Exercise Stress Test

An exercise stress test is a method of evaluating how well your heart is able to function during a period of sustained physical activity. During this test, the patient is connected to cardiac monitoring equipment and asked to walk slowly on a treadmill. The speed of the treadmill is slowly dialed up and its angle is increased so as to make the heart work harder. The patient may also be asked to breathe into a tube for a brief amount of time. Results of the exercise stress test can assist in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease, help evaluate a patient’s risk of heart attack and determine how well certain treatments may be working to improve circulation and heart function.