What is a
Stress Echocardiogram?
A Stress Echocardiogram combines a Stress ECG and an Echocardiogram which provides information about the response of heart muscle function to exercise and pressure changes within the heart and in the lungs which cannot be obtained with any other non-invasive test.
Not only does this test increase the accuracy of detecting and evaluating the functional significance of coronary stenoses, but it also provides invaluable information heart function and pressure changes in various disease conditions which are impossible or very difficult to obtain by any other testing modality.
What to Expect
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All stress tests are supervised by a physician who is on the premises during the procedure and is available to intervene if necessary. You will be asked to sign a consent form. You will be hooked up to an ECG machine using 10 electrodes as described in the 12-Lead ECG section above. Your will have a resting echocardiogram performed the same way as above.
You will be asked to walk on a treadmill while a technician stands beside you at all times and monitors your ECG, heart rate and blood pressure. Gradually the speed of the treadmill is increased so you have to walk more quickly. The test continues until you reach your target rate or until you experience a symptom, such as chest pain, shortness of breath or fatigue. The treadmill will be stopped abruptly, rather than gradually and you will be asked to quickly lie down on the test table right next to the treadmill and will have a second echocardiogram, to obtain immediate post-stress recordings. The test lasts about 45 minutes.
How to Prepare
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Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Do not eat for two hours before the test. If you’re a smoker, you should refrain form smoking for at least two hours before the test.
Continue all of your medications as usual unless otherwise instructed by your doctor or by the office.
