Has anyone had a stress test done? and what exactly do they make you do with that test?

Answer 1

Which kind? The stress on you or the fetal stress test when pregnant. On you it's a series of running and walking on a treadmill or exercise bike machine. If it's on he fetus it's two patches with a belt wrapped around the belly and they chart the baby's heartbeat, movement and check for contractions that spike with higher heartbeat and very active movement.

Answer 2

There are two kinds of stress tests that can be done. One is where you physically exercise on a treadmill while electrodes monitor your heart rhythm The second is done by chemically increasing your heart rate while your heart rhythm is monitored. In each test, the goal is to reach 85% of your maximum heart rate.

220-age (years)= maximum heart rate

Both tests try to identify if your heart is capable of handling high levels of activity. If heart disease is present, a stress test may show changes in the pattern of electrical impulses that make your heart pump.

Your blood pressure will also be monitored before, during and after. A drop of 20mm systolic (top number) can indicate that your heart is unable to keep up with the increased demands of exercise. If you have chest pain during the test, it is important to let the doctor know immediately.

The second part of the test takes images of your heart. These images can be obtained in different ways. One type uses nuclear medicine to show the distibution of oxygen in the heart tissue. Another is type obtains images using echocardiography. Much like a sonogram that takes pictures of a fetus in the uterus, the echo looks at the chambers and valves of your heart.

If your physician wants you to have a stress test, it is a good idea to follow through. Heart disease is a lot more managable if detected early.

For more info. check out the American Heart Association's web site.

Answer 3

An exercise 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.

You will walk or pedal 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 rise in blood pressure develop with activity. Monitoring continues after exercise for 10 - 15 minutes, or until the heart rate returns to baseline.

Answer 4

My husband did and now a days they inject you with medicine that puts your heart under stress and they take pictures of it. Very few doctors put you on the tread mill anymore but some do still use it it depends on if there are any reasons that you could not get on one like prior heart problems or surgeries or bad knees.

Answer 5

I take it you mean for cardiovascular testing? Wellin short it in loves a lot running on a treadmill while using a heart monitar. They will gradually increase the incline and the speed. It can be very tiring. I know as i have been trained to give them.

Answer 6

Ride a exercise bike or use a treadmill till you just can't go any longer then go some more. they monitor your heart and get you just to the brink of having a cardiac arrest then they let you stop. Not fun.

Answer 7

just make sure that person is near a cath lab incase of emergency coronary intervention is needed.
it can be scary if this person is elderly, has history of new chest pain. especally after walking or going up stairs. shortness of breath. better to have the angiogram insted.
thats just my opinion. take care

Answer 8

Essentially it is very much like exercising on a treadmill with electrodes attached to you..

Answer 9

they make you run faster & faster on a treadmill to put stress on ur heart, so dress to run.

Answer 10

http://health.allrefer.com/health/stress-echocardiography.html