What is a Exercise Treadmill Test?

A Exercise Treadmill Test, otherwise known as a Stress Test, is a general screening tool to test the effect of exercise on your heart. The test gives a general sense of how healthy your heart is.  During the test, the electrical activity of the heart is measured while you walk on a treadmill. This measures the heart's reaction to your body's increased demand for oxygen.

How the test is performed:
You will be asked to walk on an exercise machine.  An electrocardiogram (ECG) is used to record the activity of your heart, and blood pressure readings are taken. The response of the heart to this increased workload is monitored.  The test continues until you reach a target heart rate, unless complications such as chest pain or an exaggerated change in blood pressure develop with activity.  Monitoring continues after exercise for 10 to 15 minutes or until the heart rate returns to baseline.

 How to prepare for the test:
    ° Do not eat, smoke, or drink beverages containing caffeine or alcohol for 3 hours before the test.
     °Continue all medications unless instructed otherwise.
     °Wear comfortable shoes and loose clothing to permit exercise.

Tell your doctor if you are taking sildenafil citrate (Viagra, Levitra or Cialis) and have taken a dose within the past 24 hours. A medication called nitroglycerin, which is sometimes given during a stress test to relieve chest pain, should not be given to a person who has recently  taken Viagra, or a drug like Viagra, because it can cause a serious drop in blood pressure.

How the test will feel:
Electrodes (conductive patches) will be placed on your chest, arms, and legs to record the heart's activity. The preparation of the electrode sites on your chest may produce a mild burning or stinging sensation.

The blood pressure cuff on your arm will be inflated every few minutes, producing a squeezing sensation that may feel tight. Baseline measurements of heart rate and blood pressure will be taken before exercise starts.

You will start walking on a treadmill. The pace of the treadmill will be increased.