A cardiac stress test, also called a heart stress test, evaluates how well your heart functions when it is working its hardest. This test is most commonly performed while you walk on a treadmill. For patients who cannot use a treadmill, a specialist may use medication to safely simulate the physical stress of exercise.
During the test, your heart works harder to support your body, requiring more oxygen and pumping more blood. Health care providers evaluate how well your heart handles this increased workload by tracking several key factors:
If your results indicate a potential issue, further testing may be recommended to help diagnose or rule out a heart condition.
A health care provider may recommend a cardiac stress test if you experience symptoms of heart disease, including:
A stress test may also be recommended if you have a family history of cardiovascular disease, are scheduled to undergo heart surgery or want to safely begin a new, vigorous exercise routine.
There are several types of cardiac stress tests. Each type aims to make your heart work harder so health care providers can evaluate its function and detect potential problems.
This is the most common type of stress test. You will walk on a treadmill while the speed and incline gradually increase. Your heart function is continuously monitored with an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) to help specialists look for signs of coronary artery disease.
This test combines a standard exercise stress test with ultrasound technology. An echocardiogram is performed before you start exercising and immediately after you reach peak exertion. This allows specialists to capture detailed images of how well your heart muscle pumps blood.
This test evaluates blood flow to your heart muscle at rest and during exercise. A small, safe amount of a specialized imaging tracer is injected into a vein. Using advanced imaging technology, a health care specialist tracks how this substance moves through your heart vessels to identify any narrow pathways or blockages.
If you cannot tolerate physical exercise due to mobility, joint issues or other health limitations, you can still safely undergo a stress test. Instead of physical exertion, a specialist will administer medication through an IV to temporarily make your heart beat faster and pump harder, simulating the effects of exercise.
A cardiac stress test is a valuable first step if your symptoms, lifestyle risk factors or family history point to a potential heart issue. The results provide critical insights into your heart’s exercise tolerance. They also help determine if more detailed imaging is needed to check for plaque buildup, narrowing or blockages in your arteries.
How to Prepare
To help obtain the most accurate results, you should prepare for your test in the following ways:
During the Test
Before the test begins, a member of your care team will check your baseline vital signs, including your blood pressure and heart rate. They will place sticky patches called electrodes on your chest to track your heart's electrical activity throughout the procedure.
If you are taking an exercise-based test, you will start walking at a slow, comfortable pace on the treadmill. The speed and incline will increase every few minutes. The physical exercise portion usually lasts about 15 minutes. If you experience severe fatigue, chest pain or other worrisome symptoms, the test will be stopped immediately.
If you are having a chemical stress test, you will rest comfortably while the medication is slowly delivered through an IV to simulate exercise. Your clinical team will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure and EKG changes just as they would during a treadmill test.
After the Test
Once the exercise or chemical simulation is complete, your health care provider will monitor your vitals during a brief cool-down period.
Note: Please allow extra time for stress echocardiograms, nuclear stress tests and chemical stress tests, as these require additional preparation, imaging or medication administration both before and after the active testing phase.
Test Results
If your stress test results are abnormal, it may suggest the presence of coronary artery disease or another heart condition. Your health care provider will discuss next steps, which may include lifestyle adjustments, medication or additional diagnostic testing, such as an angiogram.
It takes only a few minutes for your heart rate and breathing to return to normal. Most patients are able to drive themselves home and resume all normal daily activities immediately after leaving the clinic.
A cardiac stress test is highly controlled and generally very safe. Some patients may experience minor, temporary side effects from the physical exertion or the simulating medication, including:
In very rare cases, more significant side effects like sudden changes in blood pressure or fainting can occur. Your clinical team is trained and equipped to address these rare events immediately.
Memorial Hermann-affiliated cardiologists perform cardiac stress tests at convenient locations throughout Greater Houston. Utilizing leading-edge digital and imaging technology, our affiliated specialists work to identify cardiovascular concerns early. If your test results are abnormal, you will have seamless access to a comprehensive network of affiliated cardiologists, interventional cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons who specialize in the latest advanced treatments.
If you’d like a referral to a heart and vascular specialist or want more information about our services, please fill out the form below. For other inquiries, such as obtaining medical records, imaging reports or test results, please call (713) 222-CARE (2273).