Stress EKG

The stress EKG or stress test, conducted while you exercise on a treadmill or a stationary bicycle, measures your heart's health under the stress of physicial activity. Your blood pressure and pulse are also monitored by a specially trained technician, an expert in using stress test equipment. The stress EKG aids in determining in how fit you are and how safe an exercise program is for you, or if a heart problem exists. The stress EKG provides even more specific information about how your heart and coronary artereries are functioning.

How it works

The stress EKG for your heart is like test driving a car before you buy it. You have to take it out on the road to see how it really performs. The stress EKG does not always give 100% accurate information, but the doctor can usually determine the presence or absence of a heart problem. The stress EKG often detects heart disorders missed by an EKG taken while you lie at rest. Blood pressure, when measured during exercise, helps determine your blood pressure pattern and how well your heart is working.