss any medications you regularly take, and may ask you not to take some of them in preparation for your stress test. You will likely be asked not to eat or drink <\/span>two to four hours before the test,<\/span><\/a> though drinking water will probably be allowed. The evaluation has two to three components:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Exercise<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Electrode monitoring<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Imaging if ordered by the healthcare provider<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The exercise test usually involves working out on a treadmill or stationary bike while your heart is monitored via an <\/span>electrocardiogram machine (ECG)<\/span><\/a>. Electrodes connected to the machine will be placed on your chest. While you exercise, the machine will monitor the electrical activity in your heart and will record measurements such as your heart rate. Your provider will place a blood pressure cuff on your arm to measure your blood pressure both before and during the treadmill test.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    During the stress test, you will be asked to exercise, starting slowly at first, and gradually working more vigorously till you reach a targeted heart rate, based on your age. The exercise portion of the stress test lasts <\/span>between 10-15 minutes<\/span><\/a>. If you feel out of breath or lightheaded, you can pause the test at any time.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Physical symptoms you experience while exercising, such as shortness of breath, chest pressure, and exhaustion, will also be recorded. After the test is over, your provider will continue to monitor your heart and take your blood pressure once more. Echocardiograms and nuclear imaging tests may also be used. These tests are used in addition to ECGs and can provide detailed images of the inside of your heart and your arteries. Echocardiogram or nuclear images are obtained before and immediately after exercise to look for signs of inadequate blood flow.<\/span><\/p>\n

    If exercise is not safe for you, then you can take<\/span> medications that will simulate what happens in the heart during exercise<\/span>, Dr. Zeitjian<\/a> says. This is called a pharmacological stress test, and typically involves an intravenous drug that increases your heart rate or expands your blood vessels to simulate the stress from exercise.<\/span><\/p>\n

    What does a stress test show?<\/span><\/h2>\n

    \u201cA stress test is helpful to assess a patient’s heart and\/or lung function, as to their endurance and development of symptoms,\u201d explains Ronald Grifka,<\/a> MD, President and Chief Clinical Quality Officer for the University of Michigan Health-West<\/span>. The main purpose of a stress test is to:<\/span><\/p>\n