Stress Testing

Stress testing is an important diagnostic tool used for determining whether or not the heart is receiving enough blood, detecting the presence of coronary artery disease, and deciding if further testing is necessary. There are several different types of stress tests. Your doctor will recommend the one that is right for you.

Exercise stress testing (myoview) is used to show your physician how the blood flow to your heart looks during exercise. It is then compared to the same images of your heart during rest. There are various methods of exercise stress testing, usually using either a bicycle or a treadmill.

Pharmacologic stress testing uses medications to make the heart act as it would during exercise. This is sometimes indicated in patients who cannot undergo exercise stress testing due to poor physical condition, poor patient motivation, lower limb amputation, peripheral vascular disease, muscular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma. Adenosine is a drug typically used for this type of study.

During stress testing, an electrocardiogram continuously monitors the patient's heart. Blood pressure readings are also taken at intervals. Overall, stress testing is an excellent diagnostic tool that can provide the physician with significant information regarding a patient's cardiac status with little or no discomfort to the patient.