Do You Need a Stress Test?
What Every Adult Should Know
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sevdalina Velizarova, Specialist in Internal Medicine
A stress test examines your heart’s performance during physical activity, such as exercise or walking. Doctors use it to understand how your heart responds to such activity. It’s a way to see if your heart gets enough blood and oxygen when it needs to work harder.
What Is a Stress Test?
During a stress test, you will be required to walk on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bike. This helps doctors see how your heart performs when your body is working harder. While you exercise, your heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure will be closely checked. If you feel tired or dizzy, you can stop at any time. If you are not able to exercise, your doctor may give you medicine that makes your heart beat faster, similar to what happens during physical activity.
Who Might Need a Stress Test?
A stress test could be recommended by your doctor, if you:
- Experience chest pain or discomfort
- Feel short of breath during activity
- Have an irregular heartbeat
- Are planning to start a new exercise program, especially if you have heart disease risk
- Had a heart surgery or a heart attack and need to check how well your heart is recovering
What Can a Stress Test Show?
A stress test can help identify:
- Blocked or narrowed arteries
- Irregular heart rhythms
- How well your heart pumps blood
- If the current heart treatment is helping or not.
Are There Risks?
Stress tests are generally safe. Like any test, a stress test may come with small risks, depending on your health, such as:
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Low blood pressure
- Dizziness or fainting
- Chest pain
These issues are rare and usually happen during the test, where medical staff can assist immediately.
Preparing for a Stress Test
Before the test:
- Wear comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for exercise
- Unless your doctor instructs you otherwise, avoid eating, drinking, or smoking for a few hours before your stress test.
- Inform your doctor about any medications you’re taking
Conclusion
A stress test is a useful tool to check your heart’s health, especially if you have symptoms or risk factors for heart disease. Always check with your doctor, whether a stress test is suitable for you.
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