Stress Test

What is a stress test?

A stress test is a test of your heart function, specifically when your heart is working its hardest to pump blood through your vessels. This may be during exercise or after taking a certain medication to elevate the heart rate. 

Certain heart problems and signs of malfunction become more pronounced when your heart is under stress, so a stress test can help diagnose or rule out possible causes of symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath. 

At Heart and Vascular Clinic, the team closely monitors you throughout the stress testing process and will stop the test if you’re struggling to breathe or if you’re experiencing substantial discomfort. You breathe through a tube during the test so Dr. Balachandran can monitor your respiration too.

During the stress test, Dr. Balachandran places electrodes on your chest connected to an electrocardiogram machine, which records your heart’s electrical activity. He can stop the test if he detects any concerning changes in your heart’s activity. 

When do I need a stress test?

There are multiple reasons why you may need a stress test for your heart at Heart and Vascular Clinic as the test can serve many purposes in cardiology. Dr. Balachandran might recommend taking a stress test to:

• Diagnose coronary artery disease
• Diagnose arrhythmias
• Guide heart disorder treatment
• Evaluate your heart before surgery

If a conventional stress test with an echocardiogram doesn’t offer conclusive results for your diagnosis, Dr. Balachandran may recommend getting a stress test along with imaging tests of the heart like echocardiogram so he can see the blood flow. 

Which type of stress test should I get?

Dr. Balachandran offers two types of stress testing at his office. He recommends a type depending on your needs and his own suspicions of the underlying cause of your symptoms. Your diagnostic evaluation or treatment planning may involve:

Treadmill stress test

During a treadmill stress test, you elevate your heart rate by walking on a treadmill. Dr. Balachandran increases the speed to make your heart rate go up gradually. You may use the railing on the treadmill for balance, but squeezing it too hard can affect your results. 

Cardiolite nuclear stress test

Cardiolite is a radioactive tracer that Dr. Balachandran injects into a vein on your arm or hand. The Cardiolite circulates your heart, and you can then start the stress test. A nuclear single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) picks up on the Cardiolite as it flows through the heart and produces images during your stress test. 

To schedule an appointment and find out if you can benefit from a stress test, call Heart and Vascular Clinic or book online today.